What’s nectar for secular US is toxin for secular India!

by Sri Gurumurthy

Just a century ago, Max Weber, declared that the Hindus and Buddhists remain backward because they believed in their ancient, faulty faiths!

Weber was a celebrated socio-economic thinker of the West. He counselled that belief in Karma - in which, he believed, fatalism hid - led people to accept their lot as their fate. He thus saw the Hindu-Buddhist faith in Karma as fatal to development itself. He diagnosed that Karma-centric faiths, which denied hopes to individuals, rendered their adherents unfit for modern development process.

Indian intellectualism, particularly in free India, carbon-copied Weber’s thesis and almost accepted that the traditional Indian beliefs are the nemesis of India. This turned the Indian establishment thinking apologetic about not just ancient Indian faiths but about ancient India itself!

Under the pressure of Weber’s interpretation, some bright Indian minds sidestepped the Aurobindo-Vivekananda view on ancient India as world’s future hope. They took refuge in socialist and secular ideas and delegitimised and drove the ancient Indian ideas underground. This enabled free India’s secular intellectualism, which saw ancient Indian thoughts as its principal adversary, declare everything about ancient India - whether it was Patanjali’s Yoga or Krishna’s Gita – as saffron toxic and anti-secular. In the end, Weber prevailed over free India.

Now comes, a full century after Weber theorised on how fatal is Karma, a surprising U-turn in the West. The very idea of Karma, which Weber had diagnosed as the nemesis of India, seems to be emerging as the life vest of the West! The West, fatigued with the ‘greed-is-good’ capitalism for over a century, is now looking for an alternative to the greed-based capitalism.

What is the alternative, which it sees or seeks? Believe it. It sees the alternative in Karma, the very idea Weber had condemned as anti-development. International Business Week in its recent issue (Oct 20, 2006) sees the emergence of ‘Karma Capitalism’, that is, capitalism founded on the idea of karma! The magazine defines karma capitalism as a gentler, more emphatic ethos that resonates in the post-Enron and post-technology bubble in the West.

“Big business is embracing Indian philosophy,” says the “Business Week”. Look at what it sees as Indian philosophy. “Phrases from ancient Hindu texts such as the Bhagwat Gita are popping up in management tomes and on web sites of consultants,” it says. And it goes on: “Top business schools have introduced “self-mastery” classes that use Indian methods to help managers boost their leadership skills and find inner peace in lives dominated by work”.

Not only that. Bhagwat Gita, according to “Business Week”, has replaced the 6th century BC Chinese classic Art of War of Tsun Tsu, which dominated business schools two decades earlier. The magazine says that while it used to be ‘hip in management circles’ to quote from the Chinese classic, the ‘trendy ancient Eastern text on Thursdayis Bhagwat Gita”, which the magazine says “more introspective”.

Earlier this year, says the magazine, a manager at Sprint Nextel Corp penned the inevitable how-to guide: “Bhagwat Gita on Effective Leadership“. More important, the magazine says, Indian born strategists are helping to transform the US corporations. It names several Indians who are among the world’s hottest business gurus. About 10 percent of the professors at business schools such as Harvard, Kellogg, and others are of Indian descent, it says. The senior executives who come to these schools are exposed to the Indian values that are reflected in how these professors of Indian origin think and articulate, the magazine says.

The most influential ones, the magazine says, acknowledge that common themes pervade the work of these professors of Indian origin - like that executives should be motivated by broader purpose than money; that there should be a holistic approach that integrates needs of the shareholders, employees, customers, society and environment; and that the shareholder-driven agenda must be replaced by stakeholder-focused approach. The Business World says that “Indian thinkers are affecting not only the way the managers run companies. They are also furthering their search for personal fulfilment”. In short, it says that the Indian thinking and Indian thinkers are greatly influencing Corporate America.

Corporate America’s influence on the political and economic philosophies of the West is well acknowledged. Economic globalisation has only deepened that influence. The US corporate think tanks exert considerable influence over global media and politics. In effect corporate America is the trend setter for the world. Ironically it was the US that proclaimed itself as the living model of Weber’s prescriptions as the foundation of modern ideas of capitalism and development. And that is where, surprisingly and unbelievably, the U-turn is taking place.

For secular India Bhagwat Gita and Karma Yoga are toxic substances to be kept out of the Indian discourse. The Indian management gurus and spiritual leaders are doing what Swami Vivekananda did over a century ago - namely proclaim that greatness of the Indian thought in the US and import it from the US to India. They are actually validating in the US what has been driven underground in secular India.

If the Indian management gurus did something similar in India it would attract the abuse of the seculars that they are toxifying even business and economics with saffron concepts! It may even charge that the corporate America is becoming addicted to toxic saffron. That is the measure of its hate for thoughts and things Indian. Yes the secular India dismisses as toxin what secular America realises as nectar.

Time for an intellectual, cultural rebirth

by Sri Gurumurthy

Many sincere and honest people feel frustrated by the venality of actors in the public domain. They are anxious to know where the public discourse has gone wrong and contemplate course correction.

Here is an effort to address their concerns.

It is six decades since India became free. Today’s school children constitute Gen-3 of free India. Their great-grandfathers alone could have experienced the freedom movement. The movement for India’s freedom is no more in the memory chip of the people. It is now history — unfortunately, deliberately distorted — taught to young minds.

This distortion is self-evident in secular India’s discourse. It quickly, and effectively, distanced itself from the great drives that constituted the soul of the freedom movement — whether it is the ‘Ram Rajya’ of Mahatma Gandhi, or the worship of the Motherland symbolised by Maharishi Bankim Chandra’s ‘Vande Mataram’, or the concept of ‘Sanatana Dharma’ Maharishi Aurobindo held out as the nationalism of India, or the ‘spiritual nationalism’ commended by Swami Vivekananda. The secular discourse branded these concepts outdated ideas, to be detested and publicly disowned. In fact, given the tone of the discourse today, it is doubtful whether any of these great builders of modern India could pass the test of secular acceptability.

The perversion in secular India’s public domain is explicit, but its degree is even graver.

