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January 12th, 2013
06:00 AM ET
Hindu holy book coming to a nightstand near youBy Jordan Hultine, CNN CNN–It’s about to get crowded in your hotel room nightstand. The newest addition could soon be a sacred Hindu text called the Bhagavad-Gita. The Bhagavad-Gita is literally translated as “song of God” and is a discussion between Lord Krishna and his student, Arjuna, on revealing one’s spiritual identity and a relationship with God, says Vaisesika Dasa, founder and president of the Motel Gita project, the group behind the effort. Motel Gita, with the help of a Hindu nonprofit, has distributed approximately 150,000 copies of the Bhagavad-Gita to 1,100 hotels and motels. Dasa said their goal is to place at least 1 million books to, “provide solace to traveling souls by giving them spiritual knowledge.” The idea for the project came to Dasa after seeing the positive effect the Bible has had on hotel guests for many years he said. Dasa partnered with Milan Doshi and Dilip Patel, who has been involved in the hotel industry for more than three decades. They started by distributing Bhagavad-Gitas to hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter At first they worried guests and hotel owners wouldn’t accept the books, but Dasa said, “we quickly found that prominent motel owners whole-heartedly welcomed and supported this program and that their guests were appreciating finding the Gita.” Support grew from there with the help of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKC) around the United States, Canada and Britain. ISKC is a nonprofit network of more than 500 temples, schools and communities whose members donate money for numerous outreach programs, including the Motel Gita. The group also recruited their members to help deliver the Gitas to interested hotels. There are an estimated 1.79 million Hindus in the United States, according to The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. More than 1 billion around the world, making Hinduism the world's third-largest faith after Christianity and Islam. The Asian-American Hotel Owners Association reports their 11,000 members, predominantly Indian-American, own more than 20,000 hotels in the United States. Dasa said that definitely helps their cause. Hindus make up roughly 80 percent of the population in India with an estimated 974 million believers, according to the The Pew Forum. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories Manu Patel is the owner of a Days Inn hotel in Salem, Oregon. He requested the Gitas for his hotel and says the response has been very positive. “We have many customers come to the front desk and ask for a copy to take home,” he told CNN. Jitu Ishwar owns four hotels in Ukiah, California. He said he often sees guests reading the Gitas they found in their rooms while eating breakfast in the lobby. Ishwar said God has given him a lot and this is his way of saying thank you. “Bhagavad-Gita provides depth of knowledge not easily accessible to people in the Western countries. The concept of spiritualism, nature and God described in this holy book should be shared for the benefit of all humanity,” he said. The Gita’s nightstand companion, the Bible, is usually placed in a hotel by The Gideons International. Their members are identify as evangelicals, and according to their mission statement they are “dedicated to saving the lost through personal witnessing and the distribution of God’s Word in more than 190 countries around the world.” The Gideons report they have handed out more than 1.7 billion Bibles around the world since 1908. |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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finally free rolling papers I wont feel guilty about.
Oh shit, ted, don't do that! Look at the paranoid delusions and psychotis that comes from the drug of religion! You might do permanent brain damage inhaling the bad trip of religion like that!
Look what it did to Chad and Topher!
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
I practice Buddhism,I read Bible at home and when I stay in hotel.I welcome Bhagavad Gita.I'd like to learn more about other religion teaching and how to get along with all.
I prefer reality, and I actually leave the hotel room and enjoy the place I happen to be.
Word hindu is based on Latin word, hindrance, negativity, Hun, great, Han to be in greatness, hin, negative to both of them, hindu, a noun in negativity, hinduism, way of negativity, read book of hinduism, incest, way of hindu fabricated god's, examplefied for hinduism incest to teach hinduism racism to their followers by committing hinduism incest with their mothers and sisters.
