Content of Faith is more important than form. Question of practicing and non practicing is more of analysis of of our Faith than actual Faith we have. Faith is tested belief and as such it does not need reassurance of the same. Religion as such is meant to enhance the spiritual level of the individual. When prescribed practices are set in a regular form, human nature rebels and one develops a guilty feeling when they do not conform to what has been prescribed.This is not necessary. As you have remarked if you have a comfortable feeling with yourself, you are on course.Unalloyed reactions for what we have done or nor done indicates whether we are right or not.Only when we tinker with rationalization we have problems. All these conflicts arise when you have a standard ,prescribed format of procedures for realizing God. But if these barriers are removed, it is easy to live the life than practice what we believe in. Hinduism does not have standard text books to follow. You can either follow or not. You deny existence of God, you may not practice , yet you are a Hindu. In fact the name Hindu denotes geographical identity You are given the freedom to pursue your course of action.
Story:
Some religions do some very smart things and state things in logical ways. For example I like a phrase the Catholics use, they are either practicing or non-practicing. As a young girl, my friend’s mom told me she was a “non-practicing Catholic”. I had no idea what that meant. I knew Maria in the Sound of Music was a Catholic, so non-practicing Catholic must be someone who didn’t act like Maria. Someone who wasn’t good and probably didn’t go to church or spin on a mountain singing about the hills being alive to a big 100+ musician orchestra.
Top Five Recipients of NGO Funds in IndiaPlease check the link as well.
If a Religion is strong in its fundamentals , it does not need money to propagate it.
One of my reader friends in a comment stated that God’s words needs to be propagated
I disagree.God , if He needs propagation, He is no God.
Religion’s strength lies not in numbers but in the solace offered to Man.
Fixing targets for conversion and calling ‘Age of Asia’ is anathema to Religion.
While some religions resort to sword some resort to bribing.
Story:
This report is released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, & gives details
of Contribution received by the NGO’s under the Foreign Contribution
Regulation Act 1976:-
1 crore (100,00,000) = 10 million (10,000,000)
1. Highest receivers of Foreign Contribution state-wise:
TAMIL NADU — Rs 2244 crores
DELHI — Rs 2186 crores
ANDHRA PRADESH — Rs 1,211 crores
2. Highest receivers of Foreign Contribution city-wise:
CHENNAI — Rs 928 crores
MUMBAI — Rs 891 crores
RANCHI — Rs 653 crores
3. Largest Donors: USA — Rs 2971 crores
GERMANY — Rs 1650 crores
UK — Rs 1425 crores
4. List of foreign Donors topped by:
MISEREOR POSTFECH, GERMANY — Rs 1243 crores WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL, USA — Rs 469 crores
FUNDACION VICENTE FERRER, SPAIN — Rs 399 crores
5. The Highest Contribution received by:
RANCHI JESUITS RANCHI JHARKHAND — Rs 621 crores
SONTHOME TRUST OF KALYAN NEAR MUMBAI — Rs 333 crores
SOVERGEIN ORDER OF MALTA DELHI — Rs 301 crores
To know more about the amounts received by the NGOs for Evangelisation
in India, read the FCRA Report 2006-07, Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI: http://www.mha.gov.in/fcra/annual/ar2006-07.pdf
Note:-
1. We are not talking of the money that comes from the Arab world which I presume
comes mostly through the Hawala route.
2. Hindus need to donate a lot more to worthwhile organizations. A friend recommended this
site: http://www.bharatheritagefoundation.org as an example of a samstha doing good work.
3. Amongst many others who are doing good work and need to be supported:
i) The Ramakrishna Mission,
ii) Friends of Tribal Society,
iii) Vivekananda Kendra,
iv) Chinmaya Mission,
v) Arya Samaj …
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
( Annual Report for 2006-07 )
*****
Introduction
Foreign Contribution is regulated under the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 1976. This Act came into force from 05th August 1976, to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution with a view to ensure that institutions, associations and other voluntary organizations as well as individuals working in important areas of national life receive foreign contribution and foreign hospitality, respectively, in a manner consistent with India’s values as a sovereign, democratic republic.
