Garbage Enzyme - Solution to Recover Our Ozone Layer and Lower the Global Temperature

Garbage Enzyme...
is a complex solution produced by fermentation of fresh kitchen waster (fruits and vegetables dregs), sugar (brown sugar, jiggery or molasses sugar) and water. It is dark brown and has a strong sweet sour fermented scent. Garbage enzyme is a multipurpose liquid and its applications covers household, agriculture, animal husbandry, etc. Garbage enzyme is developed by Dr. Rosukon from Thailand. She has been actively involved enzyme research for more than 30 years and encourages people to make garbage enzyme at home to ease global warming.

Change Climate
From day one you start making garbage enzyme, its catalyses process will release ozone gas (O3). O3 can reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and heavy metal that traps heat in the cloud. Hence heat can be released from the Earth, reducing greenhouse and global warming effects. Enzyme converts ammonia to nitrate (NO3), a natural hormone and nutrient for plants. Meanwhile it converts carbon dioxide to carbonate (CO3) which is beneficial to sea plant and marine life.

Garbage enzyme is the solution to recover our ozone layer and lower the global temperature. Discover the endless benefits of this Earth-saving enzyme you can make in your kitchen. It is rewarding to heal the Earth.

Multiple Usage:
Natural household cleaner; air purifier; deodorizer; insecticide; detergent; body care; car care; organic fertilizer, etc

Reduce Pollution:
methane gas released from disposed garbage can trap 21 times more heat than CO2, worsen the global warming condition.

Purify Air:
Remove odour. Dissolve toxic air released from smoking, car exhaust, chemical residues from household products, etc.

Purify Underground Water:
Enzyme that flow underground will eventually purify the river and the sea.

Natural Pesticides:
Reduce mosquitoes, flies, rats or cockroaches, etc
Anti-bacterial and Virus: Natural antiseptic for your home

Prevent Drainpipe Blockage: Release residues accumulated in the pipe of basins or toilet bowls.

How to Use Garbage Enzyme
Direction for use: Garbage enzyme can be used diluted with water at a specific dilution ratio.

FOR GARDENING OR FARMING:
Dilute to 1000 times with water for use as natural insecticides, herbicides, pesticides and organic fertilizers. Also can be used to stimulate plant hormone to improve quality of fruits and vegetables and to increase crop yield. Spray on land for 3 months continuously to improve soil quality.

FOR HOUSEHOLD USE:

Save on household cleaner and body care:

For shampoo, dish wash, laundry liquid etc; use enzyme to multiply and to reduce chemical residues.
Ratio = 1 part enzyme : 1 part detergent/cleaner : 10 parts water
Washing vegetables:
Add 30 ml (2 tbsp) enzyme to 1 liter water. Soak for 45 minutes.
Floor cleaning:
Add 30ml (2 tbsp) enzyme to moping water. To clean and sterilize.
Car care:
Add 30ml (2 tbsp) enzyme to water tank to reduce car temperature.

Article written by http://www.themostnatural.com.my/changeclimate/index.html

"Basiclly gargage enzyme content is mostly vinegar (acetic acid) and maybe a bit of alcohol left. Anyway, we should feel comfortable to use it for cleaning purposes. Hopefully, this will clear the air that garbage enzyme content is mostly acetic acid and NOT alcohol as some presumed.."

Submitted through email by Adrian

Anyone interested in purchasing garbage enzyme can contact the blog author by email. It's sold as a fund raiser to help the International Sahaja Public School to replace their aging computers. Your support is appreciated.

Official Registration of “Sahaja Yoga” in Russia

September 23, 2009

With much joy, we would like to share with you the news that the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation has officially registered the Public Movement “Sahaja Yoga” on the territory of Russia. This auspicious event took place at the very end of July, 2009. The Russian collective had been going to it for four long years when, finally, thanks to the Divine support of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi and Sir C.P. Srivastava this important event happened. A high honour was done to our Social Movement: Her Highness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi and Sir C.P. Srivastava agreed to enter into the Council of Trustees of the Movement “Sahaja Yoga” in Russia for an unlimited period of time. Dmitry Korotaev was elected Coordinator of the Movement, according to the recommendations of Shri Mataji and Sir C.P.

Sahaja Yoga News from Rusia

An Interview with Shri Mataji (Hindustan Times)

Interview with Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in October 1990 by Mathur, Rakesh
The Russians’ Love for Yoga…
Understanding Sahaja Yoga
Man in his search of joy and happiness is running away from his Self, which is the real source of joy. He finds himself very ugly and boring because he is absolutely unknown to his Self. Human beings seek joy in money or possessions, in power or human limited love and ultimately in religion that is also outside. The problem is how to turn one’s attention inward.