Well it looks like you've got it all figured out. Were you planning on coming to a point? Or is this just more rambling from another religious loon who disagrees with this particular religion?
hinduism, way of hinduism, immorality is not of some thing to be adored, but hind, condemned. book of hinduism, illegality is in violation of fundamentals, morality enshrined in consti tution of USA, it has no other place but in hind gutter of hinduism, immorality called india, not USA.
hinduism, way of hinduism, immorality is not of some thing to be adored, but hind, condemned. book of hinduism, illegality is in violation of fundamentals, morality enshrined in consti tution of USA,
go bring you muda and sista to India and you can come too, we will make you our GURL!!
All I heard was "Islam teaches that everyone else is wrong and evil and must be killed."
While the verses of Bhagwad Gita are quite inspirational, the epic of Mahabhartha has quite a few issues of morality. Kunti has 5 sons, but she also has a son born by ? Immaculate conception whose father is the Sun God whom she loves before she marries Pandu. And she gives up this child Karana, only later to ask of him to spare his other children when they go in war in opposing fractions.
Arjuna wins the swamvara of Draupadi, but since he is supposed to share his prize with his brothers, Draupadi has to marry 5 brothers!
And these 5 spineless brothers loose her in a gambling contest and stand watching spinelessly as their wife is molested in front of them. Oh so poor Draupadi has to wait for a miracle from her beloved Lord Krishna to save her decency!
Why is Lord Krishna even helping such a spineless husband (Arjuna) in this battle of good vs evil? How were Pandavas any less evil than the Kauravas?
Then, according to you, what is a good book to learn morals? By the way, book they are keeping in Hotels/Motels is Gita and not Mahabharata.
Ben,
I know that the book is Mahabhartha, but the discourse of Lord Krishna to Arjuna did happen in the battlefield of Mahabharta.
Now if go more into the problems that Indian culture faces today, most of them are deep rooted in the philosophies taught by epics like Mahabharta or Ramayana. These epics are full of stories which teach that women should not be respected, women should be controlled and suppressed (Sita had to give Agnee Pareeksha and even though she passed, Lord Rama sent her to exile!, wow! What a just God!)
No wonder, they still free ra.pists in India when the whole country is fighting for justice!
Why did this stupid non-story get regurgitated onto us again?
Why are you here? The story obviously brought you back here...web traffic – that's what they want, yes?
http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/Prophecies-Jesus.htm
End of story. No other religion can be proved with actual historical data. Get it right.
the bible is a collection of occasionally noble myths.
So I guess the Jewish faith is all lies?
Silly Christian! A fourth grader knows more of your faith than you.
LOL @ citing a christian website to 'prove' christianity.
LOL. I have a Master's Degree in History. You are hilarious. There's more archaeological evidence of a historical Trojan War than a historical "Jesus." So I guess you'll have to accept Greek Polytheism as your religion then?
Jacob.......wow dude......just wow.
Jesus also said that the second coming would occur within a generation – Matthew 16:28 and Luke 9:27. I looked at the website you reference. So, the Old Testament predictions are confirmed in the New Testament. I could write a book in which I claim the predictions in the first half are confirmed in the last half. Both halves would be fiction – as are both halves of the Bible. Do some research into errors in the Bible – Google. You'll find that there are thousands. That alone proves that man wrote the Bible – not God.
> No religion can be proved with historical data.
Fixed it for ya.
it is refered to mr.mark bradley. How sad this information. westerners some follow different teachings all the times. Jesus Christ is lord and lord. every knee shall bow every tongure will confess that He is God. Wait for that. Also everybody is not FOR HIM. Some are ETERNAL FIRE.
rev, you sound like a nut and not a particular literate one, either.
particularly literate one
Oh, don't worry, I can wait. A god that loves me but would see me suffer for eternity for coveting my neighbor's wife cannot be real. You must throw your children into a burning fireplace when they misbehave. No? Why not? Because you have a sense of right and wrong that your god does not.
