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December
5 --
Bombay,
India
Pujya Swamiji
was the Chief Guest at the Rotary International Convention
held at the Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai. The theme of the
International Convention was "Lend a Hand" and it
was graced also by the President of Rotary International,
Mr. Jonathan Majiyagbe.
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Pujya
Swamiji gave a beautiful talk in which he
commended Rotary International for their
widespread humanitarian work, but he urged them
to not only "Lend a Hand' to those in need,
but rather to "Give a Hand."
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"Lending
implies that it is temporary. Lending implies that they will
repay you somehow or that you are expecting something back
from the recipients. If I lend my book to someone, I am
waiting to get it back. Rather, let us give as Mother Ganga
gives: with no expectation, no hesitation, no discrimination
and no vacation. Let us give of ourselves, give of our time,
and give of our resources."
The
function was beautifully organized by Shri Sushil Gupta, the
owner of the Hyatt Regency Delhi and Mumbai and an active,
dedicated Rotary Club member.
December
7-9 --
Delhi
In conjunction
with the Parliament of World Religions, the Delhi Peace
Summit was held from December 7 - 9 with the theme of
"Toward a Culture of Harmony and Peace." The
event was co-sponsored by India Heritage Research Foundation
of which Pujya Swamiji is the Founder/Chairman (to see more
of IHRF's cultural and charitable projects, please see http://www.ihrf.com).
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On the inauguration, at
the Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi, the chief guests were
Honorable Shri Abdul Kalam, the President of India,
Honorable Dr. Karan Singh, former ambassador of India
to USA and a member of parliament, Shri Ashok Kumar
Jain, the mayor of Delhi, Shri Jagmohanji, the
Minister for Tourism and Culture, Government of India
and Shri A.H. Ahmadi, former Chief Justice Supreme
Court of India.
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Pujya
Swamiji with the President of India, Hon. Shri
Abdul Kalam and Dr. Karan Singhji
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Delegates
from nearly 20 countries came to take part in the 3 day
event which is a preliminary Summit, in preparation for the
Parliament of World Religions in Barcelona, in July 2004.
There were representatives
from the United Nations, International association of
religious freedom, United Religions initiative, World
Congress of Faiths and Temple of Understanding
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Pujya
Swamiji with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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The
Valedictory session was held at Gandhi Samiti, the land
where Mahatma Gandhiji was tragically assassinated. The
function was graced by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as well
as Shri R. Venkataram, the former President of India, Dr.
Karan Singh and Dr. L.M. Singhvi, as well as numerous
dignitaries and revered saints.
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Pujya
Swamiji presents the video of Lhasa and
Mansarovar as well as the photos to His Holiness
the Dalai Lama, with Shri R. Venkataram the
former President of India, Dr. Karan Singh and
Dr. L.M. Singhvi.
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Pujya
Swamiji presented His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a video
cassette of our yatra to Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash,
highlighting the days we spent in Lhasa and the meditation
we performed on His Holiness' birthday in Potala Palace, his
previous home. His Holiness was very happy to hear about the
yatra as well as about the humanitarian projects that India
Heritage Research Foundation, under Pujya Swamiji's
guidance, inspiration and leadership, are doing for the
people of Mansarovar (for more information on these
projects, please see www.kailashmansarovar.org).
December
8 --
Bangalore
Pujya Swamiji
was the main speaker at the World Youth Peace Summit, an
initiative of the Millennium World Peace Summit. The World
Youth Peace Summit was held in anticipation of the major
International World Youth Peace Summit which is being
organized by the United Nations and held in Kenya, Africa in
October 2004.
This World
Youth Peace Summit was held in Bangalore at the ashram of
Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji.
Pujya
Swamiji gave a beautiful speech to the thousands of youth
who had gathered there from across the world, in which He
gave them inspiring and uplifting suggestions on how to live
spiritual, meaningful, divine lives in this time of being
youth and students.
December
11 --
Delhi
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Pujya
Swamiji met with Hon. Dr. Karan Singh in Delhi
to discuss numerous things, including the
progress of the monumental project of the
Encyclopedia of Hinduism.
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December
26 --
Veerpur
Shri Chandru
Kewalramani from London and his brother Shri Vijay Kewalramani from New York came with their families to
Rishikesh. Shri Chandruji is a great supporter of Parmarth
and India Heritage Research Foundation, and sponsored the
water facility project as well as 2 rooms in Veerpur. These
were sponsored in loving memory of his parents and were
officially inaugurated on the 26 December. Previously the
village of Veerpur -- although living on the banks of Ganga
-- had no running water. Through Shri Chandruji's
generosity, a boring well was dug and running water has been
provided for the village.
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Pujya
Swamiji walks the Kewalramani family along the
banks of Ganga in Veerpur
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The
official puja for the 2 room set was
performed.
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The
new gaushala (cow home) in Veerpur
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Clockwise from top: The
water tap facility is officially inaugurated by
the Kewalramani family; the fertile land of
veerpur has been planted full of organic
vegetables and ayurvedic plants; Priyanka
Kewalramani (the youngest member of the family)
distributed clothing to the Rishikumars at the
Veerpur Gurukul.
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Pujya
Swamiji shows them all the organic farming in
front of the Gurukul building.
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December
26 -
January 4 --
Rishikesh
A divine free
medical camp was held at Parmarth Niketan. Doctors from
Australia and also from India came to provide free eye care,
including check ups, testing, diagnosis and free cataract
operations. Patients received medicine and treatment where
needed as well as operations if those were needed.
