Misogyny: literally "hatred of females," figuratively promoting separation of the sexes or normative sex role stereotyping [or saying there are only two genders]
It rained in Los Angeles on Saturday morning, as it has 5 out of the 6 years this fest has existed. So most diehard yogis were undeterred. While it remained cold, cloudy, and drizzly with showers in some parts of the megalopolis that is LA County, which stretches for over 50 miles across as a basin, the sun came out over Torrance, the city (one of 88) hosting the festival.
Yogananda was a great Indian guru who is bigger than the organization that claims to be his exclusive promoter, the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF). There is a better albeit smaller organization that promotes the real guru, baby and all.
(Could the great Hindu-Christian syncretic-saint have had a baby with one of his American female disciples?) The Ananda Church of Self-Realization (Donate | Yogananda Fest) is a kind of schism that arose among Paramhansa Yogananda's followers.
One original disciple, Kriyananda, was a purist. He decided to publish the founder's autobiography in its ORIGINAL (unredacted, unabridged) form. It's better that way to read it, but SRF doesn't like it.
The larger, less orthodox SRF organization made changes to the classic book and will not settle a lawsuit that says the rightful owner of the religious organization is Yogananda's unacknowledged son. There's DNA evidence to back up Ananda's claim, but SRF will not acknowledge, as to do so would mean the loss of their ability to legally claim ownership of the book, its proceeds, the properties spread across LA and elsewhere, and the legacy of the great master. What to do? What to do? More lawyers are needed to settle the issue. Or the son should become a guru, claim his lineage, and speak out publicly rather than behind the Ananda organization. Until then, there are TWO versions of the book. Which have most people read?
After about 9:00 am, with clear skies and lots of enthusiastic participants from the Holy City of Lost Angels, events went on as planned: meditation, Kriya Yoga, Hatha Yoga, inspiring featured speakers and more.
That mansion became Yogananda's Self Realization Fellowship's Mother Center (older than the magnificent Lake Shrine in Malibu, currently closed due to the Palisades Fire), after the organization's founding in 1920, along with a big temple in Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. (next to an old hospital purchased by Scientology and made into big cult offices), whereas Vivekananda's Victorian style house is a small and easily missed blip on Figueroa Street. Not far from there, a devotee of Sri Anandamayi Ma named Swami Paramananda founded the beautiful and rustic monastery in Glendale/La Crescenta called Ananda Ashram (Ananda Ashrama, spiritual center for Vedanta) in 1923.
So Yogananda is a sort of latecomer but by far the most successful of Indian gurus in America, outshining even the Beatles' cultish Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder and promoter of Transcendental Meditation (TM), which was a fad from the 1960s though still some people swear by it, like a young Jeff Goldblum in his cameo in Annie Hall.
Why does any of this matter? Not only did Hinduism come to America, Buddhism came along as well (many centuries earlier, even before Columbus and Christianity, according to Rick Fields, Edward P. Vining, and other American historians), making an incredible splash that still reverberates and sends out rings of influence. Books have been written about it.]
You'll look at sexuality differently after this video: A monk's spiritual perspective
(TRS Clips) June 18, 2024: Website: bbsh.in/trsclips-launch-cpyt. The Ranveer Show (TRS) welcomes Hindu monk Gauranga Das to enlighten us with his knowledge of spirituality and life. He was an IIT engineer who turned monk known for being a leadership consultant, corporate coach, inspirational speaker, and much more.
Make the sound of the universe: aum (om)
He worked for the Kirloskars before ordaining as a monk, after which he joined ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness), Mumbai (Bombay).
In this episode, Gauranga Das shared some beautiful aspects of spirituality, including the purpose of life, the purpose of sexuality, how monks live their lives, the different stages of life of a monk, Sanatan Dharma ("Eternal Doctrine," which is what Hindus call Hinduism) guidelines, the life of new generation with technologies, and how can one detach him or herself from worldly things and achieve enlightenment (nirvikalpa samadhi).