First of all, the Bhagvad Gita is HINDU...that is a different religion than MUSLIM/ISLAM. Hindus are predominantly found in India, and Hinduism is the largest religion in India. The second largest religion in India is Christianity. Therefore, in hotels in India not only is the Gita found but so is the Bible. The 3rd largest religion in India is Islam and therefore you wil also find the Qu'Ran. So get it straight people. The one thing that the USA is known for worldwide is that it is made from a bunch of immigrants from all over the world so please stop being ignorant and making this into something it isn't. No one is telling you to convert and if your faith in your own religion is strong then reading texts from other religions shouldn't upset you, it should just make you more worldly. You believe in yours and everyone else can believe in theirs. It's simple.
Finally, a voice of common sense and real American values (Freedom, Liberty, etc.).
well said.
Once you guys messed up the Beatles, no one has trusted you.
I was TORMENTED by some stoner trying to play the damn sitar back in 71, and I haven't recovered since.
http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/Prophecies-Jesus.htm
End of story. No other religion can be proved with actual historical data. Get it right.
Respect and tolerance. God gave us free will. Use it!
VERY well stated M.D.!
Scott
I love it. Now when people open up to see the bible, they'll see another faith. And hopefully when they say "Oh, that one is nonsense" they'll think "Well, how do I know that. How do I determine which is true".
And that's the first step out of the brainwashing.
Nah
Once the Fundies see it dosen't have many pictures, they will just turn on the scrambled hard-core cable channels and choke their Christian chickens!
You don't actually think they can read, do you?
Don't open up the nightstand drawer.
a little diversity is good. especially in religion. it helps reinforce the fact that there are many gods and religions.
Folks,
i would term Hinduism as a way-of-life more than a Religion.As per the teachings, all religions are deemed equal.Perhaps a strange sentiment given all the fighting across the globe in the name of religion.
SIlly goose!
Of all the potential conflicts that might end the world, the Hindu's tossing nukes around Kashmir is the most likely.
Dear William, please don't propagate the myth of a stupid American by your senseless statement. I love your country and it pains me to see idiots like you tarnishing its reputation. You have no idea whatsoever you are talking about.
The president of India's ruling party is Christian, The PM is A Sikh, the vice-president and Foreign Minister both are Muslims, the defense minister is Christian, Army Chief is Sikh, air-force chief is Christian, where is the Hindu who is going to nuke any place? And Kashmir is India for the geographically challenged, people do not nuke their own countries.
If one filters through to the crux of it, Gita merely describes the right way if living. It offers you no Gods but merely tells you your 'Dharma' – the right course of action for a just life.
Those who are comfortable with their faith, need not feel offended, nor intimidated by it. If you thought things through, you'd find it doesn't really clash with your beliefs – but augments them.
Oh! And Hinduism doesn't ask you to convert to it – unlike Islam and Christianity do.
But it does tell you you can levitate, and have multiple lives and all sorts of other "con man" nonesense.
It is not some benevolent clique, just another con to be prepetrated on lost souls
Demuth: You evidently have no idea whatsoever.
True.. Hinduism is probably the only regligion that does not have conversion rituals. YOu can be a hindu just be beliving yourself to be and still follow any other religions you want. There is no excommunication rites either. It is actually a way of life that got converted into a regligion to differentiate itself from their invaders. It does not call you sinners, but shows ways on how to help yourself and humanity to lead noble lives.
So I suppose the Sihk Hindu battles in the Punjab are an illusion?
Men with guns surrounding the damn Golden Temple?
Please, spare me!!!
Demuth: You should know that what you said is a complete non-sequitur.
@ Demeuth,
While you mention the Punjab riots, they were never SIkh Hindu riots, they were really a politically triggered battle for control of power in the state of Punjab by the then Congress govt. Much of it was triggered by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had the army march into the shrine with tanks. The other fraction was lead by Bhindranwale, who also wanted power.
The riots that resulted following the as.sasination of Mrs Gandhi started in the nation's capital and were largely triggered by Congress.
