HASC is a progressive American organization advancing seva (community social responsibility), interfaith collaboration, pluralism, social justice and sustainable civic engagement to ignite grassroots social change and build healthy communities while strengthening our places of worship. It seeks to bridge the gap between US govt and Hindu/Dharmic people. HASC was developed with the guidance of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and is a service partner with CNCS.
Sisters and Brothers of America, agreeting that I have held close to me ever since I was young. I always wondered: how is it that in this nation, land of diversity, can we all be inter-related? What was the meaning of a spiritual united pluralism? How can the United States function if we are all sovereign but equal? Yet we do. This nation has inspired our fathers and mothers to take on a diaspora to an unknown land. But not just our kin, but our global family’s sovereign lineages as well. Miraculously we coexist even though we have differences. Sisters and Brothers of America. Words that have inspired generations.
Today, these words inspired me to write this blog as I, an essay contest participant, prepare to attend HASC's event at the White House on July 29th and then at Georgetown University on July 30th and 31st.
When Swami Vivekananda gave his address in Chicago on September 27, 1893 the entire audience roared. Never before in the global melting pot had one acknowledged the importance of religious pluralism before. But this curiosity of the global neighbor has not ceased since that year. Ever since then, the American community and diversity has expanded and so has its interest. But in the process, cross-cultural communication may fail. Fascism has been on a rise just as globalization has been. Faith has become a defensive abode. So where must we go? I found these answers in the inspiring words of Swami Vivekananda. His message of plurality and coexistence had been his message and spent his life spreading this knowledge. In a world in which one’s beliefs have become defensive by nature, we can finally breathe.
In the Swami’s speech Why We Disagree, he gives the allegory that each man and his respected religion is comprised in his finite world. But we must break these barriers. Vivekananda calls upon the United States as his aid: “I am a Hindu and I think that the whole world is my well. The Christian believes that the whole world is his well. The Mohameddan believes the whole world is his well. I have to thank America for the great attempt you are making to break down barriers of this little world of ours, and hope that in the future the Lord will help you accomplish your purpose”. Vivekananda inspires me to apply Hindu beliefs of coexistence, peace, curiosity, and understanding into the twenty first century.
Often our generation has become apathetic to the words of the divine because they are steeped in ancient traditions seen as archaic. Vivekananda has bridged the primeval to the modern. We have the ability to address our generation. To halt the defensive nature of our faith and be open to pluralism, acceptance, and spirituality. Now we can address our brothers and sisters of America on the issues of diversity and coexistence. As a youth, I have faith in my words and my actions thanks to the teaching of Swami Vivekananda. It was, after all, his inspiring words Arise, Awake and Stop not till the Goal is Reached! Those words reverberating in me, motivate me to strive every day for this goal. A goal that is beyond me or my community or this generation. This is the goal is sahishnuta, acceptance, so that we can address each other as our own. And as one.
Priyanka Srinivasa is a rising sophomore at American University who is double majoring in International Relations and Anthropology. She is fascinated by the common threads that weave our diverse global culture together. If she could major in life she would. But alas, 4 years does not enable the time for this. She tries nonetheless. Priyanka's passions lie in post-colonial issues, women's empowerment, and environmental awareness. All three are very tightly knit. She realized this while working on her ethnography in Chiapas and India. She is often frustrated with the nature of foreign relations and how government organizations are not thoroughly conscious of cultural discrepancies of micro-cultures around the world. Priyanka is a proud Hindu and enjoys seva through social justice.
President's Yoga PALA Challenge 2011...You can start now...
Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United States, crossing many lines of religions and cultures. Everyday millions of people practice yoga to improve their health and overall well-being. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to take part in the Million PALA Challenge (MPC). The MPC is offered by the President’s Challenge, a program of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Developed in partnership with the First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative, the MPC has set a goal to get 1 million Americans to earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA). Show your support for yoga and answer the challenge!
To achieve PALA, your goal is to be active at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Youth (6-17 years) should get moving for at least 60 minutes per day, and adults (18 years or older) should be active for 30 minutes per day.
The official kick off date for the Yoga PALA Challenge is July 29th but you can get a head start and begin tracking your activity now! Remember that any type of physical activity counts towards earning a PALA certificate, so record your yoga activity as well as taking a walk, going for a swim, or playing a sport. Combine your PALA with nutritious meals for a healthy lifestyle!
