Posts in category: Press Release

“Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA)” sponsored historic 14th annual ‘Hindu Mandir Executive Conference (HMEC)’ in New Jersey concluded with resounding success on Sept. 22, 2019 at ‘Fairbridge Inn & Suites’ in East Hanover, N.J. This annual fair takes place in different regions of N. America, (includes Caribbean Islands), for the benefit of Hindu temples and religious organizations. The primary objective of this eminent gathering is to collectively enhance their relevance to the Hindu society-at-large and to the rising second generation.

In this pioneering effort, VHPA’s role is limited to that of a facilitator or a catalytic-supporter. According to Vipul Patel, the Convener, the theme of this year’s HMEC was – “Sustaining Temples and Institutions by Building security and Strength through community Outreach and Seva programs”. This year, several dozen Temples and Organizations participated in 3-day affair that had 35 speakers and approx. 200 delegates.

The main coordinator of the entire conference was Bhakti Mehta-Modi who kept the tightly paced sessions adequately focused on their subjects from the beginning. The conference began on Friday, September 20 evening with Swami Pratyagbodhanandaji, along with other seers, blessing the event with Sanskrit shlokas and lighting the auspicious lamp.

The first session was devoted to safety initiatives and emergency precautions in case of Medical crisis, Fire, Vandalism or an active shooter prowling on the premises. This was expertly handled by representatives of ‘Homeland Security’, Chief Officers of local firefighting unit and emergency management unit. Mark Curcio (Emergency Mgmt.) recommended that all places of worship should have a ‘crisis management team’, adequately installed surveillance gadgets, properly established rapport with local concerned authorities, and periodic safe evacuation drills under their supervision.

Most of the temples it seemed lacked this preparedness. Sohini Sarcar’s (Hindu Student Council – ‘HSC’) weeks of interactions with these ‘security professionals’ was not only evident but also was overwhelmingly appreciated by them. Chaplain Shawn Lee’s (‘US Army Chaplaincy’) assertion on how difficult it is to recruit qualified Hindu Chaplains for Army’s spiritual wing came as a surprise to most of the people. This is something the Hindu diaspora needs to delve on in the interest of Hindu soldiers in US Army.

Saturday, September 21 morning session focused on prevention, protection and sustenance. It dealt with adopting a public-relation road map for the surrounding community by educating children about Hindu culture in temple-based classroom, bringing our festivals on public platform to remove any misgivings rather than just internalizing their importance and adopting ‘Seva’ projects.

As part of community outreach by temples and institutions, Neha Srivastava suggested that they become catchment centers for society’s ills and address issues like loneliness, caregiving, poverty, domestic violence resulting out of marital discord etc. Given an opportunity of 2 hrs. /wk. time and space, she offered to establish such pilot programs in temples that are willing to give a try.

To sustain the cultural values among the college youths, Nikunj Trivedi of ‘HSC’ gave insight into what they had accomplished in past 29 years. In spite of inadequate support system 150,000 students have been nurtured by them at 60+ college campuses.

“HMEC” is not only a vehicle for the executives of temples and religious organizations for their own networking, but also, to collectively overcome various hurdles faced by them by addressing commonality among them or by drafting reference charter-booklets. Abhaya Asthana, President of ‘VHPA’, along with his associate Sanjay Mehta (Gen Secretary, VHPA) expanded on this approach with Sant Gupta, Tejal Shah, Vinod Gupta explaining the subtext of it.

It is remarkable to note that through HMEC initiative ‘Hindu Mandir Priest Conference (HMPC)’, ‘Hindu Women Network (HWN)’, ‘Hindu American Vanaprasthi Network (HAVAN) have been established. Moreover, this has resulted in publication of informative books like ‘Hindu Prayer Book’ and a book on ‘Antimsanskar’ (last rites).

Abhayaji, also talked on Hindu’s biggest global event – “World Hindu Congress” – that took place last year in Chicago, USA where 3,000 delegates from 65 countries participated. Keeping up with the theme of the conference Swami Pratyagbodhananji, released a new book titled ‘Hindu Temple Security Guidelines’ that details the steps that need to be taken by the members of HMEC for the safety of their institutions and gatherings.

Saturday afternoon was devoted to ‘Media’ as a strategic tool of influence to connect with the larger audience and especially with our second generation. On the outset, Ajay Shah who is vigilant about anti-Hindu defamation attempts, expressed displeasure about the way Hindus are portrayed in the Media by well-financed hate-groups. He advised that more concerted efforts on the part of Hindus are necessary to counter this onslaught.

Continuing on 2017 Media-workshop, Fred Stella emphasized that HMEC cadre needs to be Media-savvy (print, audio-visual, Social-media etc.) as the technology is here to stay. He disclosed that, as the raw data was being compiled, a handbook, as a guide, to interact with the Media in positive manner was on its way. Bhakti Mehta-Modi, Parth Parihar and Yogi Jayanathaji touched on modern modes of communications prevalent among younger generation.

As an off-shoot of previous HMECs, quite a few ‘guidance books’ are being prepared.  Among them, some relate to youth issues, namely, love-hate relation with their own identity, silent suffering when ostracized, freewill marriage, social stigmas atypical to Hindus in alien culture, depression etc. In late afternoon there was a special youth session to tackle their existential problems.

