The main reason many people come to India is the quest for spiritual knowledge, A Large number of visitors reach the ancient centers of learning like Kashi, Bodh Gaya , Prayag, Kanchi, Puri , Dwarika, Haridwar , Gorakpur , Rishikesh etc to satisfy their thirst for spiritual knowledge
India from time immemorial has been considered the Jagat Guru of all spiritual, Religious, Intellectual and Philosophical concepts and ideas. The same Sanathana-Dharma or the Hindu Dharma forms the basis of Buddhism or the Buddha Dharma, Jainism or the Jaina Dharma, Sikhism or the Sikh Dharma, the Bhakti Dharma, Sufism or Tavasouf etc
This core generally called Dharma can may only be seen through the Jnana Chakshu and experienced through the Philosophies known as Darshana. There are two Categories of Dharsanas the first category collectively called the Asthika Darshanas derives their source from the Vedas and is collectively called the Saddarshanas, Sad meaning the six and Darshana meaning to see. The second category are silent about the authority of the Vedas and are called Nastika Darshana, they are the Bauddha, Jaina and Charvaka Darshanas
The Darshanas both Astika and Nastika, have spawned many schools of organized monks. The training grounds for these monks are called Ashramas or Mutts (Maths). These Mutts are aligned to a single Sampradaya and propagate their philosophies through discourses, worship, song & dances, festivals, etc. The principle dirty of each Sampradaya may be either Shiva, Vishnu, Ganapathi, Dattatreya, Devi, Surya, Skanda, etc (depending on the Darshana they belong to)
The Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela has representation from every school of Dharma and Sampradaya, it is the great school for the spiritually inclined to experience all the Indian philosophical schools at one place at the same time
There are several Shastrartas, Tarka, Upanyasa, Ughabhoga, Parayana, Pravachanas which are organized specially during the Kumbha (Kumbh) Mela. These are various types of debates, lectures, talks and seminars pertaining to various philosophies which churn out several new interpretations to the ancient texts and treatises, sometimes they introduce new dimensions to their respective schools, sometimes deleting, sometimes adding to the pool of spiritual knowledge
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In the mountains of Nepal…in a remote monastery, Buddhist monks inexplicably turn to cannibalism and torture – while Painter Crowe, director of Sigma Force, begins to show signs of the same baffling, mind-destroying malady…and Lisa Cummings, a dedicated American doctor, becomes the target of a brutal, clandestine assassin. Learn about the author here http://bit.ly/JamesRollins3 Learn about the book here http://bit.ly/BlackOrder Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
One of the grandest spectacles in Thailand, the Royal Barge Procession is an ancient tradition that was revived by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1959. The processions are reserved only for nationally auspicious occasions. As for the date, the procession will involve barges carrying the deeply revered Buddha image Phra Buddha Sihing and members of the royal family presenting offerings of saffron kathin robes, food and other necessities to the monks at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). It will be the 16th procession during His Majesty’s reign.
Trekking through the Himalaya (with a short stop at Mt. Everest’s base camp), sailing the Ganges River, crossing the North Pacific Ocean on a container ship, meditating with monks in a Tibetan monastery – these are not the typical activities you might expect during a family vacation with two young children. But the Kirkby family is on an extraordinary adventure halfway around the globe – and inviting everyone to come along. Travel Channel’s mesmerizing and cinematic new series, “Big Crazy Family Adventure,” premiering Sunday, June 21 with back-to-back episodes at 9:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, follows wilderness guide, writer and award-winning photographer Bruce Kirkby throughout this epic trip – from his home in Kimberley, British Columbia, to a remote monastery in the Himalaya – with his wife, Christine Pitkanen, and their two young boys: Bodi, 7 and Taj, 3. There’s just one catch: on their 13,000-mile adventure they won’t be taking ANY airplanes. To fully experience the life-changing and serendipitous moments that exploring the world provides, they’ll get to their final destination through surface travel only – canoe, container ship, ferry, high-speed train, river boat, tuk tuk, pony, their own eight feet and more. The series is comprised of nine, hour-long episodes.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/70380510-travel-channel-big-crazy-family-adventure/
It’s the eve of the twenty-second century: a world where the dearly departed send postcards back from Heaven and evangelicals make scientific breakthroughs by speaking in tongues; where genetically engineered vampires solve problems intractable to baseline humans and soldiers come with zombie switches that shut off self-awareness during combat. And it’s all under surveillance by an alien presence that refuses to show itself.
Daniel Bruks is trapped on a ship bound for the center of the solar system. To his left is a grief-stricken soldier, obsessed by whispered messages from a dead son. To his right is a pilot who hasn’t yet found the man she’s sworn to kill on sight. A vampire and its entourage of zombie bodyguards lurk in the shadows behind. And dead ahead, a handful of rapture-stricken monks takes them all to a meeting with something they will only call “The Angels of the Asteroids.”
Their pilgrimage brings Dan Bruks, the fossil man, face-to-face with the biggest evolutionary breakpoint since the origin of thought itself. Find out more at http://us.macmillan.com/author/peterwatts. Scifi
A cartoon character from a Buddhist temple in Beijing has been making waves online. But Xian’er the monk is no ordinary two-dimensional comic strip – he’s a walking, talking, 24-inch high robot who can chant, answer questions and interact with his surroundings.
Xian’er the robot monk is not the first high-tech solution to Buddhist teachings from Longquan Temple. The institution is staffed by monks who operate computers and smart phones along with their prayer beads and singing bowls. His creator, Master Xianfan joined the temple after graduating from China’s most prestigious art school – the Central Academy of Fine Arts
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7847651-bon-cloud-robot-monk/
Martial Arts of Shaolin. Check this traditional Double Melon Hammer Form. They are heavy and require much skills. This form is a traditional Shaolin Martial Arts Form done here by Douwe ter Horst.
Zhui Feng Gun Staff Pole Cudgel Stokvorm, Shaolin Staff. 追風棍 Zhui Feng Gun 'Wind Chaser Staff' A long Shaolin Staff form Zhui Feng Gun performed here by Jean Luc Grandjean from Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. Lange Stokvorm Zhui Feng Gun. Shaolin Bond Nederland Bo Staff Kungfu
From the Henan Shaolin Temple came the Shaolin Martial Arts. Shaolin Kungfu has many skills and weapons. This Staff form is called: Zhui Feng Gun 'Wind Chaser Staff' 追風棍 and is done by Jean Luc Grandjean from Apeldoorn city in the Netherlands.
The Shaolin Kungfu Staff is one of the oldest traditional weapons used by the Shaolin Monks. Practise requires forms, partner exercises and some sparring with protective gear. This is the Wind Chaser Staff or Zhui Feng Gun (say: goen) Here the Zhui Feng Gun form is demonstrated by Jeab Luc Grandjean from He Yong Gan Apeldoorn the Netherlands. A very nice Staff form!