The inner being, which is our awareness, is an energy (I call it the energy of Divine Love). All the evolution and manifestation of material energy is guided by the supreme energy is guided by not know how powerful and thoughtful this unknown energy is. The silent working of awareness is so automatic, minute, dynamic and expansive that we take it for granted. At first it appears as silent throbbing vibrations through our being after Self-Realization. Now a method has been found to tap the Divine Power and this is called “Sahaja Yoga.”

The word Sahaja (Saha + Ja) means “born with you” (inborn). Whatever is inborn would manifest without any effort. Hence, Sahaja Yoga is the name given to my system, which is effortless, easy and spontaneous. It is natural to nature. You may call it life’s source, vitality or Divine.

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Shares Her Adventure

Nirmala Devi: Russia was such a surprise to me. One devotee in Switzerland told me, “Mother, they are waiting for you and you just need to come along.” I said, “All right, “I’ll be there.”

I went first to Leningrad from Helsinki To my amazement, I saw 2,000 people waiting outside and 2,000 sitting in the hall. They have never known about me. Somehow they saw my photograph, and they had such a sensitivity for spirituality that, surprisingly, they just recognized me and came. Some of them were sitting outside and picked up this word “Ma.” They said “Ma, what about this? Ma, what about that?” My heart just started melting away, I couldn’t understand how to leave these people, but what to do? When I finished my program, everyone of them got their realization, 2,000 of them. No questions, nothing. With such respect, I thought I had come to another world where there is no skepticism, no questioning, nothing.

Then I went outside, and all the 2,000 were still there waiting, I was amazed at that. They said, “what about us?” So I said, “Alright, come tomorrow. We’ll have it in the open. We won’t have it in the hall.” All 4,000 were there the next morning. That was the first introduction to Russians in 1989.

Later I attended a Sahaja Yoga seminar with delegates from every Eastern Block country from Berlin to Romania. I told them about Sahaja Yoga. They gave me around 45 minutes, so I spoke for about 30 minutes and then I gave them realization, and all of them got it. Then I walked out of the hall. As I did so, all of them realization, and all of them got it. Then I walked out of the hall. As I did so, all of them came out with me. There was nobody left in the hall to listen. There was one fellow who had come to talk about physical yoga, and not a single soul was left in the hall. They said, “Tell us about your yoga, Mother.” There was no place, so we all sat on the staircase. I told them, “You see, time has come for you to be opening out yourself and to be brave and be understanding that one has to make a little sacrifice and fight for freedom.” Within eight days the Berlin Wall fell. Just imagine, I met them only once and they became such powerful people.

HT: Did you find that they are different from Western Europeans in the spiritual sense?

Nirmala Devi: Very much different spiritually. I have analyzed it like this. In the West, with the so-called freedom we’ve got before realization, the people have wasted their energy in pursuits which are absolutely joyless, and they have wasted their attention completely. It’s all greed and lust, shown by advertising. Our whole economy is based on money. Everything is money. Even education has now become money oriented. Then nobody will be educated, you see, the essence of education won’t be there. People cannot see something like Sahaja Yoga, which is so simple, straight forward, and for which you cannot pay a single penny. But these people could see me through and through, because their attention is not so spoiled. I feel that half are tremendously spiritual.

HT: And you think they are very genuine?

Nirmala Devi: Absolutely, you’ll be surprised. They have no ego.

HT: How many Sahaja Yogis are there?

Nirmala Devi: It’s unlimited. Sahaja Yoga does not have any membership or organization. Anybody who becomes a Sahaja Yogi first of all has to get his kundalini awakening or Self-Realization, then he has to stabilize himself. He should be capable of giving realization to another. It’s self-appointed. So we cannot say, but it must be thousands, because we are working in 40 nations.

HT: How did you develop Sahaja Yoga?

Nirmala Devi: It happened in very funny circumstances on the 5th of May, 1970. I had been going to all these gurus to see what they are doing, how they work and all that, just to study them. I was a born realized soul. I could have given realization to one or two also, but my idea was to find out a way by which I could give en masse realization. I went to see Swami Muktananda and all of them. I went to see this Rajneesh, who was very much after me. I went on my own and stayed there. I was sitting on a little platform under a tree watching all that was there. I was shocked because he was mesmerizing people who were holding an ordinary glass. How horrible it was. I felt so bad because there was mud, dirt, filth, and they were all wearing that.