The state of Punjab still has Sikhs and Hindus living peacefully and we never feel enmity among ourselves.
While I do think there are several issues with Hinduism (real filthy ones), I do not think they look down upon other religions.
Hell, actually, they look down upon their own people (the shameful Caste system).
George Harrison was the Prophet
He is as dead as old Jeebus
Neither of them are coming back!
OK, on to the next cult!
Krishna is the Father or Jesus. How ignorant to love the son and hate the father. You don't know what you are talking about. The word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, which is derived from the name of God "Krishna", meaning the All Attractive One." Everyone is attracted to God. Krishna is Jehova. Are you crazy enough to insult the God of Abraham? The God that gave Moses the ability to free the Isrealites, and the Father of Jesus? Krishna is the source of Jesus' birth through immaculate conception in the womb of the Virgin Mary. And yet, out of extreme ignorance you dare to belittle and blashphemy the the saviour of Jesus. When Jesus was on the cross he was praying to Krishna, he father, to save him.
I would recommend to all those who do not believe in the Bible to look no further than the prohecies that occuring right in fron of us....Ill help you.
1. Isaiah 66:8 – http://bible.cc/isaiah/66-8.htm – Birth of Israel MAY 14, 1948
2. Isaiah 43:5-6 – We had to pay for Jews to out of Ethiopia and Russia...read this ENTIRE verse!
3.The NILE RIVER WILL BE DRYING UP – Right now Dam in Ethiopia is going to possibly do this! Isaiah 19:5-9
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/opinion/02Brown.html?_r=0 – READ THIS
FOLKS LOOK AT THE BIBLE PROPHECIES. THE ONLY RELIGION WITH PROPHECIES INTENDED SO WE WILL WAKE UP!!!! This is the most important decision in you life! There are so many prophecies that have been fulfilled. There are many NON-BIBLICAL sources that will confirm their existance. WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So you saying Krishna was doing Mary behind Josephs back??
Is that why she made up the whole Virgin thing?
Just to get some on the side??
Mark that was deep, i am going to prayer in 5 minutes. Thanks for the blessing
@Jacob
So what about the prophecies about Nebuchanezzer destroying Tyre and it never rising again, which he failed to do. Or Nebuchanezzer taking Egypt and either destroying it for 7 years or 40, depending on the prophesy, and him completely failing in his compaign?
Jacob
1) self fulfilling prophecy....it was written into the bible so believers created the country after wwII The people that made it happened believed they should make it happen because it was written.
2) so rediculous , not worth addressing
3) the nile changes course and "dries up" all of the time. this has been going on longer than your bible has existed, so no great prediction there.
SHows proof of nothing.
BryonMorrigan
Not my speech. If you mad take it up with GOD it is his HOLY scriptures.pray
I wonder how many "good" Christians will deface, vandalize, steal, or burn these books? Is their religion so weak that it cannot even allow anyone to read anything but their Bible? What cowards.
Hopefully alot.
Let the cults slug it out.
We Non-Believers will just enjoy the show.
In fact, I suspect I shall burn both with equal contempt!
That is why i said i will take it to the front desk and tell him what JESUS said BRYAN. No hate we must love each other.
Demuth has admitted to destroying them. Does that make his belief (non) untenable?
Bill: I'm neither an Atheist, nor do I advocate any destruction of any religious texts. Atheists who feel the need to do such things are obviously just as insecure in their beliefs, frankly. It's childish and immature behavior.
War is war
Only way to win is to be nastier than the others
So Bryon what you seem to be commenting on is not whether the faith is weak but whether the adherent is childish.
I would recommend to all those who do not believe in the Bible to look no further than the prohecies that occuring right in fron of us....Ill help you.