The highlight of Sunday, September 22 was the deliberations on widespread ‘religious conversions’ in Caribbean Islands and in Bharat. Pt. Ram Harodwar revealed that $165 million were being spent in Bharat alone to entice Hindus to change their religion and the government and the Hindu organizations need to arrest this illegal practice. In Guyana, it was alleged that there is 25% drop in Hindu population since their arrival. The panel, consisting of Ram Sahadeo, Dwarka Persaud, Ram Harodwar and Fred Stella blamed the situation on governmental agencies, Hindu’s callous indifference and religious extremists preying on the disadvantaged.

The possible solutions? Education, Financial aid, Reconversion, and Temples as help-centers for the people in need – and not just acting as the citadel of rituals. Everyone agrees that spirituality in all its forms is not the only contribution of Hindus to U.S. To encapsulate and celebrate all their contributions & achievements a unique symposium – ‘THREADS Conference 2019’ – is being hosted in Boston, MA on November 1-3. Jai Bansal, who is one of the conveners of this gathering revealed that, “the purpose is to share the story of Hindu-Americans, appreciate what the America has done to embrace them and increasingly engage them to shape a collective future”.

For the benefit of participating institutions, Sanjay Mehta summarized the action items that the members had agreed on. The gathering resolved to

1. to create ‘Hindu Seva and outreach portal’, after database collection is complete
2. publish visitor’s guide for various Temples spread across the landscape
3. establish ‘HMEC Library’ to catalogue progressive ideas, suggestion and practical projects.

Before the historic conference came to an end, Bhakti Mehta-Modi made a constructive suggestion that ~ it would serve everyone’s interests if the ‘Seniors’ give more time and thought to what the youths have to say in executing any task. She further elaborated that the definition of respect for seniors has different resonance to the youths born in USA and they also expect Seniors to take them seriously and not brush them aside.

The gathering appreciated VHPA’s comprehensive efforts to bring various institutions together for collective brainstorming on issues that affect them most.

Source: https://hindupost.in/world/trailblazing-hindu-mandir-executive-conference-in-n-j/

The World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) sponsored historic 14th annual ‘Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC)’ in New Jersey concluded with resounding success on Sept.22 in East Hanover, N.J. This annual gathering takes place in different regions of N. America, (includes Caribbean Islands), for the benefit of Hindu temples and religious organizations. The primary objective of this eminent gathering is to collectively enhance their relevance to the Hindu society-at-large and to the rising second generation. In this pioneering effort, VHPA’s role is limited to that of a facilitator or a catalytic-supporter. According to Vipul Patel, the Convener, the theme of this year’s HMEC was — “Sustaining Temples and Institutions by Building security and Strength through community Outreach and Seva programs”. This years’ 3-day affair had 35 speakers and approx. 200 delegates representing more than 75 Mandirs and Institutions.

The coordinators of the entire conference were Ami Patel of ON, Tejal Shah of NJ, Sohini Sircar from New York and Vallabha Tantri from Minnesota. The conference began on Friday, September 20, with Swami Pratyagbodhanandaji, along with other seers, blessing the event with Sanskrit shlokas and lighting the auspicious lamp. This first session was devoted to safety initiatives and emergency precautions in case of Medical crisis, Fire, Vandalism or an active shooter prowling on the premises. This was expertly handled by representatives of ‘Homeland Security’, Chief Officers of local firefighting unit and emergency management unit. Mark Curcio (Emergency Mgmt.) recommended that all places of worship should have a ‘crisis management team’, adequately installed surveillance gadgets, properly established rapport with local concerned authorities, and periodic safe evacuation drills under their supervision. Most of the temples it seemed lacked this preparedness. Sohini Sarcar’s (Hindu Student Council — ‘HSC’) weeks of interactions with these ‘security professionals’ was not only evident but also was overwhelmingly appreciated by them. Chaplain Shawn Lee’s (‘US Army Chaplaincy’) assertion on how difficult it is to recruit qualified Hindu Chaplains for Army’s spiritual wing came as a surprise to most of the people. This is something the Hindu Americans needs to delve on in the interest of Hindu soldiers in the US Army.

The Saturday morning session focused on prevention, protection and sustenance. It dealt with adopting a public-relation road map for the surrounding community by educating children about Hindu culture in temple-based classroom, bringing our festivals on public platform to remove any misgivings rather than just internalizing their importance and adopting ‘Seva’ projects. As part of community outreach by temples and institutions, Neha Srivastava suggested that they become catchment centers for society’s ills and address issues like loneliness, caregiving, poverty, domestic violence resulting out of marital discord etc. She offered to establish such pilot programs in temples.. To sustain the Hindu ethos among college youths, Nikunj Trivedi of Hindu Students Council (HSC) gave insight into what they had accomplished in the past 29 years. Despite inadequate support system, more than 150,000 students have been nurtured by them at 60 different college campuses.