[In my search, I found that there] were no gurus, they were false people, most of them. So I said, “If that is the thing that those gurus are doing, better try myself.” So the whole night I sat under a bilva tree near the seashore. I was just thinking, “How will I manage this en masse realization?” And that is the day when the seventh chakra opened and when I saw how the kundalini was going to rise. Of course, I cannot explain this to you because it is a different level of understanding. It is a siddhi (psychic power) which is beyond chitta (consciousness). So with the siddhi I worked it out. When that happened, this one didn’t know anything about realization. Then I started this work.

HT: Could you please throw some light on Shri Ganesha, who seems to be very important in Sahaja Yoga?

Nirmala Devi: Sri Ganesha is the symbol of eternal childhood that is innocence. He resides on the low centre called Mooladhara chakra. Mooladhara is actually the triangular bone in which the kundalini is. The pelvic plexus is responsible for excretions, even “sex.” Now this child, who is an innocent child, is put there because he is innocent. When the kundalini starts rising all these functions stop and you immediately become like a child. Now, as mother I don’t want to condemn anyone. But some people say that the kundalini resides in the sex, and that is why many people have misused and abused it, which is absolutely wrong. Shri Ganesha is the child of the mother, and He is sitting there watching over her chastity and honor.

Some scientists say that the carbon sits, because it is the beginning, as you know, of organic chemistry and from which it becomes amino acids. I asked scientists to make a model of a carbon atom. I told them “If you look at the model from the right to the left side you will see a swastika, and if you look from right to left you’ll see a Omkara.” The carbon atom itself is the throne of Shri Ganesha, manifesting those forms.

HT: Could you say something about music and mantras?

Nirmala Devi: Music is very important, especially our Indian music or even Western classical music, because it carries the vibrations very well. You are just a little late, otherwise I could have shown you when the music started how the whole vibrations started changing and how the lights started dancing. Music carries the vibrations, and they help a lot. Mantras are words which are awakened, and when said are understood by the deities. It says even in the Vedas, that first of all you must get your realization, and then you must know yantra, mantra and tantra. So yantra and mantra is the awakening of all these deities, but you have to be a realized soul. You have to have the connection. These mantras are words which carry the power to awaken the deity and to please them.

Article copyright Himalayan Academy.

8 Treasures of Breathing & Stretching Exercise

Hello everyone. During the workshop that we had at Gopeng, Perak recently, Uncle Richard shared with us a stretching exercise that morning based on Tai Chi movements that can help you keep your posture right and help maintain proper joints and muscle movement.

He calls it the "8 Treasures of Breathing & Stretching Exercise". I received enquiries to feature this exercise so that it can be referred to in future. Well, I hope that I got the sequence of the steps correctly.
Step 1. "Supporting the Sky". Stand with your feet together. Interlock your fingers from both hands with plams facing toward you at stomach level. Take deep breath and move your arms up your body, turn your palms away from you when you reach your chest level and stretch it all the way to the top of your head. When the hands are above the head, exhale your breath slowly and reverse the hand action until your palms are again at your stomach level like in the beginning. Do this exercise 7 times.

Step 2. "Looking for Treasure". Bend down with both hands stretched to your feet. Slowly breath in and bend backwards as far as you can go. Lift both your hands to waist level and support your back. Reverse the action by exhaling out slowly, bend forward until both hands are again at feet level. Do this exercise 7 times.

Step 3. "The Brave Archer - Yong Kok". Separate your feet apart and bend it forward slightly. Put both your hands up to the chest level. Palms facing each other. Inhale slowly and lift both hands upwards until it reaches your nose. Turn your waist to the right and then stretch your arms as if you are stringing an arrow to a bow; one hand will be straight with two fingers pointing (representing the bow) and the other hand slightly bent up to the ear area (representing the arrow). Slowly exhale and return both hands to its original position at the chest level. Repeat the same movement of stringing the arrow but this time twist your waist to the left side instead. Do this exercise 7 times alternating from right to left side.

Step 4. "The Prayer". Feet slightly apart and bent. Both hands straight at the side the body. Inhale slowly and raise the right hand until it reaches chest level with palms open. Left hand remains at the side of the body. Twist waist to the left side, exhale slowly and push arm until it is straight, palms open. Inhale and move the right hand slowly back to the chest level and then exhale slowly while dropping the right hand back to the side of the body. Repeat the same process with the left hand and twist to the right side instead. Do this exercise 7 times alternating from left to right side.