The Indian struggle for freedom from the British was more profound than a battle for political freedom for India’s geography. It was also part of the centuries- long quest of the Indian people to resist foreign invaders, like the struggle of Prithviraj Chauhan or Maharana Pratap, or Chatrapati Shivaji or Guru Gobind Singh later, or Raja Ranjit Singh or Rani of Jhansi still later. By dividing the indigenous peoples on racial and religious lines, the colonisers could almost convince them that India never belonged to anyone; it was open to anyone who invaded it; it was never a nation; and there was nothing called India till the British made it one. The colonisers thus first distorted the discourse and then confused the identity of the Indian people and their relation with their land of birth. Unsurprisingly, it was their past more than the future that looked uncertain to Indians. By such sustained discourse the colonisers had effectively caused cerebral paralysis. Result, Indians stood conquered intellectually, culturally and civilisationally.

Therefore, while earlier it was a war even for physical survival, the battle against the British was more a struggle to recover the mind of India, which the foreigner had hijacked. As a consequence, while most of India’s conquered detested the earlier invaders, the later colonisers persuaded sections of influential Indians to feel comfortable with them. So the quest for recovering the lost mind and reconnecting Indians to their past to define their identity became the principal drive of the battle against the British. The freedom struggle gradually intensified as an intellectual, cultural and spiritual endeavour to make India comprehensively independent even as it targeted political freedom.

A critical component in the efforts of the Indian freedom movement to fight the intellectual lethargy and subaltern mind of Indians was the role played by the nationalist media. It promoted a high level of indigenous cultural and civilisational consciousness in the Indian people. Invariably everyone, whether it was Gandhi or Aurobindo, Tilak or Subramanya Bharati, who took the lead to sow the seeds of the freedom movement, or to add power to it later, started a newspaper or magazine.

Many, like ‘Sanku’ Subramaniam, became bankrupt as they distributed newspapers almost free to convey the idea of India to the people. The nationalist media thus not only fought for the nation’s freedom, but also for its intellectual and cultural independence and revival. Post-freedom, the secular Indian discourse, which increasingly became pseudo in character and derailed the national discourse, infected large sections of the national media and co-opted it. Thanks to this selfgoal, India became less intellectually independent after freedom than it was before, under colonial rule.

While this process began after freedom and progressed gradually, it accelerated after the advent of economic liberalisation and globalisation in the early 1990s. The Indian media gradually came to be dominated by intellectual lethargy and cultural confusion.

So, what the freedom fighters had fought hard to eliminate from the public discourse promoted by the colonisers came back to occupy prime time and prime space in free India’s media.

Added to this distortion was the emergence of an extreme commercialism, which began eating into the vitals of a free and purposeful media. The media was driven by a perceivable sense of idealism even as late as a couple of decades ago despite all other negatives.

The war that the Indian Express and the Statesman waged against the internal emergency in 1977-79 and this newspaper’s single-minded pursuit of industrial and political venality, which the Reliance and Bofors scams of the late 1980s symbolised, are illustrative of idealism defying the logic of commerce.

Today the media as a whole is becoming a captive of commerce and is obsessed with nothing other than turnover and profit. The trend is irresistible. To swim against it means defying the whole world — a task that needs and means spiritualisation of public life, like Mahatma Gandhi did. This loss of intellectual independence and emergence of unbridled commercialism is dwarfing the stature of the Indian media as the Fourth Estate. This loss of direction needs to be course-corrected if the larger interest of India is to be safeguarded.

Fortunately, technology seems to have a cost-effective solution for this epidemic.

Some 10 powerful websites, duly popularised, that review and audit the media can correct the media’s course.

They can hold a mirror to it to show it and to the people how it performs or fails. The only way to make the media realise this is to publish in the site what it refuses to, or to prove what it publishes is incorrect, to make the public know what the media business is all about today.

A motivated team to sustain and intensify this mission can achieve the result in a fairly short time. The mission will rediscover the India that for long showed the lead to the world. This can transform an India that is free but not independent into an intellectually free and independent India. Any takers?

Hero For Modern India

Who is just, firm and stands for the weak ?
Who is an honest and able administrator ?
Who confronts the enemy and is not cowed into submission ?
To whom did Mother India appear in a vision to fight for victory ?
Who has the statesmanship and the vision to build a Greater India?
Who is ruthless with his enemies, but spares women, children and his own people ?
Who respects all religions and pays homage to Muslim, Jain or Hindu saints ?
To which political party belongs this Hero for Modern India ?

Actually to none. But Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj does belong to India and to all Indians, whatever their religion or ethnic origin, for he is an eternal icon of courage, statesmanship, love for his country, able and honest administration. In fact, the qualities that he embodied, are those that a modern Indian politician should possess, but unfortunately, seldom has. Shivaji was a man for all India: he travelled, thought about, and warred in all parts of India, from Agra, then capital of the Mughal empire to Gingee, all the way down in the South. He was the first one who understood that India needed a navy if it wanted to control its waters – and he did build a formidable one.

Yet, try to look for a biography of Shivaji in any bookshop in India : it is practically impossible to find one, as many have gone out of print. Most of these biographies, except, the one from James Lane, which has all the hostile flaws of western, date back to twenty to thirty years. Now, in my country, France, we have such a hero in Napoleon. All children are schooled into Napoleon’s great deeds right from kinder garden. Like Shivaji, Napoleon was not only a great warrior, but also a statesman of exceptional vision: some of the laws and codes he devised, are still in practice today. Thus, most French people are proud of Napoleon – and rightly so – because he was, like Shivaji, great warrior, a visionary and an exceptional statesman. Therefore, every year, at least four to five new books are written, directly or indirectly, about Napoleon, his life or his deeds.

Compare this with India, where not only it is difficult to find a book about Shivaji, but where last year, the Kerala Government put a ban on school notebooks which carried pictures of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj…. This is wrong. No nation can move forward unless it has heroes. No country can progress unless it is proud of itself and can make its children relate to heroes seeped in one’s culture. But it is not so in India. This is not jingoism, but nationalism. Yet every time you open an Indian newspaper or switch on a TV channel, the impression you get is that everything is rotten in India, nothing works and that Indians are the most corrupt and inefficient people in the world.

