Jackie Maldonado

Wedding

2007-01-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

Hindu Prayer for Mercy

2006-10-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

I muse on my heart and I ponder this question:
When shall I again be at one with Varuna?
Will he accept without rancor my offering?
When, reassured, shall I taste of his mercy?
I question myself on my sin, O Varuna,desirous to know it.
I seek out the wiseto ask them; the sages all give me this answer,
"The God, great Varuna, is angry with you.
"What, then, O God, is my greatest transgressionfor which you would ruin your singer, your friend?
Tell me, O God who knows all and lacks nothing,so that, quickly prostrating, I may sinless crave pardon.
Loose us from the yoke of the sins of our fathersand also from those we ourselves have committed.
Release your servant, as a thief is set free from his crime or as a calf is loosed from its cord.

The Non Violence Ethic

2006-10-24T23:43:00.000-07:00

Gautama Buddha propounded the philosophy of non-violence, universal love and peace 2,500 years ago. Emperor Ashoka Maurya from India gave this pacifist philosophy official recognition in the 3rd century B.C.E. and sent buddhist missionaries to the far-east and Central Asia. For this initiative in spreading the message of peace and non-violence, he is remembered not only by Indians but by pacifists all around the globe.

It is becoming increasingly ironical to talk about Non-violence in a world of Inter-Continental Ballastic Missiles, Hydrogen Bombs, Nuclear Submarines and the rest. But amidst all the dust that is kicked up by the aggravating belligerence between the US and Iraq or India and Pakistan for instance, the word Non-Violence brings to mind the name of Mahatma Gandhi in India along with the other pacifist crusaders in different parts of the world.

Gonkura Pachadi

2006-10-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

2 cups Gonkura leaves
15 Green chillies
1 Big onion
2 tsp Coriander seeds
1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
5 flakes Garlic
3 tbsp Oil
a pinch Asafoetida
as required Salt

Direction For Cooking
Pick and wash leaves. Fry leaves separately in oil till it shrinks.

Heat little oil in a cooking pan, add mustard, fenugreek, asafoetida and remove when it splutters. Fry coriander seeds and green chillies and remove.

Grind leaves along with roasted spices and mix diced onion, salt to coarse paste.

Heat little oil, season little mustard seeds and garlic add to this paste and mix well.

Be pleased to show mercy, O God!

2006-10-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

Thou art the Imperishable, the supreme Object of Knowledge; Thou art the ultimate resting-place of this universe; Thou art the immortal guardian of the eternal right, Thou art the everlasting Spirit, I hold.

Without beginning, middle, or end, of infinite power, Of infinite arms, whose eyes are the moon and sun, I see Thee, whose face is flaming fire, Burning this whole universe with Thy radiance.

For this region between heaven and earth Is pervaded by Thee alone, and all the directions; Seeing this Thy wondrous, terrible form, The triple world trembles, O exalted one!

Homage be to Thee from, in front and from behind, Homage be to Thee from all sides, Thou All! O Thou of infinite might, Thy prowess is unmeasured; Thou attainest all; therefore Thou art All!

Thou art the father of the world of things that move and move not, And Thou art its revered, most venerable Guru; There is no other like Thee-how then a greater?Even, in the three worlds, O Thou of matchless greatness

Therefore, bowing and prostrating my body,I beg grace of Thee, the Lord to be revered: As a father to his son, as a friend to his friend, As a lover to his beloved, be pleased to show mercy, O God!