Spiritual talks are very special for Ranveer as he gets to meet many people who influence his journey of spirituality. He hopes that through this episode, viewers will also get an in-depth understanding of spiritual life and how it shapes our lives. Enjoy and comment. #spirituality #Gauranga Das
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Buddhist stupas originated as burial mounds with statues of person inside, Central/North Asia
Eventually, the massive mounds covered treasure and funerary remains with no statues.
Kurgan and stupa, tumulus of Bourgon, France, neolithic period: spread to Europe
World-famous Buddhist stupa at Sanchi, India, revered by circumambulation (msn.com)
Buddhist Afghanistan, ancient Gandhara, land of the Scythians/Shakyian, rock cut stupa
Some stupas are hollow by design, serving as extraordinary temples and tombs, which gave rise to ever fancier pagodas in East Asia. This is an ancient vault in icy Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia
Theravada Buddhist monks admire magnificent stupa, Sanchi, India (robertharding.com)
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What are Buddhist stupas?It is clear that temple structures throughout Indonesia and Cambodia have Buddhist and Hindu elements because kings and dynasties who built them were honoring the Dharma and mythology of various blended traditions. Some temples became completely Buddhist but may have begun as Hindu or a syncretic mix of both with Jain elements as well. These three are the Dharmic religions, which were blended as Brahmins/Hindus subsumed the radical breakaway "wandering ascetic" (shramana) Buddhist and Jain movements into their staid, Brahmin priest, post-Vedic umbrella religion. Now both historical figures are categorized as avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, which is a nice way of dismissing them and anything they said against the Vedas or the views of Brahmins. Both the Buddha and Mahavira were aware of the ancient Vedas and rejected them as a source of ultimate spiritual knowledge, advocating instead direct experience of the Truth. What is the Sanatan Dharma (Eternal Doctrine), the books or the Truth those books attempt to convey? The Buddha and Mahavira were shamans and seers who could directly see the Truth and taught doctrines for others to directly see it.
Buddhist stupas found in Hindu temple of Prambanan? Indonesia’s earthquake
Modern Buddhist stupa in Sedona, Arizona, also houses relics.
(PraveenMohan)
Oct. 3, 2024: In the ancient Prambanan temple, a Buddhist stupa-like structure is seen on top of temple towers. One is now found lying on the ground after a strong quake brought it down to the ground. Rather than placing back, it is protected by a fence and a plaque was placed next to it. What is it doing there?
An interesting event happened in 2006. An earthquake struck Prambanan temple, and this structure, the temple's capstone, broke off and fell. Prambanan is adorned with similar structures that look like stupas (reliquaries).
However, the Javanese call them ratnas (ratanas in Pali, “gems, jewels, treasures”). What is inside them -- precious funerary relics (sharira) or common gemstones? Let's investigate.
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#praveenmohan #indonesia #prambanantemple
Mahayana Buddhist monks and nuns among Hindu parishioners at Sunday's Pran Pratishtha ceremony, during unveiling of 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman (Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple)
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Monkeys are fun-loving and inquisitive mammals
Astonishing photographs of a 90-foot statue of the Hindu God Lord Hanuman — the third largest statue in the U.S.A. — have been obtained by Newsweek, following the unveiling ceremony in Texas.
The monument, known as the Statue of Union, stands at the Sri Ashta Lakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas. Lord Hanuman is depicted as human, but with the head and tail of a monkey, as is customary.
The statue is holding both hands palm forward (mudra) and the end of the tail is twisted above the head, creating a halo effect.
Hanuman is a Hindu god known for his power, courage, and selfless service. He is also a symbol of power and celibacy.
The statue's unveiling on Sunday marks rapidly changing religious demographics in the U.S., with surveys showing a decline in the proportion of Americans who identify as Christian and a rise in those who say they are "nothing in particular" (the NONEs) or belong to religions which are followed by a minority in the U.S.