“HMEC” is not only a vehicle for the executives of temples and religious organizations for their own networking, but also a place to collectively overcome various hurdles faced by them by addressing commonality among them. Abhaya Asthana, President of VHPA expanded on this approach with Sant Gupta, Vinod Gupta explaining the subtext of it. It is remarkable to note that through HMEC initiative ‘Hindu Mandir Priest Conference (HMPC)’, ‘Hindu Women Network (HWN)’, ‘Hindu American Vanaprasthi Network (HAVAN)’ have been established. Moreover, this has resulted in publication of informative books like ‘Hindu Prayer Book’ and a book on ‘Antimsanskar’ (last rites). Abhaya Asthana, also gave an overview of. “World Hindu Congress” -the largest gathering of Hindus in the US, that took place last year in Chicago.More than 3,000 delegates from 65 countries participated in this event. Keeping up with the theme of the conference Swami Pratyagbodhananji and Bharat Vedak of S Carolina, released a new book titled ‘Hindu Temple Security Guidelines’ that details the steps that need to be taken by the members of HMEC for the safety of their institutions and gatherings.

Saturday afternoon was devoted to ‘Media’ as a strategic tool of influence to connect with the larger audience and especially with our second generation. Ajay Shah who works on cases anti-Hindu defamation, expressed displeasure about the way Hindus are portrayed in the Media by well-financed hate-groups. He advised that more concerted efforts on the part of Hindus are necessary to counter this onslaught. Continuing on 2017 Media-workshop, Fred Stella emphasized that HMEC cadre needs to be Media-savvy (print, audio-visual, Social-media etc.) as the technology is here to stay. He disclosed that, as the raw data was being compiled, a handbook, as a guide, to interact with the Media in positive manner was on its way. Bhakti Mehta-Modi, Parth Parihar and Yogi Jayanathaji touched on modern modes of communications prevalent among younger generation. As an off-shoot of previous HMECs, quite a few ‘guidance books’ are being prepared. Among them, some relate to youth issues, namely, love-hate relation with their own identity, silent suffering when ostracized, freewill marriage, social stigmas atypical to Hindus in alien culture, depression etc. In late afternoon there was a special youth session to tackle their existential problems. Chandra Reddy of Indiana. led the ‘Temple Visitors’ Guide’ working session. Bhagvad Gita Scholarship awards were announced. This year 26 HS and MS students from across the country participated. One of the award winners, Riya Dhadheechi, was present to accept her award.

The highlight of Sunday, September 22 was the deliberations on wide-spread ‘religious conversions’ in Caribbean Islands and in India. Pt. Ram Harodwar revealed that $165 million were being spent in India alone to entice Hindus to change their religion and the government and the Hindu organizations need to arrest this illegal practice. In Guyana, it was alleged that there is a 25% drop in Hindu population since their arrival. The panel, consisting of Ram Sahadeo, Dwarka Persaud, Ram Harodwar and Fred Stella blamed the situation on governmental agencies, Hindu’s callous indifference and religious extremists preying on the disadvantaged. Everyone agrees that spirituality in all its forms is not the only contribution of Hindus to U.S. To encapsulate and celebrate all their contributions & achievements a unique symposium — ‘THREADS Conference 2019’ — is being hosted in Boston, MA on November 1–3 < https://www.threads2019.org >. Jai Bansal, who is one of the conveners of this gathering noted that, “the purpose is to share the story of Hindu-Americans, appreciate what America has done to embrace them and increasingly engage them to shape a collective future”.

For the benefit of participating institutions, Sanjay Mehta summarized the action items that the members had agreed on. The gathering resolved to (1) to create ‘Hindu Seva and outreach portal’, after database collection is complete (2) publish visitor’s guide for various Temples spread across the landscape (3) establish ‘HMEC Library’ to catalogue progressive ideas, suggestions and practical projects. Before the historic conference came to an end, Bhakti Mehta-Modi made a constructive suggestion that ~ it would serve everyone’s interests if the ‘Seniors’ give more time and thought to what the youths have to say in executing any task. The gathering appreciated VHPA’s comprehensive efforts to bring various institutions together for collective brainstorming on issues that affect them most.

HMEC

The vision of HMEC is to be the network of Hindu Organizations for effective leadership from generation to generation across North America. Representatives from Hindu temples and institutions meet to deliberate and solve issues collectively. For more information, visit www.hmec.info

Source: https://utsavchakrabarti.medium.com/the-world-hindu-council-of-america-vhpa-sponsored-historic-14th-annual-hindu-mandir-executives-856842a5d32d

Twelfth Annual Hindu Mandir Executives Conference (HMEC) – 2017

The 12th  HMEC was held in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Waterfront Hotel from September 15 to 17, 2017 on the theme “Hindu Temples and Institutions -Challenges of 21st Century” The Hindu temples and institutions are facing challenges around the globe as technology and social changes affect traditional beliefs and practices. The conference enabled Hindu leaders to look at these trends and rise to the challenges presented by the digital age in the areas of temple management, religious programs, youth engagement, serving seniors and society.

In the inaugural session  Swamini Svatmavidyananda Saraswati of Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam  painted a vision for the HMEC. Dr. Vijay Reddy warmly welcomed the conference attendees to Indianapolis on behalf of the host team. Next, Dr. Raman Khanna from Hindu American Foundation presented a perspective on Hindu Activism highlighting the theme of ‘Who Controls the Past, Controls the Future.’ In his inaugural address, Swami Pratyagbodhananda of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam inspired all with a call to  face the ‘Challenges of the 21 st  Century.’

Since its inception, HMEC has undertaken many worthwhile projects and initiatives. A summary was presented to share progress with the audience. Major among them are HMPC (Hindu Mandir Priests’ Conference), WHC (World Hindu Congress), HAVAN (Hindu American Vanaprasthi Network), Publication of Sanskar books, Gita Distribution and HMEC Alignment with National Services.

