Faith and charity in Indian temple town

Sanjoy Majumder (BBC News)
Inside a Jain temple: Palitana is a sleepy town in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Perched high on a hill overlooking the town is a network of 1,500 exquisite temples. For followers of the Jain faith this is a place of major significance. It is the world's highest concentration of Jain temples; they are packed in dense clusters to enable barefoot pilgrims to move around easily. Every year more than half a million Jain pilgrims (of approximately 10 million Jains worldwide) make the journey to the stone and marble shrines at Palitana. Non-violence and compassion towards every living being is at the core of Jain belief. And this year their spiritual quest in Palitana has manifested itself in a project which will help some of India's 20 million people with disabilities. VIDEO>>

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They deserve a good life: Treat the poor with respect and generosity.

The Ahimsa Way: Reinforcing life…always
Usha Jesudasan (The Hindu)

For over a year now, we have been exploring different ways in which we can live a nonharming (ahimsa) life. Recently, my brother Ramesh died suddenly. As we reeled with the initial shock and pain, I realized that death — whether through war, violence, sickness, or just suddenly — is a final act of harm (himsa). Himsa shatters and destroys lives and causes much suffering. Ahimsa restores and reinforces life…always.

In Haiti, Earthquake Victims left to Forage for Food
John Burnett (National Public Radio)
Despite the outpouring of international aid, there are still severe problems with food distribution to tens of thousands of homeless Haitians. NPR visited seven of the largest tent cities in three different areas of Port-au-Prince. Victims said food distribution is irregular, inadequate, and often violent.