The Million PALA Challenge concludes on September 14, 2011 and in order to be counted you must begin by August 1. Don't delay and start tracking towards your PALA today! Visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/yogapalachallenge/ to get started.
And..... If you can, join us as we collectively launch Yoga PALA Challenge in Washington D.C. Check out our website for location and additional information on yoga.
If you are in New York, do come for the event Spread the word.... Junoon is supporting Hindu American Seva Charities...
Celebrity chef and philanthropist Vikas Khanna – Executive Chef at Junoon Restaurant – is hosting a lunch fundraiser on Monday, June 27th from noon to 2 p.m. at Junoon Restaurant (27 W. 24th St.). Tickets are $25 for a three-course meal prepared by Chef Khanna himself, and they can be purchased at the event itself.
The yogathon launched on Katrina’s anniversary last year was a resounding success because of the widespread participation. Our collective efforts were noticed and recognized nationally and by the White House.
Building on the success of the Yogathon/YogaSeva, now, Hindu American Seva Charities has partnered with the President’s Challenge Program, a program of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition to promote the participation in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) by:
ØLaunching a national Yoga PALAChallenge to encourage and motivate individuals across the country to achieve PALA by participating in yoga
ØPromoting a healthy lifestyle through yoga and nutrition
Collectively, we have an opportunity to take a leadership role in advocating health and healthy living through the best of our culture and tradition – YOGA – accompanied by nutrition. We can reach our PalaChallenge goals.
At this time, HASC is putting together a team to help coordinate this national effort. We would like to invite you to be part of it. Would you like to serve on the Committee to develop an outreach strategy and mobilize our community to promote yoga in our temples, yoga studios, schools, colleges, places of work and worship? We are continuing to make history…
The outreach and mobilization strategy will be presented at our conference and the White House briefing on July 29 – 31st. We plan to launch the Yoga PalaChallenge on August 1, 2011. Our time to plan and implement is short. And the time do it is is NOW!!!
qPlanning June 10 – June 30, 2011.
qOutreach begins July 1 – July 31, 2011
qYoga PALAChallenge August 1 – September 2011… and then ongoing
We need volunteers to be part of the leadership steering committee and be involved in all aspects of the project. We need volunteers in every state throughout the country to come together, unite, inform yoga students/participants/yogis to log in their time on the PALA website and help bring yoga to the forefront. This tracking will quantify the positive impact of yoga to our country. Measure what you treasure!
Please let us know what role you would like to play in developing and implementing this program. The success of this program lies in your hands. Just as you made yogathon possible, you can make the PALAchallenge possible. Attached are highlights of the program on the PALAChallenge.
Please click on the link(www.hinduamericanseva.org/yoga-pala-challenge) to complete the form to indicate your interest. We will host our first conference call to start the strategy development on Tuesday, July 14th at 9 pm EST. Please let us know of your participation on the first call.
Due to the high demand from many students who are home now for the holidays and working on the essays, we have extended the essay competition deadline to June 15, 2011. This is the FINAL deadline and no additional extensions will be made. Hence, you still have time to write the essay and be part of history. Temples still have time to continue to post the flyer on their bulletin board and send the notification to their members. Winners will be invited to the White House for a briefing followed by the conference at Georgetown University (July 29 - 31, 2011).
Join us at the White House and Make History!
75 best entries of the essay competition will be invited to the White House for a briefing and conference July 29 to 31, 2011. Social innovation through Seva Centers. Click here for the flyer and Huffingtonpost blog on President’s Interfaith Challenge .
Hindu American Seva Charities (HASC) is sponsoring a two-day event aimed at increasing Seva (service) and visibility across America. This event will include a briefing by the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
The theme of the event is “Energizing Dharmic* Seva (Service): Impacting Change in America and Abroad,” and is designed to inspire all towards community service. This event opens at the White House on July 29, 2011 and continues at Georgetown University Campus on July 30th and 31st as Festivals of Service. * Dharma(ic) is defined as one’s obligation or duty to serve.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Be the Change! Share Your Seva Plan!
