Dear Bhagawatas It is really a great effort of Sri. Rajaram Venkataramani to project the right images of Hinduism. My humble observation is, this might be the first step. But generally for America, economy matters more than religion, since the religion here is money, market and consumerism. They probably think and belive for any thing to have steam it needs money. Hence % contribution of belivers to their comunity Churches. They tend to equate economical performance with religion. When Japan started performing economically, they started thinking and knowing about Bhudism and same thing about China. Now every channel talks about China and the religion of the people and if possible criticise the practise. Once India starts performing more in economics then the visibility to the Hinduism will be more. Having said this, it is even difficult for Hindu's to understand our system of vedantha, meemansa, nyaya, tharka, vyakarna etc with the background of values and traditions well in to our blood, I would very much doubt the ability of others to digest these concepts. My opinion is, if India progresses economically and the language such as Sanskrit is made available for easy access to any person, which includes easy step clasess to learn language, its grammer and litreture, the proper understanding of Hinduism by both Hindus and rest of the world would not be far away. Towards the Cow topic I found one interesting web site http://www.mkgandhi.org/cow_%20eco.htm Again it is circling arround Gandhiji. Anekakoti Namaskarams Suresh Parthasarathy --- tatachar@xxxxxxx wrote: > Dear Sir, > > In my observation, generally presentation of any > particular sub-set of Hinduism like Vaishnavism, > Srivaishnavism, Veerashaivism etc receive a much > better treatment. > > However, generic Hinduism/India receives a very > shabby treatment, just like > you hav ementioned. Even academic scholars of > Indian/Hindu up bringing typically, > start their Hinduism chapter with Gandhi, > untouchability,and Babri Masjid- as if these > are some great aspects! This will be like starting a > chapter on islam with 9/11 or chapter > on christianity with slavery, colonialism, Hitler or > inquisition. > > This is very similar to India(ns) as a whole as > well- great individuals > poor community! > > I think the need of the hour is how to > present/protect Hinduism as a whole in the right > spirit, > and not worry about countless sects, which only > present partial truths with partiality, however > dear it may be to us! > > I use the attached article while presenting generic > Hinduism, and is very well received. > > > When they ask me is cow holy? > I ask them, tell me which animal is not holy. > > When they ask why Hindus are against cow slaughter > or consuming beef? > > I tell them it is more to do with culture than > religion. > Just like Americans do not eat dog, whereas in parts > of Russia, Nagaland- > Christians do eat dog. > > > dAsan, > > K.S. tAtAchAr > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rajaram Venkataramani <v_raja_ram@xxxxxxxxx> > To: srirangasri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 00:01:07 -0800 (PST) > Subject: [SriRangaSri] Presenting Sri Vaishnavism in > American Schools > > > I would like to present below a great opportunity to > present Sri Vaishnavism in > schools across America and influence millions of > school children. Please read on > if interested. > > American children are taught that vedas originated > at a particular point in time > as recent as 1500 BCE. They present it as such > because it is the "scholarly" > opinion. But "scholarly" opinion is not presented > with respect to Jesus > Mythology. Schools teach Vedic System as per western > indological opinion and > Semitic Religions as per their internal faith > system. > > Varnashrama system is ridculed without even making > the basic attempt to > understand it. Untouchability is a social practice > and has nothing to with Vedas > or varnashrama. But children are taught to identify > social ills such as > untouchability with the Vedic System. But they are > not taught that all semitic > religions support slavery. > > The text books make fun of Vedic personalities > including the incarnations of the > lord himself. For example, Lord Rama is called a > "monkey-god" in a demaning > manner. The god of vedas is written in small letter > and the God of semitic > faiths is written in capital letter. > > They make sweeping generalization about Vedanta as > if it is atheistic. There is > absolutely no recognition of the fact that there are > different schools of > interpretation. > > I am part of a group working on correcting > presentation of "Hinduism" as one > monolithic structure and ensuring that different > vedic schools are presented as > per their respective internal faith system. This > will ensure parity among all > faiths semitic and non-semitic on the American land. > > > Here is an opportunity for Sri Vaishnavas to present > the this parama vaidhika > tradition great acharyas. The beliefs of Sri > Vaishnavas in Sriman Narayana > Varnashrama System, Cyclical Time etc., can be > presented. To do this, it needs a > team of intelligent educated volunteers who can work > on the presentation. If > they have the energy and the courage, they can > contribute to the legal battle > also. But that is not mandatory. But I request that > sri hnavas with a standing > are put together to present to present Sri Vaishnava > tradition in an authentic > manner. > > Please pass this information on to scholarly, renown > Sri Vaishnavas and help in > putting to gether a team. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/VkWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! 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