1. Isaiah 66:8 – http://bible.cc/isaiah/66-8.htm – Birth of Israel MAY 14, 1948
2. Isaiah 43:5-6 – We had to pay for Jews to out of Ethiopia and Russia...read this ENTIRE verse!
3.The NILE RIVER WILL BE DRYING UP – Right now Dam in Ethiopia is going to possibly do this! Isaiah 19:5-9
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/opinion/02Brown.html?_r=0 – READ THIS
FOLKS LOOK AT THE BIBLE PROPHECIES. THE ONLY RELIGION WITH PROPHECIES INTENDED SO WE WILL WAKE UP!!!! This is the most important decision in you life! There are so many prophecies that have been fulfilled. There are many NON-BIBLICAL sources that will confirm their existance. WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From book of hinduism corruption called Greek Torah, reject of son of blessed Mary, called Old testament, next to hindu gita, full of hinduism, immorality.
The Bible tells us that we should know why we believe what we believe. So having other faiths texts and reading them for knowledge and awareness is a good thing. You will also see, and know, how The Bible and Jesus are unique.
Ah, well actually no.
In it's purest read, you would be subjected to death and eternal damnation.
He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
specially before getting in to bed with a female to follow hinduism illegality, regardless of relation ship to the female, mother and sisters OK, by book of hindism, immorality gita.
He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
So, you just ignore all the previous "saviors" born of a virgin or when it comes to your particular cult being challenged you just ignore conflicts and discount evidence that makes you uncomfortable? Your Jesus is not unique at all but the myths surrounding him we're stolen from previous gods.
I wont criticize other religions but must say something that I believe is critical. USA started as a Christian nation (check the real History and not what is told), while Christian values were respected this nation grew in all the good aspects of life. As soon as other nations started trying to change USA way of Life.... then removing God from schools and everywhere.... we can see the results. i know that lots of people will deny this because they don't study the beautiful American History. Hate is not the way to go but if someone wants to come to USA should respect the laws and not try to change it. Most of the Muslim worlds will not allow Christians and even kill them! Here they demand and say they have the same rights. I'm not against people living and looking for better life but they should adapt and not try to make USA like their own Country. Then I ask: Why did they come here if they are making it the same way? If this continues this way we'll be like those nations that USA now invests so much on to help with our soldiers life and USA's finances.
That's a lie. Go back little in time and tell me what was American Indian's religion before settlers occupied America.
John,
How did Christians reach US? DIdn't you and your likes take control from the aboriginal population? You speak as if it is your Goddam birth right to own the country and others only have to adapt to your whims and fancies! Why am I not surprised? Bcoz your fairy book teaches you to be as bigoted as you are!!!
USA started as a Christian nation
Wrong.
So if Americans are deputed to Muslim countires, they should follow Islam and if they are deputed to Vietnam, they should follow Budhism and if they are deputed to India, they should follow Hindu instead of Christian. If that is not the case, why are you insisting on people from other religion to follow Christianity. As for radicals, there are radicals in each and every religion. so why blanket the complete group of people for deeds of a few.
Just another liar for Jesus. You Talibangelicals don't ever stop do you? You just goss over the Treaty of Tripoli eh?
You are a LIAR, John !! The US was founded mostly by non-Christian Deists. Check your Facts, before you slide off into some Fundie Fantasy !
Ah, yes. The REAL history, i.e. the history you want us to believe.
And OF COURSE this nation will be in turmoil! When the majority of the population is made of DELUDED HISTORY-ALTERING LIARS like John, why WOULDN'T we lag behind the world? Just look at the situation in our schools. Science education is booming around the world at the same time these evil religionists are trying to remove science from our schools and replace it with with nonsense like creationism. How are our young ones going to compete with the Finns and the Indians at this rate?
What about this if i go to a hotel room and this book is in my room, i will take it to the front desk and tell them JESUS said I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2013
Typical Christian hate speech. Not really surprising. Why don't you just burn a cross on the front lawn while you're at it?
What about this if I keep posting the same thing over and over and over...
Fundie Talibangelical nonsense.