To impact change and encourage new service ideas, HASC is sponsoring a widespread civic and service participation essay contest. We would like to hear your service plans in America and abroad! The winners of the contest will be recognized by HASC at the White House briefing in Washington D.C. 75 best entries will be invited to the White House for briefings. Nominees will be recognized on the second day of the conference at Georgetown University.
With your Seva Plan you can become change makers. You can be part of the ongoing seva movement. You can play a role in America valuing the talents of its diverse faiths, its pluralistic multicultural communities, the New Americans. Interfaith cooperation and community service is an important way to build understanding between different communities and contribute to the common good.
By Pankaj Jain, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of North Texas
Dr. Pankaj Jain is an Assistant Professor of Indian Religions and Ecology at the University of North Texas. He has taught Indian Films, Sanskrit, Hindi/Urdu languages, and literatures at North Carolina State University, Rutgers, Kean University, Jersey City University, and the University of Iowa. In his scholarship he connects the ancient Indic traditions of Hinduism and Jainism with contemporary issues – particularly the environment.
Hinduism contains numerous references to the worship of the divine in nature in its Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Sutras, and its other sacred texts. Millions of Hindus recite Sanskrit mantras daily to revere their rivers, mountains, trees, animals, and the earth. Although the Chipko (tree-hugging) Movement is the most widely known example of Hindu environmental leadership, there are examples of Hindu action for the environment that are centuries old.
Hinduism is a remarkably diverse religious and cultural phenomenon, with many local and regional manifestations. Within this universe of beliefs, several important themes emerge. The diverse theologies of Hinduism suggest that:
•The earth can be seen as a manifestation of the goddess, and must be treated with respect.
•The five elements - space, air, fire, water, and earth - are the foundation of an interconnected web of life.
•Dharma - often translated as “duty” - can be reinterpreted to include our responsibility to care for the earth.
•Simple living is a model for the development of sustainable economies.
•Our treatment of nature directly affects our karma.
Gandhi exemplified many of these teachings, and his example continues to inspire contemporary social, religious, and environmental leaders in their efforts to protect the planet.
The following are ten important Hindu teachings on the environment:
1. Pancha Mahabhutas (The five great elements) create a web of life that is shown forth in the structure and interconnectedness of the cosmos and the human body. Hinduism teaches that the five great elements (space, air, fire, water, and earth) that constitute the environment are all derived from prakriti, the primal energy. Each of these elements has its own life and form; together the elements are interconnected and interdependent. The Upanishads explains the interdependence of these elements in relation to Brahman, the supreme reality, from which they arise: “From Brahman arises space, from space arises air, from air arises fire, from fire arises water, and from water arises earth.” Hinduism recognizes that the human body is composed of and related to these five elements, and connects each of the elements to one of the five senses. The human nose is related to earth, tongue to water, eyes to fire, skin to air, and ears to space. This bond between our senses and the elements is the foundation of our human relationship with the natural world. For Hinduism, nature and the environment are not outside us, not alien or hostile to us. They are an inseparable part of our existence, and they constitute our very bodies.
2. Ishavasyam – Divinity is omnipresent and takes infinite forms. Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad Gita (7.19, 13.13) and the Bhagavad Purana (2.2.41, 2.2.45), contain many references to the omnipresence of the Supreme divinity – including its presence throughout and within nature. Hindus worship and accept the presence of God in nature. For example, many Hindus think of India’s mighty rivers – such as the Ganges - as goddesses. In the Mahabharata, it is noted that the universe and every object in it has been created as an abode of the Supreme God meant for the benefit of all, implying that individual species should enjoy their role within a larger system, in relationship with other species.
3. Protecting the environment is part of Dharma. Dharma, one of the most important Hindu concepts, has been translated into English as duty, virtue, cosmic order, and religion. In Hinduism, protecting the environment is an important expression of dharma.
In past centuries, Indian communities – like other traditional communities – did not have an understanding of “the environment” as separate from the other spheres of activity in their lives. A number of rural Hindu communities such as the Bishnois, Bhils, and Swadhyaya have maintained strong communal practices to protect local ecosystems such as forests and water sources. These communities carry out these conservation-oriented practices not as “environmental” acts but rather as expressions of dharma. When Bishnois are protecting animals and trees, when Swadhyayis are building Vrikshamandiras (tree temples) and Nirmal Nirs (water harvesting sites), and when Bhils are practicing their rituals in sacred groves, they are simply expressing their reverence for creation according to Hindu teachings, not “restoring the environment.” These traditional Indian groups do not see religion, ecology, and ethics as separate arenas of life. Instead, they understand it to be part of their dharma to treat creation with respect.