Why is that so? Maybe because of three hundred years of British colonization, many of India’s politicians, bureaucrats and journalists are often copying whatever the West does, or are eternally worrying about what the West thinks of them. They rarely think Indian, know all about Shakespeare, but very little of Kalidasa, one of the greatest poets ever on this Planet; have read about Abraham Lincoln, but know nothing of Sri Aurobindo, philosopher, poet, revolutionary, immense yogi. Many of India’s intelligentsia have thus no idea about India’s great culture, philosophy and spirituality. Very few have read the Bhagavad Gita, or understood that it encourages yoga in action and that sometimes it is important to defend one’s country, culture and borders, by force if necessary, as Shivaji Maharaj practiced it.

There is also the wrong notion that Shivaji was anti-Muslim because he fought Aurangzeb. But the truth should be known : Shivaji allowed his subjects freedom of religion and opposed forced conversion. The first thing Shivaji did after a conquest was to promulgate protection of mosques and Muslim tombs. One-third of his army was Muslim, as were many of his commanders: his most trusted general in all his campaigns was Haider Ali Kohari; Darya Sarang was chief of armoury; Ibrahim Khan and Daulat Khan were prominent in the navy; and Siddi Ibrahim was chief of artillery.

Aurangzeb was a cruel man, even to his own family: he killed his two brothers, threw his son in jail and had his father Shah Jahan imprisoned and later poisoned. Shivaji was the only one who stood up against him, at a time when Hindus were experiencing great oppression and humiliation: their temples were being broken, and they were being discriminated against in various forms, such as in the matter of charging custom duties, restrictions on their fairs and festivals, their dismissal from government posts, large-scale conversions as a part of openly declared policy of the Mughal State, imposition of the religious tax Jiziya for being a Hindu, and these discriminatory acts were going almost unchallenged though the Hindus formed more than bout 80 per cent of the population of the country.

Yet, Shivaji had respect for the Sufi tradition of Islam and used to pray at the mausoleum of the great Sufi Muslim saint Baba Sharifuddin. He also visited the abode of another great Sufi saint, Shaikh Yacub of the Konkan, and seeked his blessings. He called Hazrat Baba of Ratnagiri bahut thorwale bhau, meaning "great elder brother". Shivaji's feelings are reflected in a letter he wrote to Aurangzeb:: "Verily, Islam and Hinduism are terms of contrast. They are used by the true Divine Painter for blending the colours and filling in the outlines. If it is a mosque, the call to prayer is chanted in remembrance of him. If it is a temple, the bells are rung in yearning for him alone”. Shivaji also applied a humane and liberal policy to the women of his state, irrespective of their religion, nationality, or creed.

What to do then to remind all Indians of the great champion they had in Shivaji? I for one, am proud to announce that my foundation, FACT, which was created when I received the Natchiketa award of Excellence in Journalism at the hands of the Prime Minister in Parliament in 2003, has mounted an exhibition on Shivaji and that we are planning to release a book at the end of the year on his immense relevance to modern India (Har Anand publications, New Delhi). This is a small contribution of a foreigner, who loves India and think it is a wonderful country with great heroes.

Wake-up of my Indian brothers and sisters. You are a great nation, you have great heroes and Shivaji, certainly, is one of the most endearing ones : a Vibhuti, a direct incarnation of God, who walked upon this sacred soil of India, fearless and yet humane; a Giant of a Man, who could be reached by all. He was truly A Hero for Modern India.

Courtesy : http://www.francoisgautier.com/En/hero.html

Vegetarian Recipes and Resources

Vegetarianism is especially recommended for those who want to follow a truly spiritual lifestyle. The information, recipes and website links on this page are provided to help anyone begin or to increase their ability to be a vegetarian. It also shows that being a vegetarian is not as difficult as some people think, at least if you are new to the idea. There are many of us who have been vegetarian for decades, and millions of others who have been lifelong vegetarians. Such a diet, when properly balanced, is quite healthy and much better for our bodies and environment. The links provided on this page can lead you to the information that will explain that. There are also cookbooks available on this page, and numerous other recipes and cookbooks that are linked from other websites that you can download or print for immediate use so that you can begin to change your diet right away, or increase the vegetarian recipes that you may already have.

ARTICLES FOR VEGETARIANISM

Humanity cannot go without enduring the consequences and serious reactions as long as people cause the unnecessary suffering of millions of animals because of the meat industry. It is time for a change, and that change starts with your decision about your own life. Additional thoughts on the matter can be found in my article, "Universal Brotherhood Includes the Animals."

You can also read and save these short articles for yourself or for sending to others:

"The Dangers of Meat" is another thought provoking article which is the review of a PBS Frontline Documentary on the increasing hazards in consuming meat.

Vegetarianism: Quotes from Noteworthy People provides a number of quotes from historical personalities from Gandhi, Pythagorus, George Bernard Shaw, and others, on the need and advantages of being a vegetarian.

Vegetarianism: Recommended in the Vedic Scripture shows that the Vedic scripture severely warns against the danger of accumulating bad karma from the practice of eating flesh, or being connected with it in any way

Vegetarianism Supported in the Bible shows the biblical verses that condemn the eating of meat.

Why Be a Vegan/Vegetarian, a quick review to the benefits of a vegetarian diet.

Frequently Asked Questions About Veganism, regarding basic vegetarianism in ethics & religion, animal cruelty, health & nutrition, and helping others.

Common Ingredients and Chemicals that May Contain Meat Products is a list of often used food additives and preservatives, or Natural Flavorings that may be made from meat derivatives.

Do Vegetarians Get Enough Protein? This is a question that often comes up and this information should be able to settle the issue in favor of vegetarians.

BBC Says World Must Eat Less Meat explains how the world would benefit from eating more vegetables, and the disadvantages of the meat diet.

Beyond Vegetarianism shows how we become free from the karma of using plants in food preparations, and how the plants used in the preparations also make spiritual progress by offering them first to the Lord to become Prasadam, which becomes the perfect yoga diet without karma that helps spiritualize our consciousness.

