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November/December 2003 NW Newsmakers
Community News


Grand Opening of Hindu temple in Portland, Oregon

A very exciting religious event is unfolding for people living in the greater Portland area. There will be an inauguration ceremony for the grand opening of the Brahma Premananda Ashram/Temple located in Tigard, Oregon. The ceremony will start on Friday, November 7, 2003 and will end on Sunday, November 9, 2003.

Swami Sri Vishwa Premananda first conceived this project when he came to Portland in 1991. Realizing the urgent needs of people to worship, he founded the Portland Temple and called it "Brahma Premananda Ashram".

"Many people have supported this project by generously devoting their time, energy and money in an unselfish manner resulting in this successful venture" said Yogacharya Bharatji, a trustee of the Temple/Ashram. The new Ashram/Temple will occupy 12,000 square feet on two acres of land. An annex to the present Ashram/Temple has also been built. This has eight devotee’s quarters and will be used by people seeking spiritual knowledge, guidance and growth. This is the only temple in the greater Portland area where people of different faiths and different inclinations within Hinduism are brought together. This will be a universal temple and will be open to people from all faiths.

The main temple will be on the upper floor. The second floor will have all amenities for community functions and as such will be shared with other groups. Different groups will be able to organize community functions and to make use of the Ashram’s kitchen, dining facility, bathroom, etc. Ample parking spots along with its central location will also aid the organizers.

The existing building will be kept as it is. There is a meditation hall where Yoga and meditation retreats will take place. "Our purpose is not just to teach people physical yoga. We will place equal emphasis on spiritual growth as well. In this respect, we will do meditation, mantra chanting and other exercises" said Bharatji. Meditation retreats will enable people to have a spiritual vacation so that they spend time in spiritual practices, cut off from the distractions of day-to-day living. In such a pristine setting; the fundamental tenets of Hinduism will also be taught so that people, Indians as well as non-Indians, are able to live their lives according to spiritual values.

The Grand Opening Ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2003. Ted Kulongoski, Oregon State Governor and Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Congressman will be among the dignitaries present. Blessings for the new facility will also be given by representatives from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland, the Vedanta Society of Portland, the Dharma Rain Center and Native American Elders.

For more information, please visit the temple website at www.portlandtemple.org or call Yogacharya Bharatji at (503) 591 0984.

Celebration Church

There is a new Church in Portland, and it is at the Zoo!  What could be more fun than having Mountain Goats greet you as you enter, listening to an 8-piece band singing songs to celebrate life, and hearing positive messages to inspire you for the days ahead! This new church honors all faiths, so no matter where you are on your spiritual journey you are welcome there. You'll leave singing a song!

Services:  Sundays, 10:30am in the Cascade Crest Banquet Center At The Zoo. (Downstairs from the Cascade Restaurant at the entrance - no zoo admission to get to the church service) Info Line: 503-705-5832.

Oregon Tilth Annual Meeting

Oregon Tilth’s 2003 Annnual Meeting will be held on Saturday November 15th from 9AM –9PM at the Namasté Retreat & Conference Center in Wilsonville, OR. The event is free to all attendees and is open to the public. An all-organic lunch and dinner will be served; meal tickets will be available at the door. Come and meet local organic growers and handlers as well as Oregon Tilth staff, University researchers and government representatives.

Highlights will include a trade fair, updates from Oregon Tilth’s diverse programs, workshops, a forum for open discussion and an evening dance.

Choose from the following free workshops:

  • Research Initiative in Biologically Sound Agriculture
  • Whole Systems Sustainability (natural building and alternative energy)
  • Grassroot Policy: Communities Creating Change
  • Education Through Marketing

Oregon Tilth is a non-profit research and education organization founded in 1974 to bring together rural and urban producers and consumers around land stewardship and healthy food. We support biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture through our research, education and policy work and our organic certification program.

New Tibetan Restaurant Opens

The month of October not only marks the grand opening of Tibet Kitchen on NW 21st, but also the first visit of the Dalai Lama to Oregon in 1984. Owners Jigme Topgyal and Tsering Lhamo consider it an auspicious month for further expanding the culinary choices in Portland.

Traditional Tibetan fare is savory, made without sugar or MSG, and is often considered wholesome and warming. As an independent country prior to Chinese occupation, Tibetans enjoyed a rich and varied diet with access to the spices of India and China, fruits and vegetables from low-lying regions, and spices like ginger, garlic, curry, chives, and cilantro. Tibet Kitchen’s chef, Tashi Bhuti, will utilize these accents when creating momos, Tibet’s most popular dumpling dish filled with meat or vegetables and flavored with spices and cilantro, noodle dishes such as Sha Amthook, noodles tossed in light garlic and chive dressing and served with sautéed beef, chicken or vegetables, and curry dishes such as Yak Sha Curry, yak meat cooked with herbs and aromatic spices and served over rice or with Tingmo, fluffy fenugreek flavored bread.

Ms. Bhuti will be arriving directly from New York City, where she was head chef at the restaurant, Tibet on Houston, for several years. She was raised and educated in the art of cuisine in India, where she also worked for many years in Tibetan restaurants in New Delhi.

The restaurant seats about 80 people, and is adjacent to a parking garage.

Tibet Kitchen, 103 NW 21st Ave., Portland. Lunch and Dinner served Tuesday through Sunday. Price Range: Lunch: $7.00 – $9.00; Dinner: $12.00 – $15.00. Phone: 971-244-0805

Pranic Healing

If you missed out on the basic class on Pranic Healing with Master Stephen Co, you can catch up in time for the advanced course he will be giving in February. Teresa Evans, R.N., who was taught by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, will teach a Basic Pranic Healing class in Portland on Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Teresa is a Certified Pranic Healer and a Certified Teacher of Basic Pranic Healing, Advanced Pranic Healing and Pranic Psychotherapy. For information or to register phone Teresa at (503) 224-9401.

India-Pakistan-Kashmir Peace Leadership Initiative

The great people of India and Pakistan have more than a thousand years of common history. Despite all that they have in common - culturally, historically, linguistically, and physiologically - these two nations are engaged in one of the world's longest running conflicts. Since their Independence from Britain in 1947, successive governments of India and Pakistan have actively fostered hatred in their people against those across the border. We believe that peace is possible in Kashmir and between India and Pakistan. But people of these two nations everywhere will have to take a more active role in determining their fate.

Therefore, having lost faith in ability of the governments of India and Pakistan, Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) has resolved to involve people of India and Pakistan in a campaign to resolve the Kashmir issue and to ensure peace and progress in their homelands. In cooperation with Portland State University's Institute of Asian Studies, ACHA is organizing "India-Pakistan-Kashmir: A Civic Dialog" in Portland, Oregon (USA). Local Indians, Pakistanis, and Kashmiris will participate in a frank discussion on all outstanding issues.

The dialog will take place before a live audience, 7:00-9:30 p.m., on Thursday, November 6, in 327-328 Smith Memorial Center at Portland State University. The event is open to public and admission is free.

People-to-people efforts of this kind offer an opportunity for common folks to demonstrate to the governments back home that they can overcome their differences and resolve all disputes between them in a peaceful and just manner. We are confident that if people resolve to lead, government and political leaders of India and Pakistan will follow.

We hope that other South Asian peace and harmony activists and organizations will join us in this effort.

Contact: Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D., Executive Director, Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA), 4410 Verda Lane NE, Keizer, OR 97303. Tel: 503-393-6944 pritamr@open.org, www.asiapeace.org