Step 5. This exercise is called "Spinal Jolt". Try this exercise preferably on soft ground. If you are doing it on cement or concrete floor, please take care not to injure your heel. Feet together. Take a deep breath and tip toe as high as you can balance yourself. Hold your breath as long as you can and then suddenly release it while dropping your feet down to the floor causing a jerk. Do this exercise 7 times.

Step 6. "Crane Spreading its Wings". Feet apart and slightly bent. Both hands at chest level, right palm above left palm. Inhale slowly while stretching both arms diagonally to the body in opposite sides with palms fully open. Slowly exhale your breath and bring down your arms back to chest level but with left palm now on top of right palm.Repeat the same movement but diagonally in the opposite direction. Do this exercise 7 times.

Step 7. "Rotating Waist". Feet apart. Bend down and place both your hands at your back to support it. Inhale slowly and twist your waist to the left side until it reaches the centre with your face looking up. Exhale your breath and slowly rotate your body from the centre to the right side until it is again in bending position. Repeat the movement by twisting the body from right to centre to left this time. Do this exercise 7 times alternating from right to left side.

Step 8. "Gentle Fist". Feet apart slightly bent. Both hands raised straight at chest level. Fingers closed lightly into a fist. Inhale slowly and draw both hands towards the chest bent at waist level. Twist the waist to the left and exhale slowly while straightening the right hand as if punching. Left hand remains at waist level.

Inhale slowly and return right hand back to waist level. Twist waist to the right and exhale slowly while straightening the left hand as it punching. Right hand remains at waist level. Repeat the exercise 7 times alternating from left to right.

Well, that's it. Best wishes to your good health. Breath..breath..breath and go..go..ooo.

By Stephen; Thanks Uncle Richard.

Detachment is Complete Poetry in Sahaja Yoga

Many students of Sahaja Yoga Meditation, when are coming to the classes they start asking:

‘Now, what should we wear? What is closer to the idea of a yogi, what is recommended?’

Maybe because of the popularity of Jedi order from ’Star Wars’ or because many sport or spiritual practises are using uniforms or a particular dress code. However, in sahaja yoga we experience a Natural and Spontaneous Connection to this Power of Life that is Universal. This says a lot. Below, in simple words and stories some truths are provided that bring peace and humorous wisdom; also some barriers might be removed - we become citizens of the world.

I remember that when watching recently Star Wars with my family I had realized with amazement the similarity between Yoda’s way of talking and Shri Mataji’s as well how the Force is the Shakti (power) that in Sahaja Yoga is venerated as the doer in creation; and a jedi’s conduct and connection to the force is entirely sahaj! But, with one improvement: no special clothes or lightsaber use nor training are necessary. No exterior compulsion or ’special effects’ are required. The search starts within and the transformation is within.

Shri Mataji:

‘For things now.

Things have no value unless

and until there are emotions behind it’

Submitted by email

About Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

Birth and Childhood
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi was born on March 21, 1923 to a Christian family in Chindawara, India. Her parents were Prasad and Cornelia Salve, direct descendants of the royal Shalivahana dynasty. Seeing the beauty of this child who was born with a spotless brilliance, they called her Nirmala, which means 'Immaculate'.

Later on she came to be known by the multitudes by the name of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - the revered Mother who was born with her complete Self Realization and knew from a very young age that she had a unique gift which had to be made available to all mankind.

Her parents played a key role in India's Liberation Movement from under British rule. Her father, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and helped write free India's first constitution. He was a renowned scholar, master of 14 languages, and translated the Koran in Marathi. Her mother was the first woman in India to receive an Honors Degree in Mathematics.

Fighting for India's Freedom

As a child, Shri Mataji lived with her parents in the ashram of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi saw the wisdom of this child and used to appreciate her immensely, affectionately calling her Nepali due to the Nepali features of her face. Even at a young age, her deep understanding was evident to Gandhi, who frequently sought her advice on spiritual matters.

Shri Mataji's involvement in the freedom struggle is extremely remarkable. She was very courageous and played a daring role as a youth leader of this campaign. In the 1942 "Quit India Movement" announced by Gandhi, she was even arrested and put in jail along with other freedom fighters for actively participating in this movement.

Shri Mataji was born with a complete understanding of the human nervous system and its energetic counterparts. In order to become acquainted with the scientific vocabulary attached to these subjects, she studied medicine and psychology at the Christian Medical College in Lahore.