COOKBOOKS AND RECIPES

http://www.webcom.com/ara/col/books/VEG/ht -- This link takes you to the website of the book "The Higher Taste". It offers purely vegetarian recipes of a wide variety, particularly those of India, that can be printed for your use. They are easy to follow and excellent for nutritional value as well as for the spiritual path. They are sattvic recipes, meaning ingredients in the mode of goodness, and do not contain any garlic or onions, which some people feel are rajasic, or passionate. You will also find articles on the nutritional and environmental benefits of a vegetarian diet, and how such a diet is especially important for a spiritual and karma-free lifestyle.

"Great Vegetarian Dishes" is one of the cookbooks by Kurma Dasa. He has produced others, plus several videos on cooking, which are all excellent. It is nearly 300 pages long. It contains 240 easy and nutritious recipes from around the world, and advice on how to prepare meals with a spiritual consciousness. To more easily view it over the web, we have divided it into the following sections available through these links:

1 [Introduction, Spiritual Advice, and Rice and Soups],

2 [Breads and Vegetables],

3 [Salads and Chutneys],

4 [Savories and Grain Dishes],

5 [Beans and Legumes],

6 [Dips, Sauces and Dressings],

7 [Sweets and Deserts],

8 [Drinks and Meal Suggestions].

Go through it and copy the recipes you like, or download them to an empty floppy disk or your hard drive. If you like the recipes, then consider buying the printed edition which includes the beautiful photographs as well. This edition was downloaded from the website http://freeprabhupadabooks.tripod.com.

For those who observe the day called Ekadasi, here is a cookbook with a collection of 49 preparations of all kinds, such as vegetable preps, chutnies, curries, paneer (cheese) preps, lassis, and more, all without grains or beans. Check it out online at: Ekadasi Recipes Cookbook.

Here is another little cookbook of eleven vegetarian sweets from the various states of India. They are great preps if you want to try something different, called: Diwali Sweets.

Another cookbook that you may like is "Vasti's Online Indian Vegetarian Cookbook." You can find it at this website: http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/Vineyard/2378//page1.html.

Here is a most comprehensive cookbook called "Food for Peace" by Rambhoru devi dasi. It contains all kinds of breads, salads, vegetable preps, drinks, savories, and lots more, plus articles on vegetarianism. You can find it at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Courtyard/8761/index.html.

Two more online cookbooks that you can look over or print for your immediate use include "A Taste of Vitality" and "Desserts of Vitality". These offer purely vegan recipes with no dairy or wheat ingredients. More people are taking to the vegan diet, so this will accommodate them. Some of these, however, use garlic and onions which some people who follow the sattvic diet may object to using. Therefore, I recommend excluding or substituting such ingredients with asafoetida (hing), or something similar if you prefer. Any experienced cook can use these recipes with their own imagination to make them in a way more to their liking. Otherwise, these are good recipes and informative books. Your can find these at: http://www.vitalita.com/cookbooks.html. Or you can go right to the PDF versions (if you have Adobe Acrobat reader) at the following sites: http://www.vitalita.com/docs/ATasteOfVitality.pdf and http://www.vitalita.com/docs/DessertsOfVitality.pdf.

In the words of George Bernard Shaw:

We are living graves of murdered beasts

Slaughtered to satisfy our appetites.

We never pause to wonder at our feasts,

If animals like men could possibly have rights.

We pray on Sunday that we may have light,

To guide our footsteps on the paths we tread.

We are sick of war, we do not want to fight,

And we gorge ourselves upon the dead.

Like Carrion Crows we live and feed on meat,

Regardless of the suffering and pain

We cause by doing so, in this we treat,

Defenseless animals for sport or gain -

How can we hope in this world to attain

The peace we say we are so anxious for,

We pray for it o'er hetacomba of slain,

To God while outraging the moral law,

Thus cruelty begets the offspring --- WAR !

The Prayer of Fellowship of Life

"Our God our Father, we thank Thee for the wonder and beauty of Thy creation. Forgive us, we pray that we have taken it all for granted and have ruthlessly and selfishly exploited it in so many ways contrary to Thy will.

"In particular we pray for the animals and birds, sharers with us in Thy creation, that are powerless to protect themselves from the terror and anguish of slaughterhouses and vivisection laboratories, and those that die cruel and often lingering deaths so that we may wear their skins. Let us cease to turn deaf ears to their cries and teach us how to live our lives mercifully and justly so that our love for Thee will be mirrored by our love for all Thy creation."

ADDITIONAL WEB SITE RESOURCES

Vegetarian Recipes, Animal-free Food Products, Information on Benefits of the Vegetarian Diet, and more.

More vegetarian recipes and excellent information on how and why to be a vegetarian are included in the list of over 60 worthwhile websites that follow. These sites can help provide you with many resources for additional recipes, instructions, utensils, vegan food products, cruelty-free clothing, and information on the benefits of being vegetarian, directories of vegetarian restaurants, and additional links to other resources.

Http://www.vrg.org -- site by the Vegetarian Resource Group with lots of info, recipes, resources, etc. Or use http://www.vrg.org/recipes to go right to the recipes.

http://www.vegforlife.org -- this site can help you with your decision to go vegetarian for life and the rest of your life with many resources for your assistance. Or go directly to this section of their site that will take you to additional places for hundreds of various vegie recipes: http://www.vegforlife.org/eats.htm#recipes.

http://www.goodstuffonline.com/recipes.html -- check out more vegetarian recipes on this website.

http://www.veganchef.com -- the site of Beverly Lynn Bennett, a vegan chef, includes loads of vegan recipes.

http://www.manjulaskitchen.com -- a unique website for Indian vegetarian recipes with the recipe, instructions and a video showing how to prepare each dish so you cannot go wrong.

http://www.indianchild.com/vegeterian_recipes.htm -- lots of Indian vegetarian recipes, and more links.

http://www.vegkitchen.com -- features dozens of low-fat recipes, kitchen wisdom, and tips for new and aspiring vegetarians.

http://www.IVU.org -- the International Vegetarian Union with lots of resources on being a vegetarian, and http://www.IVU.org/recipes for tons of recipes from around the world.

http://www.vegweb.com/food -- the Veggies Unite recipes directory for lots of choices.

