Billions in gold, jewels found in Indian temple

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kerala, India

NEW DELHI, India (July 4, 2011) - A vast treasure trove worth an estimated $22 billion dollars was unearthed in a Hindu temple.

The stash of gold coins, jewels, and precious stones unearthed at a Hindu temple in India is expected to grow in value on Monday as officials open the last two secret vaults sealed for nearly 150 years.

The discovery has instantly turned the 16th-century Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple into one of the wealthiest religious institutions in the country, prompting a government move to fortify security around it.

The four vaults already opened in recent days at the temple in Trivandrum, the capital of the southern state of Kerala, held a vast bounty that unofficial estimates peg at $22 billion.

Other treasures unearthed so far include statues of gods and goddesses (devas and devis) made of solid gold and studded with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones, crowns and necklaces, all given as gifts to the temple over the centuries. More

• Do the "gods" really need our gold? (NRI)
• Temple's subterranean vaults yield treasure (Guardian)
• India temple treasure search team suspends search (BBC)
• India treasure unearthed in Kerala temple (BBC)
• Value of treasure soars to Rupies 75 crore
  
• Lightly guarded Indian temple laden with treasures (AP)
• Treasure worth 500 mil found in 16th cent temple (July 2)
  

"Mindful Music Night" (Against the Stream)

Against the Stream Meditation Society (Melrose), Dharma Punx

• WHEN: Friday June 17, 7:30 pm
• WHERE: A.G.S. 4300 Melrose Ave., LA 90029
• WHY: formal meditation to live mindful music
• HOW: No sign up, donation (dana) based event

Wonderful artists are on the bill in Hollywood tonight, musicians who are also meditators: Against the Stream's very own Pablo Das, the sublime Patrick Hildebrand of the Ooks of Hazard, Buddhist yogi Rick Colella ("Rick Chant") doing wild and jazzy kirtan, and the irrepressible Andy Sykora banging amazing gongs. The evening will consist of instruction in "music meditation," followed by four half-hour sets/sits. The nigh will close with food and merry-making.

• (Triycycle) “This is why we come early,” Buddhist singer-songwriter Ravenna Michalsen says for the third time this trip, as we search for the correct turn into Wellesley College. She’s playing a show for the college’s Buddhist Community tonight, and we’ve driven up to Massachusetts from New Haven, Connecticut, where various karmic causes and conditions have brought the two of us together again for another semester....

SoCal Buddhist Center opens for courses

Vaddhana.dhamma.org, April 15, 2011

The newly constructed SCVC is open and accepting applications for free 10-day Buddhist insight meditation (vipassana) retreats taught in the tradition of S.N. Goenka.

The Southern California Vipassana Center Trust is delighted to announce the opening of Dhamma Vaddhana, the newly completed Buddhist meditation center in Twentynine Palms near Joshua Tree, California.

The center will open with an inaugural FREE ten-day course to be held from May 4-15, 2011. Online registration is now open for this first course, as well as for all other courses offered at the new center throughout the year.

To apply to sit or serve a course at SCVC, please visit the course schedule page at schedules.

About the SoCal Vipassana Center

To learn more about the development of Dhamma Vaddhana, please visit vaddhana.dhamma.org. There is a lot of work to be done to meet the May 4th starting date for the course.

Old students who have the time and energy in the next couple of weeks to help complete the final projects and get the center ready for its first course are welcome to come out to Dhamma Vaddhana and pitch in.

Along with all the work that needs to be done, there will be three group sittings a day. Accommodations and meals will be provided for all old student volunteers.

LOCATION

Southern California Vipassana Center: Dhamma Vaddhana

68561 Twentynine Palms Highway,

Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

Phone: (760) 362-4615

NOTE: If you are currently on the waitlist for a course at the California Vipassana Center (Dhamma Mahavana) in North Fork and would like to apply for a course at the Southern California Center, please email CVC North Fork at registration to cancel your waitlisted application. After doing so you may then submit a new application to attend a course at the Southern California Vipassana Center.

Directions from the west (Los Angeles area) I-10 eastbound to 62 northbound (29 Palms Highway). Continue through Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree. Continue past Copper Mountain Community College (on left). Go another two miles and look for a tall radio tower on the left side of the road. This tower is directly across the highway from the center. On your right you will see a sign indicating the center property. Turn right onto Mantonya Road (dirt road), and right again into the entrance driveway.