Where the mind is without fear By Rabindranath Tagore

2006-09-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic wars;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action - Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Red Chilli Chutney

2006-07-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

12-13 Whole red chillies
1/2 Tsp Mirchi powder
1 Onion
1 Tsp Tamarind water
1/2 Tsp Garam masala
pinch of Sugar
1 inch Cinnamon
4 flakes Garlic
as desired Salt

Direction For Cooking

Grind all the ingredients with tamarind water till soft and smooth. When done, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The Global Oneness Festival

2006-06-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

It's not in the idea but in the experience

The Global Oneness Festival is an odyssey in spiritual wisdom teachings with the roots in ancient cultures, lectures in related sciences, experiential workshops and all that inspires the body, mind and spirit. The Global Oneness Festival promotes Oneness among people and different spiritual traditions by bringing leaders and representatives from different spiritual paths together in a spirit of acceptance and unification in the coming goal for Oneness.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS

2006-05-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

Gandhiji Sardar Patel
Gandhiji's life was dedicated to the ideals of Truth, Non- violence and Love. He was the architect of India's freedomand one of the greatest men of this century

India's Man of Steel.
He gave up his practise in order to fight for the freedom of the country. He was sent to prision. As the Deputy Prime Minister of free India, he became the architect of the integrity of India by mer- ging of hundreds of princely states with the Indian Union.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak Ramaprasad Bismil
"Swaraj is our brithright" thundered Tilak, the Lion of India. He founded schools and published newspapers all for his motherland. He wore him- self out till his last breath, to awaken his countrymen. A Brave revolutionary who up his life smilingly for the sake of the Motherland. He was hunted by the police and betrayed by fellow workers. He was the brave leader of Kakori Rail Dacoity Episode.

Bhagath Singh Khudiram Bose
He is the symbol of the heroism of the youth of India. A revolutionary. He threw a bomb when the Legislature was in session, to warn the British Government. He was put to death but lives in the hearts of his countrymen.It was this hero who threw the first bomb on the Bristish who were crushing India. The boy of sixteen defied the police. At the age of nineteen,hebecame a martyr, wiht the holy book the Bhagavadgita ( The Divine Song) in his hand and with the slogan ' Vande Mataram' on his lips.

Tatia Tope Ashfaqulla Khan
A hero of the fight for freedom in 1857. His very name made the mighty English generals tremble. Deceived by his friend, he faced death like a hero, for the sake of his country. The pathan patriot who kissed the hangman's noose wiht the name of Allah on his lips. A youth endowed with a body of iron and will of steel, he dedicated everything to the service of India and of freedom and challenged the cunning and the strength of an empire.

Madame Cama
The fiery patriot who first unfurled India's flag at an international assembly. She turned away from a life of luxury and lived an exile - to serve her country. And the mighty British Government grew afraid of her.

HINDU RELISH

2006-04-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

4 qt. chopped cabbage
2 qt. green tomatoes
6 lg. onions, chopped
3 red peppers
2 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp. celery salt
1 1/2 lb. sugar (3 c.)
1 1/2 pt. vinegar
2 tsp. tumeric

Mix all together and boil 20 minutes.

Om Jai Jagadeesh Hare

2006-03-24T07:45:00.000-08:00

Om Jai Jagadeesh hare,
swaami jai jagadeesh hare Bhakth jano ke sankat,
daas jano ke sankat Kshan me dur kare,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare.
Jo dhyaave phal paave,
dukh bin se man kaSukh sampati ghar ave,
sukh sampati ghar ave Kasht mite tan ka,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare.
Maata pita tum mere,
sharan gahu mai kiski Tum bin aur na duja,
tum bin aur na duja Aas karu mai jiski,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare. Tum karuna ke saagar,
tum paalan karta Mai murakh tum gyani,
mai sevak tum swami Kripa karo bharta,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare.
Tum puran parmaatma,
tum antar yami Paar brahma parmeshwar,
paar brahma jagdeshwar Tum sabke swaami,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare. Tum ho ek agochar,
sabke praan pati Kis vid milu dayaamai,
kis vid milu gosaayin Tumko mai kumati,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare. Deen bandhu dukh harta,
tum thaakur mere Apne haath uthao,
apne sharan lagao Dwaar padi mai tere,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare. Vishay vikaar mitao,
paap haro deva Shradha bhakti badhao,
shradha bhakti badhaoSantan ki seva,
Om Jai Jagadeesh hare.