Salient Features
Data pertaining to receipt of foreign contribution for 2006-07 has inter alia the following salient features:
I. As on 31-03-2007, 33937 associations were registered and 522 were granted prior permission during the year 2006-07.
II. For the year 2006-07, 18996, associations reported receipt of foreign contribution (including those which received NIL amount) amounting to Rs. 11336.97 crore.
III. Among the States and Union Territories, Delhi (Rs.2183.03 crore) reported the highest receipt of foreign contribution followed by Tamil Nadu (Rs 2117.71 crore) and Andhra Pradesh (Rs 1,210.82 crore).
IV. Among the districts in different States, Chennai (Rs. 908.09 crore) reported the highest receipt of foreign contribution, followed by Mumbai (Rs. 891.26 crore) and Bangalore (Rs. 628.48 crore).
V. The list of donor countries is headed by the USA (Rs.2,949.35 crore) followed by UK (Rs. 1427.50 crore) and the Germany (Rs. 1035.40 crore).
VI. The list of foreign donors is topped by World Vision International, USA (Rs. 703.75 crore) followed by Gospel for Asia, USA (Rs. 453.58 crore) and Fundacion Vicente Ferrer, Spain (Rs. 399.45 crore).
VII. Among the associations which reported receipt of foreign contribution, Sonthome Trust of Kalyan, Mumbai, Maharashtra (Rs. 332.86 crore) received the highest amount of foreign contribution followed by Sovereign Order of Malta, Delhi (Rs.300.79 crore) and World Vision of India, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (Rs. 256.06 crore).
VIII Among the purposes for which foreign contribution was utilised, the highest amount of foreign contribution was utilised for Establishment Expenses (Rs.3058.48 crore), followed by Relief/Rehabilitation of victims of natural calamities (Rs.2534.23 crore), Rural Development (Rs.1956.63 crore), Construction and maintenance of schools/colleges (Rs.1208.92 crore), and Welfare of Children (Rs.1184.38 crore).
(ii)
”
Nature of Use of Funds:
Significant portion of the received funds are used for ‘Establishment Expenses” which is against the basic cannon of charity work. It is expected that Charity involves lesser fixed assets creation particularly of the flamboyant nature. Also the jet setting aspect of the NGO’s provide clues to the nature of expenditure. Whether it is New York or Geneva we find members of Indian NGO community lobbying for some cause mostly of human rights. This creates a closed loop wherein they receive money to further some agenda and for that they receive more money…
Large amount of funds go to Christian organizations whose purpose is conversion. This act of “soul harvesting” or “planting of the Church” is an anachronistic practice of nineteenth century which is totally incongruous in the twenty first century where faith based political movements like the Church movements are disappearing from Europe their cradle of growth. Europe which has given up on the Church is trying to overcome its guilt by exporting Christianity to India. The recipient organizations may argue that they are serving poor but do they need European money to serve Indian poor.
Also some organizations like World Vision appear to be secular or non-denominational in India. But the fact of the matter is that is Christian in origin and membership. This has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of USA. We can take them as a representative example wherein they do not mention much about their exclusive Christian identity when campaigning for funds within India
World Vision was founded 60 years ago as a Christian humanitarian organization. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision’s work with the poor and oppressed is a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.
As a Christian organization, World Vision has virtually the same Statement of Faith included in its September 1950 articles of incorporation. While about 20 percent of our worldwide staff are of other faiths, all prospective staff at World Vision U.S. are required to sign that Statement of Faith or, as an alternative, the Apostles’ Creed.
Far from being narrow in scope, the Apostles’ Creed and World Vision’s Statement of Faith reflect the basic theological beliefs shared for millennia by the vast majority of orthodox Christian traditions — Roman Catholic, Mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, evangelical, or Orthodox.