The session ended with an update from Sanjay Mehta, General Secretary of VHP of America, highlighting the achievements of HMEC thus far and encouraging all to continue on this journey.

There were three workshop sessions for the Youth and Young Adults, designed and conducted by the Young Adults: Hinduism, Social Challenges and Other Questions of Today, Shastras/Spiritual Content Distribution for Millennials and Digital Guide for Mandirs. As an output of this workshop series, the youth and young adult workshop leads intend to release a Digital Guide for Mandirs in the next couple of months.

Secretary of State Connie Lawson praised the efforts of HMEC to bring Hindu Institutions onto one platform. Mayor Joe Hogsett shared his appreciation for the Hindu community and commended the Indianapolis Host Team for being the driving force behind this successful conference. Sanatan Dharma scholarships were handed out to the winners, followed by an appreciation for the five HMEC Interns.

The Hindu Activism panel called for a united effort by all institutions followed by an Indic Faith panel discussion promoting solidarity of all faiths. The parallel tracks and workshops were summarized by the young HMEC interns, who also candidly shared their conference experiences.

In the past 11 years, averages of 100+ temples have participated across North America and the Caribbean in HMEC. The conference sessions were well received by delegates from USA, Canada, Caribbean, and India.

This year, there were over 30 grand hosts and co-hosts of the conference, mainly from USA and Canada. Some 200 adult and youth delegates were drawn from over 70 organizations and four countries participated in the conference.

Source : https://vskbharat.com/challenges-to-overseas-hindu-temples/?lang=en

Seventh Annual Hindu Mandir Executives Conference (HMEC) – 2012

Over 350 adult and youth delegates representing over 102 Mandirs (Temples) and Hindu organizations, from across the world, attended the seventh annual Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), from August 17 through 18, 2012 in San Jose, CA. The Seventh HMEC was hosted by the Fremont Temple and 22 other co-hosts temples from around the Bay Area in California. Participants came from all across the United States, Canada, India, Trinidad and New Zealand. Addressing the participants by video-conference, Swami Dayananda Saraswati said, “This get-together is bound to create better bonds and good networking among the people connected to the Hindu Mandirs in America.”

The conference was a result of over ten months of preparation by a national team and an enthusiastic host team in the Bay Area led by Dr. Umesh Shukla, Dr. Romesh Japra and Rajesh Verma. The program consisting of over 25 sessions and 100 speakers & moderators was meticulously composed by a national program committee led by Sant Gupta and Govind Pasumarthi.

“I would like to commend HMEC for conducting perhaps the best seminar of its type that I have ever attended,” says Robert Arnett, author of India Unveiled. “Speakers provided a wealth of information on a wide array of subjects that were both informative and useful. But what impressed me the most was the spirit of unity and harmony that prevailed throughout the entire conference. Everyone seemed keen on supporting each other’s goals, rather than the usual in-fighting and personal agendas found at most conferences. I actually was sad to see the conference come to an end, and know that I left having made several friends for life.”

Spiritual Guidance

A record fifteen sadhus and sadhvis (initiated monks) attended the gathering. The conference was inaugurated by Swamini Svatmavidyananda Ji who effortlessly weaves humor into her speech calling Hindu Dharma the Universal Dharma. She said, “it (Hindu Dharma) is there in every heart, regardless of whether we went to Sunday school, balavihar, or whatever, it is there.” The editor of Hinduism Today, a prominent Hindu magazine, Paramacharya Palaniswami extolled the tolerance of Hindu Dharma when he told the audience that, “Hindus are intolerant of one thing; we can’t tolerate intolerance.” Sadhvi Bhagawati said that, “Dharma is not like fossils or ancient archeological remains, Dharma is not history, it’s alive it is in the present.” Swami Nikhilanand of Radhamadhav Dham, Austin, shared his thoughts on the educational curriculum for mandirs and also his Kirtan.

Temples and Temple Administration

Mandir issues were at the forefront of the discussion. Swami Mukundananda of J.K. Yog, emphasized the mission of mandirs, “It is important to educate about spiritual greatness and Vedic knowledge. It’s mandir’s responsibility to instill pride.” HAF’s Sunil Shukla charged the temples to be more relevant to the Hindu community and to all communities, whereas, Senthilanathaswami urged the temple trustees to resist contention amongst themselves. A special topic covered legal liabilities that can impact mandir executives and how to ensure that the executives are protected. Fred Stella, representing the Self Realization Fellowship emphasized the virtues of saatvik, organic food and advocated for better treatment of cows, saying, “Mandirs should take the opportunity to have relationships with local organic farms and educate the community on treatment of cows.”

There was a special emphasis on the role of priests at the conference. Pt. Murali Bhattar, the chief priest from Minnesota Hindu Temple, wowed the audience with his techno-savvy presentation and live demo of Vedic chants from his iPad. Pt. Ram Hardowar, Surya Narayan Mandir, NY, stressed that the priests should not be viewed as merely religious leaders but as community leaders. He also announced his temple as the host of the 2013 Hindu Mandir Priest’s Conference.