Shortly before India achieved independence she married Sir. C.P. Srivastava, one of India's most dedicated civil servant officer, who was knighted by the Queen of England. In India it is believed that the wife brings luck to her husband - this is most certainly the case for Sir. C.P. Srivastava.

Sahaja Yoga is born

He rose in government ranks very quickly though he was an absolutely honest person. He held the post of the Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister's office of the late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri in the years 1964-66. Shastri himself was an ideal model for a Prime Minister in India's political history. Afterwards he was elected for 16 consecutive years to be the Secretary General of the United Nations International Maritime Organization.
As Sir C.P. Srivastava moved in fame from the Indian history to the worldly scene, Shri Mataji, after fulfilling her familial duty of bringing up her two daughters, embarked on her spiritual mission. Although she knew about her own spiritual consciousness she did not know how to present it to the people of modern times. She was also aware of the problems encountered by the earlier spiritual personalities who came on this earth like Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, and others when they prophesized the truth directly to the people.

As she was pondering on the many faceted problems confronting human beings, on the 5th of May, 1970, on a lonely beach of Nargol (about 150 km from Mumbai) a divine spiritual experience filled her whole being and suddenly she found an answer to her question. She discovered a historical process of en-masse Self Realization through which thousands of people could get this connection to their Spirit and thereby their inner transformation.

Sahaja (=Spontaneous) Yoga (=Union with the Self) was born.

Spreading of Sahaja Yoga around the world

Shri Mataji made this experiment of awakening the spiritual power of every human being (which the Hindus name the Kundalini, the Muslims as the Ruh and in the bible it is described as the Holy Ghost) and was amazed at the results.

She tried it first on people near to her and noticed they were transformed physically, mentally and spiritually. Slowly she found out that only this process had the potential solution for all human problems and therefore she decided to spread it on an en-masse level. She invested her own time and money to talk to people and give them the key to their own spiritual power. Those few people who started feeling this spiritual power, which flowed like a cool breeze over their whole body, especially over the palms of their hands and on top of their head (around the fontanel bone area) were quite astonished that it worked. Though they argued and disputed over it they could not disbelieve their own experience. Under the instructions of Shri Mataji they tried giving this power to others, which really gave them the faith that this was the true spiritual experience that was being prophesized in every religion.

Amazingly, without any financial support from any person, Shri Mataji neither charges for Her lectures nor for Her ability to give Self Realisation, nor does one have to become a member of this organisation. She insists that you cannot pay for your enlightenment and to-date she continues to denounce the false, self-proclaimed "gurus" who are more interested in the seekers' purse than their spiritual ascent.

Since 1970, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi has kept a busy schedule, travelling around the world to teach the techniques of Sahaja Yoga meditation. She has demonstrated her capacity to trigger the aakening of the spiritual power in human beings (Kundalini) at an "en masse" level. Large numbers of people, without distinction of race, religion, age or social status have acknowledged the value of her teachings by establishing Sahaja Yoga centers in over 75 nations. These people who live a normal family life, tap to their inner spiritual power through daily Sahaja Yoga meditation and have achieved a complete balance of their lives on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. They understand the integration of all religions and spiritual paths not at a mental level, but through their direct, tangible experience on the central nervous system. Thousands of years ago, the Blossom Time was prophesized to come when, in these modern times of crisis, thousands of seekers of Truth are going to experience this connection with their Spirit.

International achievements and recognition

An official guest in the former Soviet Union, she enabled over 100,000 people to experience their Self-Realization. She regularly speaks to audiences of 10,000 to 20,000 in the former Eastern bloc nations and has filled year after year the Royal Albert Hall in London for her conference on Sahaja Yoga.

Shri Mataji has delivered thousands of lectures, given many television and radio interviews, and been the subject of hundreds of newspaper articles around the world. An articulate speaker, Shri Mataji is the founder and sole director of Sahaja Yoga or "Vishwa Nirmala Dharma", which is an established non-profit organization in many countries worldwide.

Shri Mataji has been recognized worldwide by several prestigious institutions for her selfless work and for the powerful results of her spiritual teachings. In 1994, the Mayor of Brazil's capital welcomed Shri Mataji at the airport, presenting her with the key to the city, and sponsored all of her programs. In 1995, the Indian Government granted Shri Mataji a one hour primetime television series, broadcast nationally. During the same year, Shri Mataji was an official guest of the Chinese government and was invitied to speak at the International Women's Conference in Beijing. Also in 1995, she was awarded by the Romanian Ecological University an Honorary Doctorate in Cognitive and Parapsychological Sciences.