http://pavan.org.in/kitchen.html -- a site that offers a wide variety of vegetarian recipes.

http://www.deliciousindia.com/India/indianRecipes.htm#Vegetarian%20Sites -- here is a site that lists numerous other sites and resources for many Indian vegetarian recipes. There is a wide variety, so check the ingredients of any prep that interests you. This is from http://www.deliciousindia.com, an Indian cyber mall on Indian cooking with recipes, utensils, and more that you can order.

http://www.vegcooking.com/cookwithhema.asp -- a site that offers many vegetarian recipes, entrees, deserts, condiments, salads, side dishes, snacks, soups, beverages, etc.

http://www.Mahabazaar.com -- a cyber shop that offers Indian groceries, Indian recipes, books, news about events, and more.

http://www.Bhojan.org -- a site for information on Hindu vegetarian resources, includes lots of recipes, vegetarian grocery store directory, vegetarian restaurant listings, and much more.

http://turn.to/Vegetarianism -- A Hare Krishna site on vegetarianism, based in New Zealand, with lots of information on benefits of being vegetarian and how to do it.

http://www.tarladalal.com -- this site has many Indian vegetarian recipes and resources, but you must register and sign in to have access to most of the site, which is worth it for serious vegetarians with an interest in Indian foods.

http://student.anu.edu.au/clubs/Hare_Krishna_Vegetarian_Society -- a great site with lots of information and resources for being a vegetarian.

http://www.dixiediner.com -- offers a catalog of over 150 vegan food products. Now you can get what you need no matter where you are. Offers recipes, utensils, special food items, like dehydrated veggies, non-sugar, meat substitutes, soy products, bread mixes, quick mix preparations, canned goods, cookies, chocolates, and more.

http://www.healthy-eating.com -- offers a catalog of items for meat, dairy and egg substitutes, instant meal mixes, vegan and alternative health and yoga books, even vegetarian pet food, and more.

http://cheese.joyousliving.com -- offers a list of cheese manufacturers that make vegetarian cheese without animal enzymes.

http://www.veganoutreach.org -- has lots of information on the vegan lifestyle, diet, recipes, ingredients to choose, books to order, cruelty-free living, how to stay a healthy vegan, etc. http://www.veganoutreach.com/starterpack/recipes.html -- is a page that list several good vegetarian recipes.

http://www.vegetariansabroad.com -- offers a variety of vegetarian recipes and links to many other vegetarian based businesses and resources.

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net -- a great listing and directory of all the vegetarian (and vegetarian friendly) restaurants and natural food stores across America (over 2500). Has additional resources and information of co-ops, organizations, web sites, and vegetarian recipes and topics. A most useful site.

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/SouthAmerica/Brazil.htm -- a listing of vegetarian restaurants in Brazil.

http://www.naturalnirvana.com -- has a directory of vegetarian restaurants, grocery stores, guidebooks on restaurants, information on clothes, herbs, and more, as well as guidebooks on India and Nepal.

http://www.naturalnirvana.com/Vegetarian/Vegetarian-Links/Vegetarian-Links.htm a site with many links and resources for recipes, guides and directories for vegetarian restaurants around the world, other vegan sites, veggie organizations, animal rights groups, and more.

http://www.naturalnirvana.com/Vegetarian/Vegetarian-Files/Non-vegetarian-ingredients.htm -- list of ingredients in food that are often derived from meat.

Sites for More Information for Being a Vegetarian

http://www.vivavegie.org/vv101/index.html -- 101 reasons for being a vegetarian.

http://people.qualcomm.com/sriharid/info/vegetarianism/veg.html -- A beginner's guide to vegetarianism, a short article.

http://www.webcom.com/ara/col/books/VEG/hkvc1.html -- "Vegetarianism: A Means to a Higher End," by Adiraja das. Explains the material and spiritual advantages and need for a vegetarian diet.

http://www.indianchild.com/vegeteriansim_in_india.htm -- a page on Vedic reasons why vegetarianism is good for us and our spiritual practice, plus vegie recipes and more.

http://www.jewishveg.com -- This site explains why many Jewish religious leaders advocate vegetarianism, including Chief Rabbi of Britain Jonathan Sacks, late Chief Rabbi of Israel Shlomo Goren, and the first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel Abraham Kook?

http://www.goveg.com/jsfkosher.asp -- presents a video "If This is Kosher" on the atrocities in the agriprocessors that are said to produce kosher meat. "If This is Kosher" makes the idea of kosher meat as cruel as any process of animal slaughter there is.

http://www.indianchild.com/vegeterianism_quotes.htm -- a page that offers thoughtful quotes by important and noteworthy people on the need to be vegetarian.

http://www.clubs.psu.edu/up/vedicsociety/vegetarianism/ -- a short online film on the reasons and benefits of being a vegetarian from the Penn State Vedic Society.

http://www.christianveg.com/goodnews.htm -- a free ebook by Christians for convincing other Christians that vegetarianism is the proper diet. The title is "Good News for All Creation: Vegetarianism as Christian Stewardship".

http://www.ivu.org/religion/index.html -- a great list of many articles that look at all the religions and religious reasonings behind being a vegetarian.

http://www.veganhealth.org/shv#ada -- a site that lists the various concerns on staying a healthy vegan and the easy ways to get the proper nutrients in one's diet.

http://www.vegansociety.com -- a site that offers information about proper nutrition, the vegan lifestyle, animal and environmental issues, and more.

http://www.vegsoc.org -- the site of the Vegetarian Society with lots of info about being a vegetarian, with books, articles, recipes and more info about how to be vegetarian and promote its benefits.

http://www.therealfoodchannel.com/page/18.html -- Watch this video:The effect of animal fats on the human body

http://www.celestialhealing.net/physicalveg3.htm -- How humans are not physically created to eat meat.

