Tattva

ॐ

1. Quote

“In the beginning was only Being,

One without a second.

Out of himself he brought forth the cosmos

And entered into everything in it.

There is nothing that does not come from him.

Of everything he is the inmost Self.

He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.

You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that.”

- Chandogya Upanishad

2. Did You Know….?

The role of women in Hinduism is often misunderstood. In Vedic times women and men were equal as far as education and religion was concerned. In ancient India, women occupied a very important position, in fact in some ways, a superior position to men. It is a culture whose only words for strength and power are feminine -”Shakti” means “power” and “strength.” All male power comes from the feminine.

There are many stories and media attention about Child Marriage, Dowry, Bride-Burning, and Property matters for equality, mass Wife-Burning (Jauhar), Widow-Burning (Sati). Due to Islamic conquest, political instability, poor economic conditions and foreign invasion further made women’s freedom impossible. Hence, society became more protective about the women community, education, power, name and fame; also they linked these issues with caste status. Such situations ceased women rights. But after India’s freedom, the law again restored and protected women’s rights.

3. What’s your HQ (Hinduism Quotient)?

(E-mail your answers to add to your HQ! Answers to last weeks HQ can be found at the end of this e-mail)

HQ Rankings:1st:Ravi, 2nd:Rhishikesh, 3rd:Gaurav

True or False

1. Ganesh and Sudhama are brothers? T/F?

2. Lakshman shot the golden deer that Sita wanted? T/F?

Trivia…

1. Name both of Krishna’s moms?

2. Ganesh’s favorite bhog (food)?

3. Who is Vishnu’s wife?

4. Video

Americans Flock to Hugging Saint

5.Link

Ancient Flying Machines?

6. Something interesting about Hinduism

“All energy is borrowed, and someday you have to give it back.” - James Cameron’s “Avatar”

Let’s discuss this quote. It implies that we are merely visitors on this Earth and just passing some time here. Whatever we have and are right now will eventually be given back. This begs the question - can we really own anything? Is anything really ours? In Hinduism, (and in other spiritual traditions) we have the concept of an ego - some illusion that we have that makes us think that we are separate from god and gives us a false sense of “me.” We celebrate our accomplishments and grieve our failings with a sense of ownership. If someone insults me, then I may think..’who is she to insult me?’ But how many of us think, ‘Who am I to be insulted?’If we think of ourselves as ‘borrowing’ this energy of life, we will come to see beyond the ‘maya’ or illusion of us ‘owning’ something or someone or some experience. So why do we even bother to do anything if we’re going to die? Why does anything even matter? The answer…in DD vol.13 :)

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“When I am used I drain energy, when Dwarka Digest is read it provides energy”- iPhone

LAST WEEK’S HQ ANSWERS:

True or False

1. Kuber is Ravan’s brother? T/F?

T

2. Hanuman had 2 wives? T/F?

F

Trivia…

1. Where does Ganga reside?

Shiva’s hair knot

2. Name Krishna’s wife at Dwarka?

Rukmini

3. According to the prophecy, which child of Devaki’s was going to kill Kansa (hint: the answer is a number)?

8th