4. Our environmental actions affect our Karma. Karma - a central Hindu teaching - holds that each of our actions creates consequences – good and bad – which constitute our karma and determine our future fate, including the place we will assume when we are reincarnated in our next life. Moral behavior creates good karma, and our behavior towards the environment has karmic consequences. Because we have free choice, even though we may have harmed the environment in the past, we can choose to protect the environment in the future, replacing environmentally destructive karmic patterns with good ones.
5. The earth – Devi – is a goddess and our mother and deserves our devotion and protection. Many Hindu rituals recognize that human beings benefit from the earth, and offer gratitude and protection in response. Many Hindus touch the floor before getting out of bed every morning and ask Devi to forgive them for trampling on her body. Millions of Hindus create kolams daily – artwork consisting of bits of rice or other food placed at their doorways in the morning. These kolams express Hindu’s desire to offer sustenance to the earth, just as the earth sustains themselves. The Chipko movement – made famous by Chipko women’s commitment to “hugging” trees in their community to protect them from clear-cutting by outside interests, represents a similar devotion to the earth.
6. Hinduism’s tantric and yogic traditions affirm the sacredness of material reality and contain teachings and practices to unite people with divine energy. Hinduism’s Tantric tradition teaches that the entire universe is the manifestation of divine energy. Yoga – derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “to yoke” or “to unite” - refers to a series of mental and physical practices designed to connect the individual with this divine energy. Both these traditions affirm that all phenomena, objects, and individuals are expressions of the divine. And because these traditions both envision the earth as a Goddess, contemporary Hindu teachers have used these teachings to demonstrate the wrongness of the exploitation of the environment, women, and indigenous peoples.
7. Belief in reincarnation supports a sense of interconnectedness of all creation. Hindus believe in the cycle of rebirth, wherein every being travels through millions of cycles of birth and rebirth in different forms, depending on their karma from previous lives. So, a person may be reincarnated as a person, animal, bird, or another part of the wider community of life. Because of this, and because all people are understood to pass through many lives on their pathway to ultimate liberation, reincarnation creates a sense of solidarity between people and all living things. Through belief in reincarnation, Hinduism teaches that all species and all parts of the earth are part of an extended network of relationships connected over the millennia, with each part of this network deserving respect and reverence.
8. Ahimsa (Nonviolence) - Non-violence is the greatest Dharma. Ahimsa to the earth improves one’s karma. For observant Hindus, hurting or harming another being damages one’s karma and obstructs advancement toward moksha - liberation. To prevent the further accrual of bad karma, Hindus are instructed to avoid activities associated with violence and to follow a vegetarian diet. Based on this doctrine of ahimsa, many observant Hindus oppose the institutionalized breeding and killing of animals, birds, and fish for human consumption.
9. Sanyasa (Asceticism) represents a path to liberation and is good for the earth. Hinduism teaches that asceticism – restraint in consumption and simplicity in living – represents a pathway towards moksha (liberation) which treats the earth with respect. A well-known Hindu teaching -
Tain tyakten bhunjitha – has been translated, “Take what you need for your sustenance without a sense of entitlement or ownership.”
One of the most prominent Hindu environmental leaders - Sunderlal Bahuguna - inspired many Hindus by his ascetic lifestyle. His repeated fasts and strenuous foot marches, undertaken to support and spread the message of the Chipko, distinguished him as a notable ascetic in our own time. In his capacity for suffering and his spirit of self-sacrifice, Hindus saw a living example of the renunciation of worldly ambition exhorted by Hindu scriptures.