Sites for Animal-free Products and Non-Leather Items

http://www.TheVegetarianSite.com -- offers news about vegetarian issues, articles, recipes, and resources for shoes, etc., that are leather-free.

http://www.VeganEssentials.com -- one of the largest selections of 100% vegan products in one place. Offers vegan shoes, belts, gourmet vegan food and sweets, body care products, and more.

http://www.VeganStore.com -- large selection of vegan goods, body care, cosmetics, vitamins, chocolates, candies, books and more. A one stop shop for cruelty-free needs.

http://www.mooshoes.com -- Carries non-leather items, shoes, jackets, ethical wares, vegan belts, wallets, bags, message T-shirts, buttons, stickers, etc.

http://www.downbound.com -- Downbound.com offers a wide assortment of products that promote animal rights (all vegan), human rights (no sweatshop and fair trade), and the environment (organic wherever possible). The name “Downbound” represents an ideological shift down the corporate ladder, down the food chain and down to earth. They carry over 200 organic hemp clothing and footwear items, organic fair trade coffee, DVD’s, etc.

http://www.sunflourbaking.com -- offers cookies and snacks that have no animal products and the finest vegan ingredients, along with ingredients for sale such as non-hydrogenated expeller pressed canola oil, non-aluminum baking powder, etc.

http://www.vegancats.com -- cruelty-free, vegan products for dogs and cats.

http://www.veggiepets.com -- a company in the United Kingdom for those who want to have vegetarian pet foods.

http://www.cowsarecool.com -- info on problems with leather and free guide to leather alternatives.

http://petacatalog.com -- lots of items helping and promoting a vegetarian lifestyle.

http://www.awbi.org/pamp24.htm -- the Animal Welfare Board of India and their list of meat ingredients in common foods, cosmetics, clothing, etc. Quite revealing.

http://www.veganchic.com -- offers a variety of non-leather shoes and lady's handbags.

Sites for Additional Resources, News and Issues on Vegetarianism, and Animal Protection Groups

http://www.ffl.org -- Food for Life, the world's largest vegan/vegetarian food relief organization.

http://www.vegetariantimes.com -- the site for Vegetarian Times magazine.

http://www.vegsource.com -- a site that offers news, views, recipes, etc., on vegetarianism/veganism.

http://www.goveg.com//vegkit/index.html -- here you can get your kit packed with info about going vegetarian, plus has a few recipes.

http://www.pcrm.org -- the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, has news, information on vegetarianism, progress on stopping animal testing, publications, and more.

http://www.meat.org/ -- "If Slaughterhouses had Glass Walls, everyone Would be Vegetarian" narrated by Paul McCartney, it shows the real horrors and cruelty that go on in slaughterhouses. If any sees this and remains a meat eater, their state of mind should be questioned...

http://www.meetyourmeat.com -- order or download Peta's video "Meet Your Meat", narrated by Alec Baldwin, has undercover footage Peta has taken of how animals are abused in meat and dairy industries.

http://www.sharetheworld.com -- has a nongraphic video for children.

http://www.bancruelfarms.org/meatrix -- the real story of cruel factory farms and what you can do about it.

http://www.Peta-online.org -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has news, views on animal cruelty, publications on vegetarianism, etc.

http://www.PetaIndia.com -- how to assist Peta's campaign to help cows, goats and sheep in India, and other advocacy work.

http://www.collegeactivist.com -- lots of info for veganizing your college dining hall and other ways to get active.

http://www.animalactivist.com -- tons of resources to do more for animals, literature, videos, etc.

http://www.vsdc.org -- site of the Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia.

http://www.greenpeople.org/vegetarian.cfm?memid=321 -- the site for the Vegetarian Resource Center.

http://www.vasumurti.org -- the site of Vasu Murti das and his writings, with many great and informative articles and book excerpts on the devotional, religious and civil need for a vegetarian lifestyle.

http://www.satyamag.com -- a magazine of Vegetarianism, Environmentalism and Animal Advocacy.

http://www.greenpeople.org/vegetarian.htm -- you can find a huge listing of additional vegetarian organizations and their websites from around the country, maybe one near you.

http://www.all-creatures.org -- the site of long-time vegans and animal rightists Frank and Mary Hoffman, dedicated to furthering peaceful, compassionate living for the whole creation. A huge site with lots of articles on all aspects of the significance of the vegetarian and compassionate lifestyle, from the religious to social.

http://www.kinshipcircle.org -- offers a collection of ready-made letters to legislators, businesses, and media that address animal cruelty/protection issues.

http://www.FarmSanctuary.org -- a large organization with many projects which operates the farm animal sanctuaries, and wages campaigns to stop the exploitation of animals raised for food. Also has news, resources, books, videos, etc.

http://www.vivausa.org -- offers info on the disadvantages and dangers of meat-eating, issues of farm bred animals for meat consumption, and educational info about the need for the vegetarian lifestyle.

http://www.anc.org -- the site for the Animals News Center.

http://www.vegetarianhome.com -- lots more resources and information on all aspects on the vegetarian lifestyle.

http://www.anc.org/laboratory/laboratory_article.cfm?identifier=2003_0409_site -- a page that promotes animal dissection alternatives.

http://www.madcowboy.com -- Howard Lyman's site on the dangers of mad cow disease, a meat diet, news, and the need for vegetarianism.

http://www.notmilk.com -- lots of articles and news on the issues and dangers of milk and modern milk industry.

Courtesy : www.Stephan-Knapp.com

Great Indians who did Great Things

Here are some short reviews of some great Indian masters who made great contributions to world development.


VARAHAMIHIR (499-587 CE) EMINENT ASTROLOGER AND ASTRONOMER



Renowned astrologer and astronomer who was honored with a special decoration and status as one of the nine gems in the court of King Vikramaditya in Avanti ( Ujjain ). Varahamihir's book "panchsiddhant" holds a prominent place in the realm of astronomy. He notes that the moon and planets are lustrous not because of their own light but due to sunlight. In the "Bruhad Samhita" and "Bruhad Jatak," he has revealed his discoveries in the domains of geography, constellation, science, botany and animal science. In his treatise on botanical science, Varamihir presents cures for various diseases afflicting plants and trees. The rishi-scientist survives through his unique contributions to the science of astrology and astronomy.