Dr. Jay
Chandra, Dr. Shailja Chandra, Dr. Amrat Chowdhary and Dr. Purnima Roy came from
Australia, and they were joined by 4 local eye specialists.
In all, over 450 patients were seen. 56 cataract operations
were performed and 107 patients received free eye
glasses.
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Free cataract operations
are performed for local, needy, indigent people
of the Himalayas.
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Patient
recovering from operation
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crowd in the
hospital, waiting for free treatment
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The
following information was given also in the November update
December
1-2 --
London
Pujya Swamiji concluded His abroad
yatra with a visit to London (and, as His yatra concluded on
2 December, we included these 2 days in the
November update as well).
On December 1 He gave a special program
at the University College London on "Why Should I be a
Hindu." The lecture was not focused on making people
Hindu, but rather focused on the beauty, wisdom, insights
and truths of the Hindu tradition. It was actually more a
talk on "The True Definition of Hinduism - What Does it
Mean to be a Good Hindu" and "Why I should
maintain and upkeep my Hindu faith and
tradition."
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He spoke for about 1
hour and then opened the floor for questions and
answers. The audience was mainly students from
various colleges/universities in London as well
as adults who were eager to hear the talk.
Topics ranged from non-violence, to dispelling
myths of Hinduism, to inclusivity, to
vegetarianism to how to heal violence within
India.
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The program was successfully and beautifully organized in
just one week's time by Bhavit Mehta, Neeraj Nathwani, and
Naveen Joshi of UCL and IHRF - UK.
On December 2 Pujya Swamiji was the guest of the Treasury
and the House of Commons. The Rt. Honorable Paul Boetang,
Treasury Minister had been together with Pujya Swamiji at
the Vision Dinner in 1999, hosted by Shri Ramniklal Solanki
and family of Garavi Gujarat and Asian Trader Publications.
Since that time, he has been inquiring about Pujya Swamiji
and requesting him to come to the treasury. So, this time
Shri Kalpesh Solanki and Shri Shailesh Solanki organized the
visit.
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It was beautiful to see
Hon. Paul Boetang greet Pujya Swamiji with
garlands of flowers, traditional tilak and aarti.
Then, he took us throughout the entire Treasury
building, explaining the history of the treasury
as well as the nuances of its daily operations.
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However, what impressed Pujya Swamiji
the most was that the Honorable Minister keeps a beautiful
temple in his office, with deities of various faiths,
including Ganesh. There was even prasad laid out beautifully
in front of the deities.
Hon. Paul
Boetang is the first
non-white minister of that high level in UK and he is a
beautiful, humble, dignified, loving and committed soul. He
and Pujya Swamiji greeted each other with the love of old,
dear friends.
Now, we just hope that he will allow us
to make him feel that much at home in Rishikesh!
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Pujya
Swamiji with Hon. Paul Boetang, the Solanki
family & Sadhvi Bhagwati
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Following
the visit to the Treasury, Pujya Swamiji was the guest of
Mr. Barry Gardiner, MP at the House of Commons where he took
Pujya Swamiji throughout the House of Lords and the House of
Commons as well as to the old Westminster.
MARCH
1- 7:
INTERNATIONAL
YOGA FESTIVAL
From
March 1-7, Parmarth is pleased to once again host and
organize the International Yoga Festival. For more details
please see www.parmarth.com/yogafestival.htm
This
year�s highlights will include:
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1.
KUNDALINI YOGA
taught by world famous Gurmukh Kaur
Khalsa of Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood,
California, USA. Gurmukh is one of the world's
most renowned Kundalini Yoga teachers and is one of
the highlights of every year's Festival. |
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2.
IYENGAR
YOGA
taught by
Karin O�Bannon, certified
Senior Intermediate Level 3 Iyengar Yoga
Instructor (one of the highest levels)
and the
newest, divine addition to the Parmarth Yoga Centre.
Previously the Senior Teacher of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Los
Angeles, Karin is will be residing full time at Parmarth,
and will offer daily Iyengar yoga classes as well as
periodic special courses and workshops. Stay tuned to
www.parmarth.com/yoga.htm for class and course info for Iyengar
classes and courses taught by Karin. |
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3.
Reiki courses and treatment by Reiki Master
Rohini
Khatri
4.
Ayurvedic course and treatment by Ayurvedic Expert
Brahmachari Vishwapal Jayanti
5.
Inspiring lectures
by revered saints
6.
Evening divine Ganga Aarti
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Pujya
Sant Shri Rameshbhai Oza (Pujya Bhaishri) is one of the
world's most famous and revered Kathakars (those who recite
the stories and messages of the scriptures). His Shrimad
Bhagwat Katha and Shri Rama Katha attract audiences of tens
of thousands of people, all across the world. He not
only tells the story of Bhagwan Krishna, but -- for 9 days
-- one feels as though one has been transported back to the
divine lands of Gokul and Vrindavan. The story is told with
song, bringing alive the messages and teachings of Bhagwan
Krishna.
The Katha will be given in Hindi, but even those who do not
speak the language will undoubtedly be touched, taught and
transformed by the power of the chanting, the depth of the
shlokas and the message of God, which is universal and
beyond language. See www.sandipani.org
for more details on Pujya Bhaishri
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The
atmosphere at Parmarth Niketan during the katha will be
especially spiritually charged as it is also the time
of the
ARDH KUMBHA
MELA.
Katha timings
will be in the morning, and evenings will
be filled with
bhajans, kirtan, satsang, Ganga Aarti and yagna. Please go
to www.parmarth.com/kathareg.htm
to register |
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Bathing
in Ganga at Parmarth
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