Issues of the current court case
The issues at the center of the Spencer case — the plaintiffs’ denial of the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus Christ — are central to Christianity. By definition, a Christian believes that Jesus Christ is the only son of God. World Vision believes one can be a good person, a moral person — even a religious person — without believing this. But World Vision believes that one cannot be a Christian unless one can confess, as the Apostle Peter did in Matthew 16:16 (NIV), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
To be clear, we hire Christians, imperfect and flawed, not because we think they are superior, but because we believe that any real success will come only through the presence of Christ in each employee’s heart and His power through prayer in each staff member’s mind and hands.
The plaintiffs in this case signed the Statement of Faith when they were hired, but later changed their core beliefs. It was only when these staff members stopped attending World Vision’s weekly chapel services and instead began alternative worship and study sessions at work that the change in their beliefs became obvious. We regret the departure of our former colleagues, and we pray they have been able to find areas of humanitarian service that are compatible with their new beliefs.
Hiring people of shared beliefs
World Vision believes that staff commitment to core Christian beliefs as we understand them from the Bible is essential for maintaining our Christian identity. Organizationally, our humanitarian work is done as a reflection of — and an extension of — our Christian faith. We represent Christ in our work.
Hiring people of shared belief is a common practice among charitable institutions, many of whom receive federal funding. A non-profit that advocates for animal rights, for example, would be unlikely to hire a hunter or a non-vegetarian. An environmental organization is unlikely to hire a global warming skeptic. Non-profit organizations are defined by their core mission and motivation. To hire those uncommitted to that mission would be to undermine the organization
Who we are and how we serve
World Vision has worked hard to be clear with our donors in our communication and transparent about our Christian identity. We do not want to take donations under false pretences.
Similarly, World Vision always identifies itself as a Christian organization in the communities where we serve, including many where there are few, if any, Christians. World Vision works in many countries where the majority of people follow another religion, including some areas where Christian teaching is not welcome. In all cases, we respect the local culture and abide by local laws.
World Vision is a signatory to the Red Cross Code of Conduct and does not proselytize. That is, we never require aid recipients to listen to a religious message as a condition of our help, nor do we use aid as an inducement for recipients to change religion. We also never discriminate on the basis of religion in giving aid; we serve every child in need that we possibly can, of any faith …..
The Physiological /Neurological explanation of consciousness is nothing more than that has been stated in philosophy, adding strength to the ditctum’The more you seem to know the less you know’.
The problems cited in the article are the questions raised in Philosophy and answers have been attempted.
We have sense organs,eyes,ears,nose,tongue and skin.
We also have five organs of awareness(loose translation of Gnana,which really means Knowledge), namely the sense of seeing ( as distinct from eyes),hearing,smelling,tasting and touching.
We also have mind which is the activity of the brain,
Intellect which distinguishes between correct and the incorrect , between Right and Wrong.
We also have Chitta that guides Intellect.
Beyond is ‘ I’ or Ahankaara..
Self or Atman is the embodiment of Being, Chitt and Bliss.
The Universal Chit is present is present in every being and is reflected as individual Chit in the individual because we are conditioned by Space and Time.
Rene Descates calls it proof for the existence of the Self.
Spinoza calls is Substance, defining it as’ that which does not need the existence of anything or which does not need the conception of anything else in order to be conceived’
Mimasa of Indian Philosophy calls it the Karma or action reaction cycle and Kant as categorical Imperative.
Consciousness is an attribute of Reality;Reality is not conditioned by it.
The difference between Mind and Matter is one of degree not of kind.All things are made up of vibrations,lesser the vibrations grosser the object becomes; greater , it becomes subtle or mind.( Miamsa and Buddhism)
Story:
The young women had survived the car crash, after a fashion. In the five months since parts of her brain had been crushed, she could open her eyes but didn’t respond to sights, sounds or jabs. In the jargon of neurology, she was judged to be in a persistent vegetative state. In crueler everyday language, she was a vegetable.
So picture the astonishment of British and Belgian scientists as they scanned her brain using a kind of MRI that detects blood flow to active parts of the brain. When they recited sentences, the parts involved in language lit up. When they asked her to imagine visiting the rooms of her house, the parts involved in navigating space and recognizing places ramped up. And when they asked her to imagine playing tennis, the regions that trigger motion joined in. Indeed, her scans were barely different from those of healthy volunteers. The woman, it appears, had glimmerings of consciousness.
