RMF Summary: Week of November 10-16, 2012

November 11 (continuing discussion from Nov 1st)
Re: Why mantra cannot be performed by a machine
This thread was initiated by Rajiv Malhotra to get constructive feedback in terms of Hindu texts and Sanskrit literature for/against this topic. He is engaged in a private debate with a reputed scholar. 

A commentator adds:
Dear Rajiv, Perhaps you might find this information useful:
1. On Mantra
A mantra is a construing of phonemes into a sound-form that has a special potency. Each phoneme has a significance in terns of either or both the intentionality of consciousness and the object towards which the consciousness is directed. But a mantra is more than mere sound; it is the special unity of
consciousness representing the deity of the mantra (the special power or shakti of an aspect of consciousness). The following extract from the Shiva-Sutra Vimarshini of Ksemaraja may throw more light on it ...

Rajiv Malhotra notes that: "...Sanskrit treats not only the sounds of the varṇas or letters but also the `conscious breath' or prāṇa as equally important in the chanting of the Mantras. Not only that but the involution and evolution of the prāṇa are also of importance during recitation...."



November 11 (continuing discussion from Nov 8)

Government of India officially issues "Missionary Visas" Instead of combating White Christian Missionaries from disrupting India's religious harmony, the Government of India officially issues "Missionary Visas"

Massive funding from organizations like World Vision (systematically documented in the book "Breaking India") for aggressive evangelizing in "growth markets" like India shreds the pluralist culture of India. A lawyer comments on a case of 'soul harvesting' he is currently dealing with:
"Lakshmi Priya, a native of Hyderabad girl, a software professional working for INFOSIS, on transfer to chennai was staying in a rented house witih a PENTACOSTAL CHRISTIAN friend. She used take Lakshmi along with her on Sundays to Church for few weeks.

Now Lakshmi Priya babtized [sic] baptized as Beula Grace. Resigned her job and brain washed to become NUN.

She is Kept in Irumpuliyur, Pentocoastal [t]raining centre.

The only daughter ( among 3)  who was given good education by her poor parents. Now says Jesus will save her family

Last week complaint was given to Commissioner of Police, Chennai by her parents ( along with Smt Vanathi Srinivasan, State Secretary, BJP, Tamil Nadu)  to rescue their daughter from the clutches of these human harvesters. Still unable to rescue..."

 November 13 (New Thread)

Request for funds to continue our work into 2013 I will be contributing to enable this research work to continue. Note: Hindu temples (only) in India are under Goverment control (long live secularism) and thus cannot provide funds for Hindus to conduct Hindu studies and produce scholars who can advocate for Hinduism in national and international forums. Rajiv Malhotra:  Happy Divali wishes to all of you. I would like to express my gratitude that several donations have been received by us in recent days without any solicitation. Some of the largest sums have come from persons I did not know earlier; they have expressed their appreciation in a quiet and very concrete way. This is welcome and we need it very much. Many of our projects are now at a critical stage and to bring them to fruition we need funds. Broadly, there are four kinds of activities: 1. More dissemination of BI/BD: 2. Language translations: 3. New research and new books to be published 4. Continuing the History of Indian Science and Technology series

So those of you who wish to support the work are invited to make a donation via Paypal. See http://beingdifferentbook.com/ Or send us a check to: Infinity Foundation, 66 Witherspoon, Suite 400, Princeton, NJ 09842. We will send back a letter of thanks and details of our IRS tax-exempt status.
Those wishing to contribute in rupees in India may contact Abhishek Jalan at: abhishek.jalan@...

November 14 (New Thread)

10th Annual DANAM Conference 2012 - 16-19 Nov - what's (on) the Agenda

Another example of a few misguided westerners keeping Hindu voices out of conferences on Hinduism that gave the world pluralism?!

...  Instead we learned through back channels (and despite our proposed panel Chair being enthusiastic DANAM Steering Committee member Jeffrey Long) that there was room only for a single book discussion. So a panel around Rajiv's path-breaking book on Dharma is not being hosted by an association dedicated to the DHARMA traditions.


..... The same thing happened with me when I wanted to present Hindu views on Contraversial writings by Emory Professors. I do not think  this so called 'DANAM'  represents Hindu views but supports what others think of Hindus in a disgraced way to denigrade them. this happened to me inspite of giving key role time to speak DANAM organizer  from Atlanta Vedic Temple Society,INC. [sic]

Rajiv Ji's talk at Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, Ahmedabad This is a very important video (and a morale-boosting one), because it involves some of the most prominent Gurus of Hinduism coming together with Rajiv Malhotra and sharing a platform to discuss the critical issues that Hinduism faces today, and shares some important updates. November 16 (New Thread) "India through Hindu categories" - a missed opportunity for 'dharmic Indology? "...Whereas my [provocative] email was to alert the concerned audiences (not just Hindus) to a missed opportunity at collective rapprochement, your (trivializing?) response reduces the question to that of bruised egos..." November 16 (New Thread) Very successful Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, Ahmedabad Fantastic news.   Rajiv Malhotra: I just returned from India after attending the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha's 5th Bi-annual Conference in Ahmedabad. I was fortunate to be invited to deliver a major talk. This was quite an honor and experience. Three shankaracharyas attended, along with about 200 mahatmas of various sampradayas and matthas from across India. About 40 sampradayas were represented by their top leader personally. When I delivered my talk, to my immediate right sat Swami Ramdev and we got a chance to chat informally. Immediately after my talk and Q&A, Ramdev delivered his talk, in which he made references to my talk and his main points were supportive of my statements... November 16 (continuing thread from October 12) The discussion in this thread has continued for more than 4 weeks now. Check it out. Western confidence and Indian youths (In one of the chapter of BD, Rajiv explains that Indians youths today have been mostly westernized and the confidence they possess is western(or american) and not Indian.) A commentator feels that a Hindu must first westernize to modernize and then return to Indian roots.  "if you have already decided and concluded that Westernization is inevitable, or useful in some way, then it doesn’t really matter what others tell you or what books/articles you read." Yes I would like to think so in present situation that westernization is inevitable. Because WU is very much there in rural areas too. An Indian youth has to go through it. I think thats the process. That is the only way they can have modern mind and can become part of the modern world. Later they can take U-turn and become more Indian..."