She has been recognized and greeted by the mayors of several cities in North America (Yonkers, NY, 1994 & 1996, Los Angeles, 1993 and 1994, British Columbia, 1994, Cincinnati 1992, Philadelphia 1993, Berkeley, 1997). She was given a Proclamation by the US Congress in 1997 which was submitted to the Congressional Records. Shri Mataji was declared "Personality of the Year" in 1986 by the Italian Government.

NGOs created by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi

In her tremendous compassion and concern to alleviate human sufferings, Shri Mataji has been able to create a number of NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) to solve the most immediate problems of the world in the last 25 years. To mention a few:

• An international hospital in Mumbai to help patients all over the world to get a chance to cure themselves through Sahaja Yoga methods. This hospital has been producing quite successful results in curing a number of incurable diseases like cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis etc.
• An international cancer research centre in Mumbai in order to study the effects of Sahaja Yoga methods on curing various illnesses, including psychosomatic diseases.
• An international music school in Nagpur to promote classical music.
• A charity house for the poor people in Delhi, to provide shelter to destitute and homeless people. Also to help them through the process of Sahaja Yoga to become better individuals.

Conclusion

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi has dedicated her life to triggering the spiritual ascent of mankind through Self Realization, reclaiming the role of women in the spiritual evolution, and guiding humanity to correct today's moral dilemmas. It seems that the light of Gandhi's vision is being brought to fulfillment by this great lady who is revered as the compassionate Divine Mother by her followers, as the "Messenger of peace" by Ayatollah Rouhani, an Avatar of the modern era by Claes Nobel, grandnephew of Albert Nobel (the creator of the Nobel foundation) and Chairman of United Earth.

We Are All Hindus Now

BY LISA MILLER, Newsweek Magazine, 24 & 31, 2009 article Page 58


America is not a Christian nation. We are, it is true, a nation founded by-Christians, and according to a 2008 survey, 76 percent of us continue to identify as Christian (still, that's the lowest percentage in American history). Of course, we are not a Hindu—or Muslim, or Jewish, or Wiccan—nation, either. A million-plus Hindus live in the United States, a fraction of the billion who live on earth. But recent poll data show that conceptually, at least, we are slowly becoming more like Hindus and less like traditional Christians in the ways we think about God, our selves, each other, and eternity.

The Rig Veda, the most ancient Hindu scripture, says this: "Truth is One, but the sages speak of it by many names." A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. Jesus is one way, the Qur'an is another, yoga practice is a third. None is better than any other; all are equal. The most traditional, conservative Christians have not been taught to think like this. They learn in Sunday school that their religion is true, and others are false. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me."

Americans are no longer buying it. According to a 2008 Pew Forum survey, 65 percent of us believe that "many religions can lead to eternal life"—including 37 percent of white evangelicals, the group most likely to believe that salvation is theirs alone. Also, the number of people who seek spiritual truth outside church is growing. Thirty percent of Americans call themselves "spiritual, not religious," according to a 2009 NEWSWEEK Poll, up from 24 percent in 2005. Stephen Prothero, religion professor at Boston University, has long framed the American propensity for "the divine-deli-cafeteria religion" as "very much in the spirit of Hinduism.

You're not picking and choosing from different religions, because they're all the same," he says. "It isn't about orthodoxy. It's about whatever works. If going to yoga works, great and if going to Catholic mass works, great. And if going to Catholic mass plus the yoga plus the Buddhist retreat works, that's great, too."
Then there's the question of what happens when you die. Christians traditionally believe that bodies and souls are sacred, that together they make up the "self," and that at the end of time they will be reunited in the Resurrection. You need both, in other words, and you need them forever. Hindus believe no such thing. At death, the body burns on a pyre, while the spirit—where identity resides—escapes. In reincarnation, central to Hinduism, selves come back to earth again and again in different bodies. So here is another way in which Americans are becoming more Hindu: 24 percent of Americans say they believe in reincarnation, according to a 2008 Harris poll. So agnostic are we about the ultimate fates of our bodies that we're burning them—like Hindus—after death. More than a third of Americans now choose cremation, according to the Cremation Association of North America, up from 6 percent in 1975- "I do think the more spiritual role of religion tends to de-emphasize some of the more starkly literal interpretations of the Resurrection," agrees Diana Eck, professor of comparative religion at Harvard. So let us all say "om."

Article contributed and sent by email.