NAGARJUNA (100 CE) WIZARD OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE



He was an extraordinary wizard of science born in the nondescript village of Baluka in Madhya Pradesh . His dedicated research for twelve years produced maiden discoveries and inventions in the faculties of chemistry and metallurgy. Textual masterpieces like "Ras Ratnakar," "Rashrudaya" and "Rasendramangal" are his renowned contributions to the science of chemistry. Where the medieval alchemists of England failed, Nagarjuna had discovered the alchemy of transmuting base metals into gold. As the author of medical books like "Arogyamanjari" and "Yogasar," he also made significant contributions to the field of curative medicine. Because of his profound scholarliness and versatile knowledge, he was appointed as Chancellor of the famous University of Nalanda . Nagarjuna's milestone discoveries impress and astonish the scientists of today.


BHASKARACHARYA II (1114-1183 CE) GENIUS IN ALGEBRA



Born in the obscure village of Vijjadit (Jalgaon) in Maharastra, Bhaskaracharya's work in Algebra, Arithmetic and Geometry catapulted him to fame and immortality. His renowned mathematical works called "Lilavati" and "Bijaganita" are considered to be unparalled and a memorial to his profound intelligence. Its translation in several languages of the world bear testimony to its eminence. In his treatise "Siddhanta Shiromani" he writes on planetary positions, eclipses, cosmography, mathematical techniques and astronomical equipment. In the "Surya Siddhanta" he makes a note on the force of gravity: "Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. Therefore, the earth, planets, constellations, moon, and sun are held in orbit due to this attraction." Bhaskaracharya was the first to discover gravity, 500 years before Sir Isaac Newton. He was the champion among mathematicians of ancient and medieval India. His works fired the imagination of Persian and European scholars, who through research on his works earned fame and popularity.


ARYABHATT (476 CE) MASTER ASTRONOMER AND MATHEMATICIAN



Born in 476 CE in Kusumpur ( Bihar ), Aryabhatt's intellectual brilliance remapped the boundaries of mathematics and astronomy. In 499 CE, at the age of 23, he wrote a text on astronomy and an unparallel treatise on mathematics called "Aryabhatiyam." He formulated the process of calculating the motion of planets and the time of eclipses. Aryabhatt was the first to proclaim that the earth is round, it rotates on its axis, orbits the sun and is suspended in space - 1000 years before Copernicus published his heliocentric theory. He is also acknowledged for calculating p (Pi) to four decimal places: 3.1416 and the sine table in trigonometry. Centuries later, in 825 CE, the Arab mathematician, Mohammed Ibna Musa credited the value of Pi to the Indians, "This value has been given by the Hindus." And above all, his most spectacular contribution was the concept of zero without which modern computer technology would have been non-existent. Aryabhatt was a colossus in the field of mathematics.


ACHARYA SUSHRUT (600 BCE) FATHER OF PLASTIC SURGERY



A genius who has been glowingly recognized in the annals of medical science. Born to sage Vishwamitra, Acharya Sushrut details the first ever surgery procedures in "Sushrut Samhita," a unique encyclopedia of surgery. He is venerated as the father of plastic surgery and the science of anesthesia. When surgery was in its infancy in Europe, Sushrut was performing Rhinoplasty (restoration of a damaged nose) and other challenging operations. In the "Sushrut Samhita," he prescribes treatment for twelve types of fractures and six types of dislocations. His details on human embryology are simply amazing. Sushrut used 125 types of surgical instruments including scalpels, lancets, needles, cathers and rectal speculums; mostly designed from the jaws of animals and birds. He has also described a number of stitching methods; the use of horse's hair as thread and fibers of bark. In the "Sushrut Samhita," he details 300 types of operations. The ancient Indians were the pioneers in amputation, caesarian and cranial surgeries. Acharya Sushrut was a giant in the arena of medical science.


ACHARYA PATANJALI (200 BCE) FATHER OF YOGA



The Science of Yoga is one of several unique contributions of India to the world. It seeks to discover and realize the ultimate Reality through yogic practices. Acharya Patanjali, hailed from the district of Gonda (Ganara) in Uttar Pradesh, is considered to be the first to codify this ancient tradition. He prescribed the control of prana (life breath) as the means to control the body, mind and soul. This subsequently rewards one with good health and inner happiness. Acharya Patanjali's 84 yogic postures effectively enhance the efficiency of the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive and endocrine systems and many other organs of the body. Yoga has eight limbs where Acharya Patanjali shows the attainment of the ultimate bliss of God in samadhi through the disciplines of: yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahar, dhyan and dharna. The Science of Yoga has gained popularity because of its scientific approach and benefits. Yoga also holds the honored place as one of six philosophies in the Indian philosophical system. Acharya Patanjali will forever be remembered and revered as a pioneer in the science of self-discipline, happiness and self-realization.


ACHARYA KANAD (600 BCE) FOUNDER OF ATOMIC THEORY



As the founder of "Vaisheshik Darshan"- one of six principal philosophies of India - Acharya Kanad was a genius in philosophy. He is believed to have been born in Prabhas Kshetra near Dwaraka in Gujarat . He was the pioneer expounder of realism, law of causation and the atomic theory. He has classified all the objects of creation into nine elements, namely: earth, water, light, wind, ether, time, space, mind and soul. He says, "Every object of creation is made of atoms which in turn connect with each other to form molecules." His statement ushered in the Atomic Theory for the first time ever in the world, nearly 2500 years before John Dalton. Kanad has also described the dimension and motion of atoms and their chemical reactions with each other. The eminent historian, T.N. Colebrook, has said, "Compared to the scientists of Europe, Kanad and other Indian scientists were the global masters of this field."

ACHARYA BHARADWAJ (800 BCE) PIONEER OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY



Acharya Bharadwaj had a hermitage in the holy city of Prayag and was an ardent apostle of Ayurveda and mechanical sciences. He authored the "Yantra Sarvasva" which includes astonishing and outstanding discoveries in aviation science, space science and flying machines. He has described three categories of flying machines: 1.) One that flies on earth from one place to another. 2.) One that travels from one planet to another. 3.) And One that travels from one universe to another. His designs and descriptions have impressed and amazed aviation engineers of today. His brilliance in aviation technology is further reflected through techniques described by him:
1.) Profound Secret: The technique to make a flying machine invisible through the application of sunlight and wind force.
2.) Living Secret: The technique to make an invisible space machine visible through the application of electrical force.
3.) Secret of Eavesdropping: The technique to listen to a conversation in another plane.
4.) Visual Secrets: The technique to see what's happening inside another plane.
Through his innovative and brilliant discoveries, Acharya Bharadwaj has been recognized as the pioneer of aviation technology.


