Today is Swami Vivekananda's 148th birth anniversary. He was the 1st Indian to bring the Hindu faith and spirituality to America's shores. As we at HASC see it, in many ways he planted the seeds of his teachings which are benefiting us. His understanding of America and the West as well as his focus on seva oriented efforts to uplift the poor is one of the main guiding principles for us. We are trying to promote development of sustainable seva centers to mainstream Hindu American Seva. It is leveraging the best from both traditions.
Our Utsvaseva program, which has the support of many spiritual and secular leaders is an infaith interfaith seva bridge. Swami Vivekananda understood that both the east and the west have something to offer to each other and can coexist harmoniously. He said, "Can you become an occidental of occidentals in your spirit of equality, freedom, work and energy, and at the same time a Hindu to the very backbone in religious culture and instincts? This is to be done and we will do it. You are all born to do it."...... "This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive..."
Today is also Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who more recently influenced spirituality in America as did Paramahansa Yogananda's born on January 5.
It is in this spirit of the coming of the 2 traditions, we request you to participate in the ShantiSeva programs and the MLK celebrations (Dr King himself was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi). Please click here to document your participation.
Huffington post blog written by Phil Goldberg, which explains the influence of the gurus born in January.. Three Gurus Who Changed the Face of Spirituality in the West
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunday Supper
MLK Day January 16 2011: Sunday Chai and Supper during ShantiSeva month
ShantiSeva in January: Advancing Peace and Harmony
More than ever, advancing peace and harmony is needed now. UtsavSeva, the signature program of Hindu American Seva Charities, is promoting the understanding of ShantiSeva—or peace and harmony—across the United States—through service activities.
We strongly believed in the power behind the Vedic statement — “Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah”— or nonviolence—as mankind’s foremost duty. Join Hindu American Seva Charities and HandsOn Network and thousands of individuals across the country in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service by pledging to host a Sunday Supper in your community.
America's Sunday Supper, a new American tradition, is an event inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Dr. King himself was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi who believed in the power behind the Vedic statement — “Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah”— or nonviolence—as mankind’s foremost duty. America's
Sunday Supper invites people from diverse backgrounds to come together to share chai or a meal, discuss issues that affect their community and mobilize around the most pressing social issues. Hosting is easy, you can gather at a coffee shop, restaurant, community center, temple or home.
We’ll provide conversation starters and a toolkit with all you need to know. We’ll even send you a Sunday Suppers “I am a leader” t-shirt.
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