Try to comprehend what it is like to be that woman. Do you appreciate the words and caresses of your distraught family while racked with frustration at your inability to reassure them that they are getting through? Or do you drift in a haze, springing to life with a concrete thought when a voice prods you, only to slip back into blankness? If we could experience this existence, would we prefer it to death? And if these questions have answers, would they change our policies toward unresponsive patients–making the Terri Schiavo case look like child’s play?
The report of this unusual case last September was just the latest shock from a bracing new field, the science of consciousness. Questions once confined to theological speculations and late-night dorm-room bull sessions are now at the forefront of cognitive neuroscience. With some problems, a modicum of consensus has taken shape. With others, the puzzlement is so deep that they may never be resolved. Some of our deepest convictions about what it means to be human have been shaken.
In HinduismGod is easily accessible and one can worship Him/Her in any form or have relation ship with him in any capacity,Supreme Being,Teacher,friend ,Lover,Guide ,mother,father or in any way the human mind can conceive, depending individual’s comfort level for communion with the Supreme Being.
The Devadasi system was evolved taking into consideration this fact and women who wish to serve God by dedicating themselves to the service God, shunning all worldly desires, including marriage and the society took care of their needs.
Unfortunately this system got corrupted by people who do not know/understand the background of the system and it has become an out let for prostitution.
The Devadasis are dedicated to any God , not to Goddesses, (as mentioned in the article)
It is easy for people to misunderstand Hinduism if they do not study deeply Hinduism .This applies in equal measure to people who call themselves Hindus as well as those who do are not familiar with Hinduism.
Let me record my appreciation of the author for her objective reporting.
For details of Hinduism and Hindu customs please follow the link.
The Devadasi system is not meant for prostitution.In Hinduism God is easily accessible and one can worship Him/Her in any form or have relation ship with him in any capacity,Supreme Being,Teacher,friend ,Lover,Guide ,mother,father or in any way the human mind can conceive, depending individual’s comfort level for communion with the Supreme Being.The Devadasi system was evolved taking into consideration this fact and women who wish to serve God by dedicating themselves to the service God, shunning all worldly desires, including marriage and the society took care of their needs.Unfortunately this system got corrupted by people who do not know/understand the background of the system and it has become an out let for prostitution.The Devadasis are dedicated to any God , not to Goddesses, (as mentioned in the article)It is easy for people to misunderstand Hinduism if they do not study deeply Hinduism .This applies in equal measure to people who call themselves Hindus as well as those who do are not familiar with Hinduism.Let me record my appreciation of the author for her objective reporting.For details of Hinduism and Hindu customs please follow the link.
Also read my Blogs under Hinduism/Indian Philosophy.
Story.
On my very first day there I stumbled into a meeting of Devadasi prostitutes. I was told that they were temple prostitutes, but didn’t have any understanding of what that meant. It sounded absolutely barmy!
I began to research it and in February 2008 was invited to northern Karnatakar, which is the centre of the tradition in India. I interviewed a few of the women and wrote an article about it for Vice magazine. But visiting them stayed with me, and I wanted to find out more.
When you approach a Devadasi girl for interview the response varies hugely. There’s a huge spectrum of women. A really wealthy brothel madam in Mumbai would be quite proud to talk about what she does. But in very poor rural communities, like in Karnatakar, they’re much more difficult to talk to. These young women are ostracised and exploited and they’re ashamed of what they do. They wish they could get married, but they can’t and are in this dreadful prison.
The only thing that has changed since the Devadasi practise was made illegal in 1988 is that the ceremonies have been driven underground. It’s still very common in some parts of India. A Westerner wouldn’t know to look at the girls that they are Devadasi, but Indians know on sight who they are and what they do. Really it comes down to caste.