Speaking to Newsweek Ranganath Kandala, joint secretary of the Ashtalakshmi Temple, confirmed the statue is 90-foot-tall and said it was inaugurated in a Pran Pratishtha ceremony on August 18, celebrating it as a living embodiment of the deity. USA's new 'third tallest' statue
The Sanskrit word pratiṣṭhā, which in general usage means "placement" of a murti(embodied solid object), is translated by Apte as "the consecration of a vessel or dwelling" [3].
The adjective pratiṣṭha means "installed" [4]. Prana means "life force, breath, spirit." The phrase Prana Pratishtha is a ritual that means "placing the breath-of-life into the image to establish it" [WQ] or "bringing life to the temple" [2].
It is also referred to as murti sthapana (image placement inside the temple). Traditionally, this was the step when the eye of the murti was sculpted open [2], inside the inner sanctuary (garbhagriha, the Purusha space) of a Hindu temple.
This ritual typically involves a devotional ritual (puja) and the chanting of Sanskrit mantras as the deity is moved from outside into the center place.
It includes inviting the deity to become a resident guest of the temple, bathing and cleansing it, similar to welcoming a revered guest after a long journey.
This is followed by dressing and seating the deity in a place of comfort, with the image's face oriented towards the east (signifying the sunrise), followed by a Nyasa ceremony with hymns (act of touching different parts of the murti, symbolizing the presence of various gods as sensory organs:
The Hindu priest recites specific mantras and performs rituals to infuse the idol with the animating life force or "holy spirit" (prana).
During this process, the deity descends into the idol, making it a living representation [5]. After the infusion of prana, the deity is considered blessed and consecrated.
Devotees often seek the deity's blessings at this point. The ritual also includes the spraying of scented water and flowers, with the Chaksu͡unmilan ceremony (Sanskrit chakshu unmilan, "opening of the divine eye"), marking the high point of the ritual [6]. The image is then considered fully consecrated. More
James Bickerton, Newsweek.com via MSN.com, 8/22/24; CC Liu, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
(OntologicalOdyssey) [This whole video, from the script to the voice, seems like AI, and one can only hope there is a human creator behind it.] Explore the intriguing parallels between Simulation Theory and the ancient Hindu concept of Maya ("Illusion"). Discover how both philosophies challenge our understanding of reality, suggesting that what we perceive may be a deceptive illusion or a constructed facade. Delve into the profound implications for consciousness, existence, and the search for ultimate truth in this thought-provoking exploration.
The Simulation Hypothesis is pseudoscience
(Sabine Hossenfelder) Is it possible that you, I, and everything we experience is a computer simulation? Why do people like Elon Musk and Neil DeGrasse Tyson think this is possible? In this video Lady Einstein (Sabine) explains how Nick Bostrom's argument for the simulation hypothesis goes and what the problems with it are. The reference she mentions at around 6:00 minutes is "Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation" (Silas R. Beane, Zohreh Davoudi, Martin J. Savage EPJ A, 50, 148, 2014, link.springer.com/article/10....). #science #physics #philosophy
0:00 Intro
0:25 What is the Simulation Hypothesis?
3:52 Can we simulate consciousness?
4:38 Can a computer replace the laws of nature?
6:18 Can we avoid calculating details?
8:14 Conclusion
8:52 Sponsor message: Signup for FREE trial to The Great Courses Plus here: http://ow.ly/6ymM30rvhBa
Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy); OntologicalOdyssey, July 6, 2024; Sabine Hossenfelder, Feb. 13, 2021; Seth Auberon, Sheldon S. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Solar eclipse: Why some will stay inside and meditate instead of watch
(Axios) Instead of going outside and looking to the sky during the total solar eclipse on the morning of April 8, 2024, some will stay inside with the curtains closed.
The big picture: For centuries, people have turned to rituals and mythology (prayers and astrology) to honor and make sense of the solar eclipse.