Swami Vidyadhishananda, from the Self Enquiry Life Fellowship, presented ten years of research that led to collection and preservation of spectacular, extremely rare pictures of pauranic mandirs. The presentation was unique because it connected the temples to the puranas and ancient Hindu history. Stephan Knapp urged the executives to envision temple’s “content architecture” beyond “empty rituals” and cited his newly published book “Spreading Vedic Traditions Through Temples” as a reference handbook for this process.

Youth

Members from Coalition of Hindu Youth (CHY www.twitter.com/chynetwork<http://www.twitter.com/chynetwork>😉 and CHERISH (Fremont Temple Hindu Youth group) played a prominent role in organizing the conference. The youth session’s topic was “Igniting the flame within – redefining the Hindu-American youth identity”. This session comprised of three portions: Q&A with Sadhvi Bhagawati, a break-out discussion session, and a creative hour done by the local youth. During this time the youth discussed what it meant to be Hindu AND American and how others see us and our identities. “We have an identity. We are 100% Hindu and 100% American. They are not mutually exclusive.” This successful youth session ended with group summaries of what it means to maintain our combined identity, and a presentation of each group’s discussion and resolutions. The California youth then showcased the different activities and insights of their mandir youth group.

Mihir Meghani of Hindu American Foundation urged the temples to involve the younger generation in the leadership positions in temples and Hindu organizations. Meghani charged the temples to become “centers of activism, not just centers of rituals.” Swami Vidyadhishananda drew applause when he told the mandir executives that the, “Youth participation in mandirs should go beyond ‘organizing the shoes’ – a deeper involvement is needed.” Youth representative and graduate student in Sanskrit, Varun Khanna, explained how Sanskrit language and Samskriti (culture) are inseparable.

Advocacy

The Seventh HMEC presented an excellent opportunity for Hindu community leaders to present their activities and thoughts advocacy of issues pertinent to the Hindu community.

Dr. Rahul Jindal of Walter Reed Hospital spoke of the success of HMEC blood donation drive in which 77 temples participated, whereas, a booth at the conference enrolled bone marrow donors. Other featured Seva (Service) projects included Support-a-Child (SAC), SNSOS and Ekal Vidyalaya. Ajay Shah, representing American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) spoke about the defamation and denigration of Hindu culture, customs, symbols and images in mass media and art. Speaking of Hindu hate group Dot-busters, Shah said, “We are going to connect the dots, but we’re going to connect them in such a way that they spell ‘Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha (those who protect dharma are protected by it).”

The very first, born and practicing Hindu, contesting to be member of US Congress, Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, shared her inspirational life story and received a standing ovation. Gabbard said that, “I am looking forward to taking the oath of office on the Bhagavad Geeta.” Community activism is not merely limited to political advocacy.

Publications and Announcement

Paramacharya Palainiswami announced availability of the booklet, “Visiting Hindu Temple – A Beginner’s Guide” at the conference. HMEC announced publication and availability of “The Hindu Prayer Book – For Patients, Caregivers, and Chaplains.” This book will fulfill a unique void and help hospital counselors and families in grief. Recognizing the importance of Hindu Chaplains in the community, HAF and HMEC seek to formalize the education of Hindu Chaplains via a newly announced initiative called Hindu American Chaplaincy Program. Sanatana Dharma National Scholarship was announced at the conference. This scholarship will be awarded to students ranging from elementary school to college. The next volume of Samskar book is planned to be released in 2013.

Resolutions

The seventh HMEC unanimously passed the following 4 resolutions:

1. Expressing condolence for the victims and the families of attack on the Sikh Gurudwara in Wisconsin.
2. Condemning the persecution of Hindus in Northeastern India, especially Assam due to the demographic change in the Assam population resulting from illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
3. Urging the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate the condition of Hindu temples and forcible abduction and conversion of Hindus in Pakistan.
4. Expressing support for the purification of Yamuna River in India – a river considered holy by Hindus that is now infused with sewage.

HMEC Initiative Updates

Sanjay Mehta, Jt. General Secretary of VHPA, updated the participants on the ongoing HMEC projects and announced upcoming activities. Hindu Women’s Network, the Bal Vihar Network and Hindu Mandir Priest’s Network all held their conferences this year. HAVAN, a network of Hindu retirees, announced upcoming conferences at the Cincinnati Hindu Temple and Shakti Mandir of Atlanta.

Conclusion
The concluding program started with a special candle light tribute the victims of violence at the Sikh Gurudwara in Wisconsin. Gurudwaras from the Bay Area participated in the concluding program and addressed the audience. The cultural program depicting Hindu spiritual dances and a skit on the Hindu life enthralled the audience. Dr. Romesh Japra, convener of the seventh HMEC, thanked the Mandir Executives for their participation. The HMEC concluded with a special invitation by Shree Ashok Singhal, Patron and Past President of VHP Global, to the Mandir Executive to participate in the Kumbha Mela, the largest Hindu gathering to be held in Prayag in 2013. Dr. Nachiketa Tiwari invited everyone for 2014 World Hindu Congress in Delhi. For the very first time there was LIVE Broadcast of the entire youth session and HMEC closing session on the CHY website www.chynetwork.org<outbind://228/www.chynetwork.org> with many unique viewers who were able to enjoy the conference remotely.

Contact Details:
Vijay Narang – Director, Media Relations; director_mr@vhp-america.org; Tel: 954-915-6913.

