ITS WAR! WAR! WAR! FOR THE SAKE OF peace?

Alright, I have kept silent long enough about this war between Israel and Hamas. Now I've got to say my piece. Though what triggered me to ponder on this issue is not this war, but the Mumbai terrorism incident.

A few days ago I stumbled upon a very disturbing piece of transcript. It is a transcript of a few phone conversations between the Mumbai terrorists and their 'handlers' (as in dog 'handlers') in Pakistan. Here is an excerpt of the most benign part of this conversation.

"*Mumbai terrorist: *Greetings! What did the major-general say?
*Pakistan caller:* Greetings. The major-general directed us to do what we
like. We should not worry. The operation has to be concluded tomorrow
morning. Pray to God. Keep two magazines and three grenades aside, and
expend the rest of your ammunition."

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Thaiponggal / Makar Sankaranti

Thaiponggal is a three to five day thanks giving festival celebrated in the second week of January, usually January 14th or 15th. The period marks the northward progression of the sun (uttarayana) after the winter solstice. It is a day of thanks giving to Mother Earth and the Sun, on which crops that provide food and commerce depend. This festival is celebrated throughout India. In the northern Indian states it is Makar Sankaranti, in Andhra Pradesh, Pedda Panduga. In the states where the holy Ganga river flows it is called Gangasagar Mela. It is considered very auspicious to dip in the purifying waters of the Ganga during this festival. In Tamilnadu it is Thaiponggal.

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Five Unique Questions on Hinduism

Continuation of Q & A Presentation. 2008 Scott Road Kandaswami Temple, Kuala Lumpur, Hindu Youth Camp.

1. What is Bhakti Yoga?
2. Who created Hinduism and the Vedas?
3. Is it a must to follow the rules of the religion to the letter?
4. Talking to God, does it help?
5. If we adopt a few religions in doing various activities, is it wrong?

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Nine Common Questions on Hinduism

Last month (December 08) I presented and answered nine common questions about Hinduism to a group of youth attending a Hindu camp in the Scott Road (Brickfields) Kandaswami Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malalysia. This lecture weaves in a number of common questions asked in Hinduism. After I had finished this presentation, I the youth the opportunity to ask their questions.

Quick Links to the Questions: Are there many Gods in Hinduism? Are Hindu Gods married? Are we idol worshippers? Is there a Hindu Bible? Why do we worhsip cows? Must we be vegetarian? What is karma? Do we believe in reincarnation? Why do we wear the 'pottu'?

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Pondering: My 2009 New Year Resolution

My 2009, New Year Resolutions 

New Years' are great aren't they? From one point of view it is just another day. I mean, January 1, 2009 would be nothing if we decided the new year fell on February 1, 2009. 

For me the greatest significance of a new year day (or the eve) is that I review and tie-off the loose ends of the previous period of time we call a year and look to new beginnings. The best part of this is that despite whatever the foercast for next year may be, the eve of a new year and new year day are times of renewed inspiration and celebration. It is a positive time and we reinforce this positivity collectively by wishing all our loved ones and acquaintances a very Happy New Year. Even for those in the midst of tragedy, trials and tribulations, there is, even if it may be only a slightest sliver of a glimmer of hope, it is some hope and positivity nonetheless. Thus it becomes a duty for all of us to wish each other a Happy 2009. This is our collective commitment for this year and let us all join together in prayer and action to see this positivity and inspiration through in our lives.

As usual on New Year's eve and the day, my mobile beeped away with text greetings. Usually after sending the reply, the messages gets trashed. I always thought it a pity, trashing these messages, as many of the them took a lot of thought to compose. So this time around, as I list out my resolutions for this coming 2009 in this the first of the Pondering article, I am going to insert these greetings here and there in an effort to save these greetings for posterity.

"Before the sun sets in this year, before the memories fade, before the networks get jammed. Wish you Happy Sparkling New Year '09."

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Photo Documentary: Varanasi

The Ganga in Varanasi 

 

The Ganga has become a very special river to me, now that I have been on the it's banks and bathe it in its holy waters. Until this experience I knew the Ganga for its symbolic significance. However, after experiencing the tangible spiritual vibration that this river emanates, it is like no river I have ever experienced in my life. 

 

 

Since the first time I set my eyes on Mother Ganga, spiritual bliss overwhelmed me. It is the same bliss that I feel when I meditate. However, here, just standing by the river, I can feel this warm spiritual energy emanating from it and resonating within myself. This is a special river, unlike other rivers. It is not merely a grand symbol of Hinduism steeped in mythical lore. The Ganga is a spiritual powerhouse of a way of life that are the Eternal Truths of Life, Sanatana Dharma.

 

These are my recollections of my journey to Varanasi, one of the most ancient living cities in the world. 

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Is Yoga Hindu?

On Nov. 22 2208, an authoritative national Islamic body in Malaysia issued a decree, or as they call it a 'fatwa,' banning muslims in Malaysia from practicing yoga. A week later a higher council revoked this decree. The rightness or the wrongness of this decree does not concern me. To me, this is a purely islamic affair. As long as it effects only muslims, and does not impinge on the freedoms of non-muslims, particularly in Malaysia, the council can come up with whatever fatwas they see fit.

What interests me more on this issue was the international coverage that this piece of news got and the responses to them. This news even made the CNN World News Headlines. The subsequent rebuttals this news received from some yoga experts in Malaysia and from other parts of the world, claiming that yoga was 'just an exercise,' that it has nothing to do with spirituality, is a misconception that I would like to address in this presentation.

Every exercise system has a goal. If I want to build muscles, I will pump iron. If I want to build stamina, I can jog or get on a tread mill. If I want to stimulate spiritual awareness through exercise, then, I will do hatha yoga.

One may take yoga out of religion but not its inherent spirituality.Yoga is part of Hindu religious tradition and teachings, however yoga itself is a universal practice that is not the monopoly of Hinduism or any other religion.

This is why Hindu gurus have never restricted the teaching or practice of yoga exclusively to Hindus. You will never hear a Hindu guru claim that a student has to be Hindu to learn and practice yoga, or that yoga will only work if the yogi is a Hindu. This universality of yoga comes from the spiritual philosophies behind it.

The word yoga means union. This union refers to the oneness of consciousness that is achieved when a yogi's awareness merges with God. Yoga is a method through which this oneness is achieved.

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