10. Gandhi is a role model for simple living. Gandhi’s entire life can be seen as an ecological treatise. This is one life in which every minute act, emotion, or thought functioned much like an ecosystem: his small meals of nuts and fruits, his morning ablutions and everyday bodily practices, his periodic observances of silence, his morning walks, his cultivation of the small as much as of the big, his spinning wheel, his abhorrence of waste, his resorting to basic Hindu and Jain values of truth, nonviolence, celibacy, and fasting. The moralists, nonviolent activists, feminists, journalists, social reformers, trade union leaders, peasants, prohibitionists, nature-cure lovers, renouncers, and environmentalists all take their inspirations from Gandhi’s life and writings.
(Acknowledgement: Adapted from the essays by Christopher K. Chapple, O. P. Dwivedi, K. L. Seshagiri Rao, Vinay Lal, and George A. James in Hinduism and Ecology: The Intersection of Earth, Sky, and Water and Jainism and Ecology: Nonviolence in the Web of Life, both published by Harvard University Press. Thanks also to the essays by Harold Coward and Rita DasGupta Sherma in Purifying the Earthly Body of God: Religion and Ecology in Hindu India, published by SUNY Press. I am also indebted to kind comments by Reverend Fletcher Harper and for his invitation to write this article.)
As we reflect on Memorial Day this weekend, our hearts are full of gratitude for America's diverse men and women who made this country strong, and for the many who have died in its service. Some immigrants and many the progeny of immigrants! Memorial Day started as Decoration Day with the Civil War; a tradition of honoring and remembering those who have died in our nation's service. Let us be thankful for the values lit by the torch of liberty in this land of the free and the brave. This light has brought people of all ethnicities, faiths, traditions and countries to this nation. Let us honor those who died serving the nation. Let us, with folded hands, say Namaste to all those who have served, are serving and will serve.
Today Indian Americans of all faiths, including the many Dharmic and Hindu faiths are serving. Below are a few of their stories and reflections on this day. Memorial Day observances will be held across the country. Some of you may participate in it. HASC encourages you to take part in your towns and honor those who have served.
The Seva Conference in DC (July 29 - 31) will honor and recognize the contributions of the Dharmic and Hindu American service men and women. Do come and hear their contributions and learn how you can support them through your seva centers.... More information about the conference to follow.... Open registration will begin from June 1, 2011.
Send us your stories of how you are observing Memorial Day and honoring those who serve the country. How do you plan to expand this service in your temples, cities, towns, yoga studios....... We will post your stories in our blog. Send them to SevaEvents@hinduamericanseva.org.
These are difficult economic times in America and tough choices will be made as part of the ongoing budget discussions which President Obama and the members of the United States Congress are now facing. Each of these tough choices will be met, from certain segments of the population, with frustration, disappointment and anger. And social service initiatives will not be immune to these difficult decisions.
President Obama emphasized the continued priority needs to be on investing in innovative, effective and efficient programs that address many of the country’s greatest community challenges. However, as both the President and members of Congress look for savings within the budget, Hindu American Seva Charities, along with many other faiths believes, the impact of future reductions to the most vulnerable should be minimized.
“While cognizant of the deficit and the difficult choices ahead of us, this is the wrong time to be slashing programs that serve the very needy, particularly those that leverage community-based and faith-based resources and volunteers like Americorps VISTA,” observed Shekar Narasimhan, Board Member, Hindu American Seva Charities.
With great challenges comes the opportunity for reinvention. Like other faiths in service, such as Catholic Charities, members of Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, HASC also believes that now is the time to work together to create a new national approach to service delivery models that is market driven, results oriented and locally controlled. This approach will enable the country to make a permanent difference to all those who are living in poverty and have been trapped, for years, in the same safety net that was intended to save them originally.
“Now is also the time to for the New Americans and people of Dharmic (eastern tradition) to be more fully engaged in the re-invention. Collaboratively with established organizations such as Corporation of National and Community Service, as we develop our capacity to serve through sustainable infrastructures, we will have avenues to leverage our talent to strengthen America. HASC, in collaboration with other faiths, will continue to work with the policymakers to bring efficiencies to the service delivery system.” said Anju Bhargava, Founder, Hindu American Seva Charities.
This is a call to service for those interested in earning a commission as an officer in the U.S. Armed Forces as a Hindu Chaplain, and serve military families in a humanitarian role.