Arnold Toynbee

2006-03-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

Thirty years ago the historian Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda, head of the Japanese Buddhist Soka Gokkai International, discussed at length various pertinent issues, trying to discern the future direction that our world must take if it is to survive these "times of the end".
Toynbee remarks, "...The question of mankind's future religion arises because all the current religions have proved unsatisfactory... A future religion that is to bring into being, and to keep in being, a new civilisation will have to be one that will enable mankind to contend with, and to overcome, the evils that are serious present threats to human survival."

You Are Like A Tiger

2006-02-18T10:24:00.000-08:00

Tamil Prayer by Manikka Vasahar 8th century from Southern India

You are like a tiger, compelling in your beauty, yet terrifying in your strength.
You are like a honey-comb on the branch of a tree; I can see the sweet honey, but the branch is too high for me to climb.

You are like a gold fish swimming in a pond, only an arm's length from the bank; yet if I try to catch you in my hand, you slip from my grasp.

You are like a snake, your skin dazzling in its bright colors, yet your tongue able to destroy a man with a single prick.

Be merciful to me, O Lord. Give me life, not death. Reach out to me, and hold me in your arms. Come down to me, and lift me up to heaven. Sustain my feeble soul with your power.

HINDU FRIED RICE

2006-01-19T23:37:00.000-08:00

1/2 lb. ground beef
1 sm. onion
1 pkg. frozen green peas
1/8 tsp. nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and thyme
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. curry powder
3 c. cooked rice
1/2 c. hot water

Fry meat and onion. Add all the spices. Add peas and water, cook until peas are done. Add rice and mix well.

The Hindu prayer Aum

2005-12-31T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hindus believe that Aum is the enigmatic, universal, divine sound. It is said to represent everything from the three (and ultimate fourth transcending) states of consciousness to the Trinity of Hinduism. It is analogous to the concept of the "word of God," but seems to transcend it by maintaining that everything emanates from Aum, exists in Aum, and ends in Aum. It is known as the pranava or root mantra of Hinduism. Included in all prayers, from the Vedas and onwards, regardless of the nature of the prayer, it is the ultimate self-contained prayer for the Hindu mind. Many sages of the Hindu tradition claimed (and still do) that if nothing else, the lover of God could pray through that one sound alone

Bhakti Yoga, or the Yoga of Devotion

2005-12-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Described in the Bhagavad Gita (a sacred Hindu and Yoga scripture from sometime between 500 to 200 BCE), Bhakti Yoga is the path of love and devotion. On Bhakti Yoga: ";.... those who, renouncing all actions in Me, and regarding Me as the Supreme, worship Me... of those whose thoughts have entered into Me, I am soon the deliverer from the ocean of death and transmigration, Arjuna. Keep your mind on Me alone, your intellect on Me. Thus you shall dwell in Me hereafter." (B.G., Chapter 12, Verses 6-8). It is essentially the process of enlightenment found through worship of God, in whatever form one envisions. Prayer is achieved through pooja (worship) done either at the family shrine or a local temple. We can see from Krishna's injunction that prayer is fundamental to Hinduism, that to dwell constantly on God is key to enlightenment. Prayer repetition (through mantras) using maalaas (Hindu prayer beads) are a strong part of Hinduism.

Hindu/Vedic prayer

2005-11-18T23:03:00.000-08:00

The Vedic faith system, known today as Hinduism, is known to stretch back to around 3000 BCE. Over its lifetime, it has incorporated all sorts of prayer systems from fire-based rituals to philosophical musings. Prayer was part and parcel of the Vedic lifestyle, and as such permeated its books. Indeed, the highest sacred texts of the Hindus, the Vedas, are a large collection of mantras (sacred hymns of Hindus, later adopted by Buddhists) and prayer rituals extolling a single supreme force, Brahman, that is made manifest in several lower forms as the familiar gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus in India have numerous devotional movements. Stemming from the universal Soul Brahman prayer is focused on the personal forms of God, such Shiva, Vishnu, or Vishnu's avatars, Rama and Krishna.

