Sewa, A Divine Duty

www.hinduyuva.org WINSCOSIN, USA, February 27, 2009 (by Abhipsa Kar): Sewa is any act one performs for the benefit of others. In Sanskrit, it is described in the shloka “Paropakaraya Punyaya, Papaya Parapeedanam” (any action resulting in the good of others is noble and should be performed). Every service done to others is a service done to oneself and, in effect,…

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Vivekananda Center Opens in Karnataka

timesofindia.indiatimes.com DHARWAD, KARNATAKA, INDIA, February 28, 2009: The Swami Vivekananda centre was opened in the Karnatak University on Thursday. The center will study Swami Vivekananda’s works and help equip students with communication and intellectual skills. Scholar Muttur Krishnamurthy, who inaugurated the centre said Vivekanandnas message of peace, tolerance and universal brotherhood are eternal. “Through his words and deeds, Vivekananda influenced…

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Standing Up For Education

www.nytimes.com MARINE ON ST. CROIX, MINNESOTA, USA, February 25, 2009: At Marine Elementary School, the pupils are being studied as much as they are studying. In several classrooms, here and in neighboring schools, students are using a type of adjustable-height school desk which allows them to switch between sitting and standing while they work. The ability to shift position seems…

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ACMI Annual Conference To Discuss Hindus

www.acmi09.org USA, February 28, 2009:The Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals (ACMI) will hold its annual conference on May 29-31, 2009. “ACMI 09” be held at Azusa Pacific University (http://www.apu.edu), in Azusa, California, 20 miles west of Los Angeles. The conference will include discussion on evangelizing to Indian and Asian students in USA and Canada. Dr. Jairam Vanamala, a “Hindu…

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Daily Inspiration

www.hinduismtoday.com Precious gems are profoundly buried in the earth and can only be extracted at the expense of great labor.    Sri Anandamayi Ma

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Polls Reveal The Complexity of America’s Changing Religious Landscape

www.gallup.com KAUAI, HAWAII, USA, February 28, 2009: Heaven, angels, a malignant devil and even hell? Yes. God? Not so sure. A series of polls available at Gallup’s website (link above) reveals aspects of America’s complex spirituality. In the last 17 years, the number of people who say that religion is a “very important” part of their lives remained stable (56…

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India Moves to Protect Ayurveda, Herbs and Yogas From Foreign Patents

www.guardian.co.uk INDIA, February 22, 2009: India has licensed 200,000 local treatments, almost all ayurvedic, as “public property,” free for anyone to use–thus becoming the first developing country to prevent multinational companies from patenting traditional remedies and selling them as a “brand.” Concerned about increasing levels of “bio-prospecting,” investigators found that least 5,000 patents have been issued to date. “More than…

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Oscar Award A Shivratri Gift,” Says Winner

www.hinduonnet.com THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, February 23, 2009: “This is a Shivaratri gift. It is absolutely incredible,” an elated Resul Pookutty said after his triumph at the Oscar awards for sound-mixing Slumdog Millionaire. Resul Pookutty (born 1971) is an Academy Award and BAFTA Award winning Indian film sound designer and mixer. Pookutty is from Vilakkupara, Kollam in Kerala. He is the first…

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