Zoom in: Members of the Navajo Nation traditionally treat the solar eclipse as a sacred time to stay inside and quietly meditate, Henry Fowler, a math educator at Navajo Technical University, tells Axios.
He says that when the solar eclipse happens, it's believed that the sun is dead, "but it's going to rejuvenate, rebirth itself in the cycle so that we're able to live in harmony with the natural laws again."
To "honor the order of the cosmos," Fowler says Navajos (Dine) don't drink water, eat, sleep, or use the restroom during an eclipse.
No, inside, Dummy, inside! Don't sit out here.
[My mother reports that in Mexico, it is believed that pregnant women had better stay indoors, for if the shadow should fall on them, their children may be born with clef palate. People have to make sense of what happens, so what better way than to look at anything happening at the same time? It's human nature, and it serves us on occasion but can go too far and enter the zone of superstitions.]
[To add mayhem and biblical significance to this scary event, a plague of locust-like creatures (three different species coinciding) will emerge in the trillions to cover lands in the path of totality.]
The Navajo don't look at an eclipse out of respect and because they worry the powerful event could lead to "unbalance in that individual," Fowler says.
Obey Science, not matter what it says
Context: In other cultures, there are stories that the solar eclipse is caused by a supernatural creature or monster [an asura or Titan named Rahu, rahula meaning "burden"] swallowing the sun [Suriya], James Deutsch, curator at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, tells Axios.
The Apapocúva-Guaraní people of eastern Paraguay and northern Brazil say eclipses are caused by a bat or jaguar chewing on the sun or moon.
In Norse culture, mischievous Loki is to blame for the darkness, because he lets his giant wolves swallow the sun and then the moon.
In Choctaw legend, it's a black squirrel trying to eat the sun.
The Pomo, an indigenous group in the northwestern United States, have a story about a bear taking a bite out of the moon.
In Hindu [Buddhist, and Jain] mytholog[ies], Rahu gets his head cut off after stealing and drinking the elixir of immortality. Then his bodiless head tries to swallow the sun.
Zoom out: The solar eclipse is a major international event.
VIDEO: Final preparations underway for Monday's solar eclipse (KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco)
We know the Moon better than anyone.
Although we now know the NASA version behind it, the total solar eclipse remains a multisensory phenomenon where the light suddenly turns to darkness and the temperature plummets.
Experiencing one feels like "the most unnatural natural thing you'll ever see in the sky," astronomer and artist Tyler Nordgren tells Axios.
Many people make loud noises when they view the event, just like people did hundreds or even thousands of years ago when they tried to scare mythical creatures away, Deutsch says.
Scenes of Diwali celebration from Greater Noida | Diwali 2023 | Festival of Lights | English News
(MIRROR NOW) Nov. 12, 2023: Times Network ground report brings insight into the celebrations taking place across India on Diwali, the "Festival of Lights," illuminating India with joy and fervor as 1 billion people or more celebrate the triumph of light over darkness. #diwali #mirrornow #diwali2023
India is on the right with "Shakya Land" in grey
It’s also widely celebrated in Nepal, Malaysia, Fiji, and other countries with large South Asian diasporas. Homes, businesses, and public spaces are lit up with diyas, or oil lamps made from clay, and fireworks displays abound.
People gather with their families, eat sweets, and exchange gifts.
Despite its deep religious significance, Diwali today is also a cultural festival observed by people regardless of faith.
Here’s what to know about the holiday.
What is Diwali?
Crowds in Bombay, India, ahead of 11/5/23.
Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning “row of lights.” It marks the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil.
Though Diwali traditions vary according to region and religion, the myths and historical stories behind the holiday share themes of justice and liberation.
When is Diwali?
Are you Indian? - Ha ha, wait, I can answer!
Diwali is celebrated every year in autumn, usually falling between October and November.
The festival lasts five days, with the main celebration occurring on the third day.
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