Peace – Chanting from Vedas

2005-11-17T21:15:00.000-08:00

May the heaven be peaceful
May the earth be free from disturbance
May the vast atmosphere be calm
May the flowing waters be soothing
And all the plants and herbs prove beneficial to us.
From: Atharva Veda. XIX. 9. 1

May all the foretelling signs of coming events be free from turmoil and
May all that has been done and that which has not been done prove the source of happiness to all.
May our past and future be peaceful and may all be gracious unto us.
From: Atharva Veda. XIX. 9. 2

May the earth be peaceful,
May the atmosphere be peaceful,
May the medicinal herbs be peaceful,
May all my shining objects be peaceful for me ,
May all enlightened persons be peaceful for me,
May all the peaceful actions be peaceful by me.
Contributed

HINDU CHEESE DESSERT

2005-10-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

1 c. creamed cottage cheese
1 c. Ricotta cheese
1/4 c. light brown sugar
Grated rind of 1 lemon
1-2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
1/3 c. slivered almonds, toasted

Combine cheeses and brown sugar. Beat until well blended. Add next 3 ingredients and 1/4 cup of the almonds; mix well. Put in serving dish or dishes and sprinkle with remaining almonds. Chill 1 hour or longer. Six servings. Delicate dessert, good after "strong" main course.

Hindu Meat Patties

2005-09-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Ingredients for filling
Meat: 1 kg (boiled and minced)
Onions (big): 6 (chopped)
Green chillies: 10
Ghee (or dalda): 4 tbsp
Coriander leaves: 2 sprigs
Curry leaves: 1 sprig.
Tomatoes: 6 (250 gm)
Chilli powder: 2 tsp
Coriander powder: 3 tsp
Ginger: 1-inch piece
Garlic: 4 flakes
Pepper: 1 tsp
Salt to taste

Method

Fry the onion and green chillies. Add chopped tomatoes, coriander leaves and curry leaves. Add the masala and stir, then add the boiled and minced meat. Fry for a few minutes on medium heat. Keep aside when done. Use this for the filling inside the pastry. Instead of meat, egg, fish or vegetables may be used.

Ingredients for the patties

Flour: 700 gm
Potato: 500 gm
Ghee (or dalda): 250 gm
Baking powder: ½ tsp
Salt to taste
Egg yolks: 4

Method

Mix the flour, dalda, salt and baking powder well. The consistency should neither be too wet nor too dry. Cook the potatoes, peel and mash them. Mix it with the flour. Make small balls with the pastry in the size of a lime and shape it like a cup. Fill each with a little meat mixture and shape it like an onion. Smear the meatballs with egg yolk so as to give it a shiny coating. Press them gently. Place them on a baking tray and bake till done.

Blessings From Rig Veda

2005-08-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

May your counsel be common,
May you belong to one fraternity,
May your minds move, with one accord.
May your hearts work in harmony for one goal.
May you be inspired , by common ideal.
May you offer worship, with common oblation.
From RIG VEDA . 10 –191 - 3

May you resolve, with one accord.
May your hearts be in unison.
May your thoughts be harmonious,
So that you live together with happiness and hilarity.
From RIG. VEDA. 10 –191 -4

Contributed By: Mr. M B Shah (Bhavi Intl.), Bombay, India

Hindu Prayer for Peace

2005-07-31T22:43:00.000-07:00

Oh God, lead us from theunreal to the Real.
Oh God, lead us from darkness to light.
Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.
Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace incelestial regions.
May there be peace on Earth.May the waters be appeasing.
May herbs be wholesome, and may treesplants bring peace to all.
May all beneficent beings bring peace to us.
May thy Vedic Law propogate peace allthrough the world.
May all things be a source of peace to us.
And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all