Caste is a massively complicated issue still in India. My understanding of it is that originally when the Devadasi tradition first came about, the women dedicated were from high caste families, even royalty. They held a very special place in the Indian culture: were incredible dancers, poets, artisans. They had specific religious roles to play within the temple performing various sacred religious rites. They were almost like nuns and it had nothing to do with sex. It was more like being a priestess.
Stephen hawking , in his forthcoming book the Grand Design makes interesting observations.While he , in his earlier book,Brief history of Time seemed to take a philosophical position, which is unwarranted, as scientists normally concern themselves to their discipline instead of trying to explain things from their discipline,in his latest book he has taken the position that God is not necessary for the creation of Universe.
The absurdity of this argument lies in the fact that he has taken or rather seems to take the concept of God according to Christianity.
Creation , according to The Bible, is to have begun at a fixed point of Time.
This is not logically tenable.
Can he define ‘Some thing’ and ‘Nothing’?
Every effect has a cause, every Effect has more than one Cause ;a Cause may be a result of another Cause and an Effect may be a Cause for another Effect.
In the first case, we credit an Event/Effect with a specific Cause relatively for this case for this cause may be a result of another cause.
In the second case the reverse is true.Causes are classified into Immediate Cause, Concomitant Cause.Material Cause,Efficient Cause etc.No single entity is responsible for any Effect .Similar is the case with Effects.
law of causality in nothing but a tool of mind to find a pattern for our convenience of understanding and classification.Things happenirrrespective of the fact whether we recognise them , classify them or not.
Things/Events happen-Period.
Unified Theory is as good as Chaos Theory.Both are equally true , depending on our perception.
As Immanuel Kant has observed Space and Time are the two spectacles through which we perceive.Take away the these twin concepts(in fact they are one), you can perceive or conceptualize nothing.
Therefore the causality is a myth.
Again Law of causality depends on two factors,Law of uniformity of nature and Law of Causation.
We know, or rather we think we know that the the law of of Uniformity of Nature will be there tomorrow as in Sun appearing to morrow.At best we may say it has happened till date and MAY be so to morrow.That is all.
We have already seen that law of Causality is a myth and only a convenient tool as science is .
Therefore the argument for First cause is not tenable(God).
Then how do we explain the Universe and Mind?
As said earlier things happen, happened ,and shall happen.
We are in the flow ,as Henri Bergson called it,elan vital-Stream of Consciousness.
We can not pin point a point of Time when this originated
Please refer my Blog on Time-a non linear theory for details.
Hence hawking is right in so far as the concept of God as Christianity sees it.
Not philosophically correct.
Spinoza explains the Reality( God) thus.
“Substance is that which exists independently of any thing else and which does not need the concept of any thing in order to be conceived”
Hinduism states that reality is without Cause,it is the First cause.It has no attribute.It is immanent.beyond human intellect.It is indescribable,It can not be known.it can only be experienced.It can not be defined but can be described by negating-not this, not this.
Hinduism states that things were, are and shall be.(The Bhagavad Gita).
Universe evolved both matter and Mind by the Sparsa( loosely trnslated means touching,grazing) of inanimate matter Prakriti or nature( not Nature) or qualities and dynamic or Flowing Energy Purusha.
They graze due to lila or playfully(loose translation) with out any specific purpose or purposeless may be a purpose.
Out these are formed the seeming first cause, mahat and 24 principles are evolved for the Creation.It does not Time reference.
“Because there is a law such as gravity, the Universe can and will create itself from nothing,” the excerpt says. “Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke God to … set the Universe going.”-Hawking in his latest Book.
Exactly.This what Hinduism is about.
The dichotomy between western and oriental thought is due to the basic difference in the basic concept of Knowledge.
In the west knowledge is to be gained.A positive concept.-philosophically speaking.
In the east it is the removal of ignorance.
West follows the dictum’Ex Nihilo nihil Fit'( out of nothing comes).
East”This is full,That is Full; having taken Full out of Full, Full remains Full”
Hawking is right on the denial of God as conceptualized by Christianity ;wrong from the indian and philosophical standpoint.
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