ACHARYA KAPILA (3000 BCE) FATHER OF COSMOLOGY



Celebrated as the founder of the Sankhya philosophy, Acharya Kapila is believed to have been born in 3000 BCE to the illustrious sage Kardama and Devahuti. He gifted the world with the Sankhya School of Thought. His pioneering work threw light on the nature and principles of the ultimate Soul (Purusha), primal matter (Prakruti) and creation. His concept of transformation of energy and profound commentaries on atma, non-atma and the subtle elements of the cosmos places him in an elite class of master achievers - incomparable to the discoveries of other cosmologists. On his assertion that Prakruti, with the inspiration of Purusha, is the mother of cosmic creation and all energies, he contributed a new chapter in the science of cosmology. Because of his extrasensory observations and revelations on the secrets of creation, he is recognized and saluted as the Father of Cosmology.

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Indian & American family problems

On a lighter note.. But gives a good perspective . Forwarded by friends.

Indian & American family problems:
Two men, one American and an Indian were sitting in a bar drinking shot after shot.

The Indian said to the American, ‘You know my parents are forcing me to get married to this so called homely girl from a village whom I haven’t even met once.’ We call this arranged marriage. I don’t want to marry a woman whom I don’t love… I told them that openly and now have a hell lot of family problems.’

The American said, talking about love marriages… I’ll tell you my story. I married a widow whom I deeply loved and dated for 3 years. ‘After a couple of years, my father fell in love with my step-daughter and married her, so my father became my son-in-law and I became my father’s father-in-law. Legally now my daughter is my mother and my wife my grandmother. More problems occurred when I had a son. My son is my father’s brother and so he is my uncle. Situations turned worse when my father had a son. Now my father’s son, my brother is my grandson. Ultimately, I have become my own grand father and I am my own grandson.. And you say you have family problems…idiot

Indian family system & concept of marriage is quite simple compared to the western concept of marriage. One has to only follow the tradition which leads to happiness. After hearing the complications the Indian called his parents and agreed to marry the girl the parents had selected. : )

Nothing against love marriages though : )

The Cost of Losing National Pride

The perception of some of the elite Indians may have changed a wee bit after the global recession but the majority of “educated & elite Indians” still lack national pride owing to our colonial education system.

A Bharat which draws inspiration from its past and drives into the future with firm roots of its indigenous genius would be unstoppable.
This article throws some light of the impressions of the inventor of the portable computer, Adam Osborne about Indians and their potential.

Osborne’s India
Author: S Gurumurthy
Publication: Organiser; Date: June 1, 2003

Introduction: What the man who invented the portable computer thought of IndiaOf course, Adam Osborne invented the portable computer. Turned a billionaire. Ended as bankrupt. His father Arthur Osborne spent the best part of his life with Ramana Maharishi.

Brought up and educated in Tiruvannamalai, Adam Osborne went back to the US and then came back to India. Settled in Kodaikanal, he was to the ordinary Indian the ‘White Tamilian’. He loved roses. All true. But this is ‘not just what Adam Osborne, who died recently in mother India’s laps, was. What this man-who sought solace in India-thought about India and Indians is far more important to English-educated elite Indians.

Writing in Data Quest magazine in the US well before he came back to settle in India, Osborne recalled his life at the Ramanashram in Turuvanammalai thus: “I was surrounded by Indians who were proud of their nationality and heritage”. Not just that. He says they “believed they had a lot to teach us Europeans”. Here the reference is to the’ ordinary Indian, the Indian proud of his nation.

He also finds another category of Indians, the elite and highly successful Indians and as a sample, Indian Americans. This is what he says about them. “Today I find myself dealing with Indians, many of who do not feel proud of their Indianness. Indian Americans represent the most affluent minority in America, ahead of Jewish Americans and Japanese Americans. This is a statistic and not an opinion. Indians swarm all over the Silicon Valley. Indians are recognized throughout America as technically superior’.

“And yet as a group, they lack national pride,” he says. “Indians are not proud of their nationality as Indians. Something I realised many years ago. Something that puzzled me, I have frequently talked to Indians of their lack of national pride, with telling results. Invariably, after making this assertion from the lecture podium, I find myself surrounded by Indians: Engineers, scientists, doctors, even lawyers, all asserting the correctness of my observations, ‘You are correct,’ they will ‘I am not proud that I am an Indian.”‘ Asks Adam Osborne, “Is India’s colonial heritage the sole reason? Who knows?’ “But, says Osborne, ‘whatever the reasons, it is a pity.”

What has it cost us? Osborne thinks this has made India a third world nation. He says: Since the day Indians learn pride, India will rapidly move out of its third world status to become one of the world’s industrial powers. Moved for India he swears: I will return to India, to preach Indian pride. I will preach that Indians must learn to be proud of being Indians…. irrespective of their race or religion.”

Suppose they regain their pride. Says Adam Osborne: “Then there will be no more shoddy Indian products” Why? Because every worker will generate output with the stamp of a proud man on it. With self-evident quality that screams out: “That is the work of an Indian!” Osborne thinks this will even bring down corruption. “And corruption will decline. Even though these root causes of corruption transcend the bases of lack of Indian pride of which I speak, nevertheless a proud man will pause, more than a man without pride, before extending his hand to receive a bribe.” He concludes: “A proud Indian will try harder to be responsible for products and services that others will praise. And it is in that praise that India’s future Industrial greatness lies.”

National pride is thus equally the winning formula in trade wars as in actual wars. No amount of foreign investment is substitute for that. Will our elites who undermine the pride of Indians day after day realise Adam Osborne’s prescription for them? For two reasons, I have quoted Adam Osborne. One, as he is a White man, his words are important to the Indian elite who want validation from the west. Second, as he sought solace in India, his words are important to me.