HMEC & VHPA
The vision of HMEC is to be the network of Hindu Organizations for effective leadership generation to generation In North America. Representatives from Hindu temples meet to deliberate and solve issues collectively. This conference provides a great opportunity to all of us to learn from each other and ultimately grow as one community. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America (VHPA), founded in 1970 and incorporated in the state of New York in 1974, is an independent, nonprofit, tax- exempt and volunteer-based charitable organization serving the needs of Hindu community in USA. It aims to build a dynamic and vibrant Hindu society rooted in the eternal values of Dharma and inspired by the lofty ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, i.e. the entire creation is one family. For more information on VHPA, please write to media@vhp-america.org or visitwww.vhp-america.org

Sanatan Dharma Scholarship Winners Tejas Dave, Shivam Dave with Sarirka Persaud (Devotee of Shri Surya Narayan Mandir) and Gyan Mehta

Source : https://shrisuryanarayanmandir.org/2012/08/28/7th-hindu-mandir-executives-conference-press-release/

Dr. Abhaya Asthana is a Bell Labs Fellow with Corporate CTO at Alcatel-Lucent. He directs R&D in the areas of computer and communications systems and solutions, multimedia, wireless systems, converged network systems, computer architecture, operating systems, optical networks and VLSI design. He led the design of VLSI systems at INTEL from 1982-1985 and was on the faculty of IIT Kanpur in 1984. Dr. Asthana received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering from I.I.T. Kanpur in 1970, and his Doctorate degree from Tulane University in 1974.

Learning about Hindu Dharma, history and cultural tradition, living it and then passing it on to the next generation is his passion. He has been active in community service at the local and national levels. His main focus has been in promoting educational and spiritual programs and projects that will help Hindus living in North America to remain Hindus, and through their lives contribute to the richness of their adopted land. Organizing Youth Camps, Bal Vihars, Youth Conferences, Dharma Samsads, Hindu Awareness Yaatras, Hindu Mandir Executive Conferences, Hindu Heritage Days, Hindu Seva Day are some examples of what he has been actively doing for the past 25 years. He is the national General Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America.

Congratulations on winning the lifetime achievement award. What does this award mean to you?

Indeed it is a joy to receive such an honor, but it also overcomes me with gratitude and humility: gratitude towards all the people who have worked with me and supported me, and humility in the presence of all the remarkable people who have inspired me and from whom I have learned so much. I have met so many wonderful people along the way. Each one of them left me with a gift that enriched me. This award really makes me proud of all the teams that I have worked with over the years.  And, with Jaya working with me side by side, every step of the way, it has been a wholesome, enjoyable and fulfilling journey thus far.

What do you consider your own major accomplishments?  

Foremost, I am happy about my professional achievements at Bell Labs, Intel and IIT/K. All of these great institutions enabled me to create, invent, innovate, and publish in the areas of high performance, robust communications and computing architectures. It is rewarding to know that my work advanced the boundaries of science and technology in a useful and meaningful way.

Jaya and I feel blessed to have a family with three wonderful children, help them grow and see them blossom into thoughtful, creative, individuals with a social conscience.

But perhaps our most cherished accomplishment is to be an instrument of service to our community through the remarkable medium of VHPA. We are fortunate to be a part of this institution, this movement that brought meaning to our lives and taught us how to live selflessly.

With Ishwara’s grace Jaya and I have been able to balance the family, professional and social aspects of our lives. This in itself has been very rewarding.

What motivated you to get involved with VHPA?  

Let me pose a couple of human questions: What sets apart those who not just survive but turn every adverse moment into a defining point in history? What distinguishes those who prevail when the world goes out of control? I believe the answer lies in the value system that governs the actions of such individuals and an organization as a whole.

In 1989 my father came to visit us on his way to the Virat Hindu Conference in UK. He took us to the VHPA family Camp in Inawendiwin, NJ. It was Rakshabandhan day. The keynote speaker, a Swami, explained the social significance of Rakhsbandhan: the thread serving as a medium to connect the entire society into one organic entity. No one had explained the concept in such terms before. I was fascinated and moved. At the same camp, I saw a volunteer washing large pots and pans in the kitchen and another sweeping the bathroom floor. “People actually do that outside of their homes, for others?” I thought to myself. I introduced myself to them. “Here we do everything ourselves, no work is small,” said the volunteer. I had read that in Gandhi Ji’s “My Experiments with Truth,” but there I saw it in action. That unknowingly taught me one of the greatest lessons in my life: Do something for others. With that thought germinating in our minds, suddenly our lives had a meaning. That obscure visit to the VHPA camp was a turning point in the life of our family. There was no turning back.

These first impressions have stayed constant, living and working with the people of VHP of America for the past 25 years. Plain clothed Sadhus who single mindedly work for the sustenance and strengthening of the Hindu community. They sweat and toil to prepare the ground, dig the trenches and lay the foundation one brick at a time; a foundation to secure the future of our children and to leave a legacy behind that they can be proud of.

How does VHPA differ from VHP India?  

Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharat, (VHP) was inaugurated in 1964 at Sandeepany Sadhnalaya; the Ashram of Poojya Swami Chinmayanandaji in Mumbai. Swami Chinmayananda Ji was the founder of VHP Bharat and Swami Dayananda Saraswati Ji of AVG was the architect of its constitution and by-laws.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America Inc. (VHPA) was founded in 1970 at New York and incorporated in 1974 in New York State. VHPA is an independent socio-cultural-spiritual organization with its own independent constitution and registered under the laws of the United States of America. It is not a branch or a chapter of any other organization in USA or anywhere else in the world. The operations of VHPA and its Chapters in USA are not under the control or directives of VHP, Bharat.

Both organizations share a common name because both work towards the same cause: to network and serve the over one billion Hindu community across the globe. And in that work they share the core principles enunciated in the most ancient spiritual literature called Vedas, considered by many as the eternal source of spiritual and secular knowledge for humanity.

1. “Truth is One, Sages call It by different names.”
2. “This whole world that has moving things, and which itself is moving, is pervaded by one and the same Lord.”
3. “For the kind-hearted people of character, the entire creation is one interconnected family.”
4. “Let all be happy, let all be healthy, let all experience goodness, let sorrows be no one’s lot.”

Those who take these as guiding principles in one’s life can not but be secular, non-violent and without bias or bigotry of any kind. Thus, respect for diversity, peaceful and harmonious coexistence with people of different cultures and faiths is the heart and soul of Hindu Dharma.

We share with VHP Bharat the set of principles and values espoused by the four axioms of Hinduism mentioned above and the common interests of Hindus anywhere in the world. In all other respects such as the constitution and by-laws, the organizational structure, the operation, the decision making, the projects and programs, VHPA is totally independent of any other organization.

What is the mission of VHPA? 

Our vision is that of a dynamic and vibrant Hindu society. Hindus are all those who believe, practice, or respect the spiritual and philosophical principles and practices having roots in Bharat. For us the word Hindu is used in the sense of a civilization that includes Shaivas, Vaishnavas, Shaktas, Smartas, Jains, Bauddhas, and Sikhs. The words Indian and Hindu to us are synonymous because the term Indian has the word Hindu as its root. Moreover, 99.5% of all Indians have Hindu ancestry including those who were converted through force, deception, allurement and exploitation. That is why VHPA is not attached to any particular Temple or Swami. All Mandirs, Vihars, Deosars and Gurudwaras are ours. All Swamis and Acharyas are our Swamis and Acharyas. All Hindus no matter where they live on this Earth are ours.  We are all inclusive.

The work we do is very simple: To keep Hindus in America as Hindus and to lay the foundation on which Hindu Dharma can be sustained and strengthened in America by our generations to come. This is expressed in our four pronged mission of prachar, samskar, seva and sampark.  The main objectives of VHPA are:

1. To educate our next generations about the great human values as envisaged by our ancient sages and seers so they can learn and assimilate the best from both Eastern and Western cultures and become responsible, contributing citizens of their adopted land as well as of the world.
2. To provide a forum that looks out for and addresses Hindu interests in USA.
3. Help minimize the misconceptions and misinformation about Hinduism that may exist for whatever reason so that a meaningful, harmonious and mutually respectful coexistence is possible among people of diverse faiths, traditions and cultures.
4. To provide humanitarian and relief services regardless of race, religion, color, creed, place or any other differences.

Our field of action is USA and we focus our energies in serving the Hindu community in this country. Our focus is on the family the basic element of our society. We work with children, families, elders, Dharma Gurus and other institutions. This work is done by our chapters. They represent the pillars on which the edifice of VHPA is built. Our chapters throughout the country continue to serve the Hindu community with energy, dedication and caring in innovative and diverse ways.

Rev Martin Luther King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

One of the big lessons the Hindus have learned is that turbulence is our friend. And it is in times of turmoil that we have understood the caliber of our people. As they say, if there is a storm on the mountain, more important than the plan are the people you have with you. VHP of America has always been fortunate in having a continuous stream of talented, passionate and dedicated members. Its vision, long term thinking and selfless service to the Hindu community attract those great people.

What are the major accomplishments to date of VHPA?

In the last 40 years, VHPA has undertaken over 30 major initiatives and programs towards the fulfillment of the above objectives. For example VHPA pioneered heritage camps & conferences and over the past thirty years thousands of youth have participated in these camps. Bal-Vihars were started by VHPA in 1974 to impart Hindu Samskaras and provide an opportunity for children to discover their cultural bond with India and develop pride in their Hindu identity. Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) is a network Hindu mandirs of America to explore ways of anchoring Hindu Dharma’s eternal values in the hearts of coming generations and the role that mandirs can play to make that happen. We create awareness through VHPA Publications. Hindu Conference was the brainchild of VHP of America in 1984. Dharma Sansad in America followed by a Dharma Prasaar Yatra and a Vishwa Dharma Praasar Yatra were major historical milestones in themselves. VHP of America has served as an incubator for many organizations: Hindu University of America, Hindu Student Council, HinduNET and literally gave birth to Hindu Activism on the Web in the form of AHAD.

The Seva projects are many including Support a Child (SAC) program started in the 1980s that provides for the living and educational need of over 800 children in Bharat with $250 per child per year. Ekal Vidyalaya program of VHPA focuses on mass education and health care in Vanvasi areas. One teacher helps a village with just $365 per year. During Gujarat Earthquake VHPA rebuilt an entire village of Lodai, which was near the epicenter of the Earthquake. After the devastating Tsunami, VHPA built boats for fishermen so they could get back their means of livelihood. Seva in America comes in all shades and forms: Homeless Soup Kitchen; Adopt-a-Highway; Blanket distribution; Ashraya; Bhutanese Resettlement Project; Katrina, Haiti, Chile and Japan, disaster relief; providing priest services when none is available, helping raise funds to transport the bodies of tragic victims of unfortunate accidents or racists attacks.

You have raised three wonderful children who identify closely with Indian culture. What advice would you give to Indian parents as they raise kids?

Parents are like gardeners. The genes come from our ancestors. We can only prepare the soil, provide shelter and create a nurturing environment for the children to get a solid foundation and proper samskaras. The flowers they blossom into, we have no control over. That is determined by their prarabdha.  Still, here are a few things that we found helpful: Eat dinner together, do prayers together every day and speak in your ancestral language at home, no excuses and no exceptions. Visit the temples, travel together and teach the children the authentic history of Hindu civilization not the distorted version taught through current text books in schools. They should study and digest their historical texts Ramayana and Mahabharata. And finally, enroll your children in Bal Vihars, Hindu Heritage Camps, Indian classical dance, classical music (vocal and/or instrumental). The Boston area is blessed with an abundance of these resources.

Encourage them to be open, fearless, bold and assertive Hindus. America is full of people who value innovation and passion coupled with boldness and steadfastness. Teach them to take all the setbacks and negative feedback with a smile and persevere on. And teach them how to strike a balance between individuality and team play; between academic, personal achievements and service to the community. Both are important and both are valued in America.

Any special message for our readers?

Ours is a spiritual culture of respect, self-discipline and acceptance. At the Bal Vihar we instruct students to take off their shoes and refrain from talking to each other while the teacher is talking. We ask them to put the chairs back and arrange the room, fold their mats and put them away in neat piles. We do the same in the camp or at any meeting, “leave it better than we got it” – cultivating the ability to respect. Leave everything a little better than you found it.

Initially they may think that it is a waste of time and suggest hiring people to clean up, later they realize that when they do this, they are respecting not only the chair but the person who will sit on it next. When we care for the next person we feel valuable to others and become part of a community. We feel that we have left the world a better place than we found it. We do not respect because we will get something in return but because it helps us grow. Eventually we respect for no reason but just because that is who we are – Hindus.

We brought with us to this land, our value system, our family structure and our spiritual life style. These are the only treasures that our Rishis gave us to live by and to share with others leaving the world a better place than we found it.

Source: http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=7683

Click Here to see photos of HMEC 2008

USA: Hindu Mandir (Temple) Executives representing 113 Temples and Hindu Organizations from more than 25 states of US and Canada and Caribbean converged in Romulus, MI to attend the Third Hindu Mandir Executives Conference (HMEC), from September 26, 2008 through September 28, 2008. They traveled from as far as British Columbia in Canada, Hawaii, California, Florida, and the heartland of America, with a mission to nourish, protect and sustain Hindu Dharma in America.

This very successful HMEC-2008 follows the second HMEC held in Edison, NJ in August 2007 and the first ever such Conference of Executives of Hindu Mandirs(Temples) held in Atlanta, GA, in June 2006, which were attended by representatives of 99 and 57 temples respectively from all over North America.

The executives represented a wide cross-section of the Hindu community. These attendees who numbered over 225, were physicians, scientists, businesspersons, homemakers, engineers, etc., besides being temple executives with deep commitment to fulfilling the spiritual and social needs of Hindu-American community.

The group was diverse in terms of age, race, generation, as well as national origin. The conference had some parallel sessions for the youth representing temples from across the nation. Deven Patel, a 30 something, President of Shri Mandir San Diego, CA, said, “This platform will serve the purpose of furthering our cause in preserving HINDU Dharma for our future generations in USA”.

Addressing the temple executives from across the country, Swami Dayananda Saraswati of the ‘Arsha Vidya Gurukulam’, who was the keynote speaker, emphasized that the Hindu Mandirs should be halls of learning for the Hindu youth besides being the altars of worship.

At HMEC 2008, Hindu Mandir executives collectively deliberated on the evolving social, religious, cultural and spiritual needs of 2.5 million strong, confident, diverse and vibrant Hindu-American community. Deepak Kotecha, author of ‘Hindus Awake’, was inspired and mentioned that “Hindu Temples are now rising above their denominational confines and presenting a unified face of Hinduism to which the world can look up to, admire and be inspired by’

In the concluding session of the Conference, the delegates agreed on a series of action items and passed the following resolutions unanimously for conside  ration of their temple’s boards.

Resolution 1

We the delegates of the Hindu-American Mandirs at HMEC strongly condemn the brutal killing of a revered saint in Orissa, Swami Laxmananda. We urge the governmental authorities in India expeditiously bring the culprits to the book and also undertake requisite steps to ensure that the practice of peaceful Vaidik traditions in the sacred land of Hindus, continues uninhibited.

We will work as a family to restore and further the dignity of Hindu identity.

Resolution 2

We the delegates of the Hindu-American Mandirs at HMEC will help in all material ways possible to accelerate the restoration process of Hindu heritage sites world over. In particular, we appreciate and whole heartedly support Dr. Animesh Sinha efforts in preserving and restoring the sites of Braj.

Source: https://www.hindujagruti.org/news/5527.html