"The rising number of South Asians in the U.S. Armed Forces has brought about the critical need to recruit Hindu Chaplains to meet the needs of the thousands of Hindus serving with pride in our Nation's Armed Forces." - Lt Col Ravi Chaudhary U.S. Air Force
Background
Department of Defense (DoD) Chaplains fulfill a crucial role for military service members. Military chaplains directly support the free exercise of religion for all members of the armed services and their families. They provide spiritual care, counseling and ethical leadership to DoD members as they meet the challenges of military deployment and service. DoD chaplains come from a variety of religious backgrounds such as Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or any of hundreds of religious organizations. Chaplains and their staff form a religious support team for military members and their families. They serve as noncombatants, with a charter to improve quality of life for military members serving all over the world. In 2008, Air Force chaplains alone performed 147,000 counseling sessions, 50,000 worship events, and conducted more than 28,000 religious rites for Airmen and their families.
General Requirements
DoD has established Chinmaya Mission West as an endorsing agency for Hindu Chaplains entering the U.S. Military. Candidates must be U.S. citizens under the age of 42 and possess a Bachelors degree. They should have 2 years of Hindu faith leadership experience, and be prepared to meet global mission requirements for DoD. The prospective candidate should have a strong knowledge of Hindu principals, and also able to work in a pluralistic environment to support troops of all faith groups. Chaplains must also maintain military physical requirements and be ready to accept assignments at CONUS and overseas locations. Chaplains meeting entry requirements will be commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant, and then have an opportunities to advance in rank while serving their respective military service (Army,Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps).
Contact Information and Resources
If you are interested in becoming a military Chaplain, visit the following web sites for frequently asked questions and recruitment of Hindu Chaplains. Contact the POCs listed below for detailed information.
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.
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.
How can we encourage diverse Asian/Indian-American women to take part in dialogue? Many women hesitate to speak up because critical perspectives are often treated as defamation; questioning and criticism are often treated as attacks. How can we get better at dialogue?
I hope to get this question answered, or at least addressed, on Wednesday by Tina Tchen, Executive Director, White House Council on Women and Girls, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement at the White House . Headwaters/Delta has been invited by our team at Hindu American Seva Charities to take part in this call about Asian/Indian-American women in the United States. I’m inviting you to join us.
The Hindu American community is celebrating navaratri and the strength of the woman in many aspects such as ShaktiSeva. A new generation of Americans of Hindu faith (today's New Americans) are marching into new terrains, literally and figuratively.
What a wonderful way to start our Navratri celebration. today.. .. Another historic first .... the first Washington Post On Faith blog.......with... the Shakti perspective of the Hindu woman and goddess in our culture........
A blog written by Saumya Arya Haas, Hindu American Seva Charitie's social media advisers, entitled "Honor women: honor Devi, the (Hindu) Goddess" is on the Main Page of the Washington Post today.
We ask you ALL (men and women) to write your comments about the blog - washington post or here on our blog
During this Navratri, let us honor women and the ShaktiSeva. an initiative launched by Hindu American Seva Charities
Thank you for promoting the seva... please share this with your friends.....
Navaratri honors the many aspects of Devi; symbolically of feminine strength and of value enrichment within one self. Join the ShaktiSeva movement and highlight, bring to the forefront the spirit of the Festival, the energy within oneself, through dialogues, telling and sharing stories, helping women’s organizations. Let us “Listen, Learn and Inspire” each other.
Explore the contemporary meaning of Shakti in our lives by telling and sharing your stories. Invite (as in Minnesota)women guests to talk about success in their lives and their shakti (power).
Hold Shakti parties and events and invite women to come and share their views. Read about American Shakti.
During all the celebrations of Navaratri, honor the strength (shakti) of the women present by acknowledging the overcoming of the many trials and tribulations through the journey of life.
During this month as part of the women’s empowerment month, HASC in partnership with Asian Indian Women in America and many other secular and faith based organizations is hosting a conversation Tina Tchen, Executive Director of Council on Girls and Women. In forming the Council President Obama said, "The purpose of this Council is to ensure that American women and girls are treated fairly in all matters of public policy."
Building on the success of YogaSeva, Hindu American Seva Charities is launching UtsavSeva (FestivalSeva), an initiative to conduct theme based community service throughout the year, highlighting the spiritual value of the major festival of that month.
The strength of the Dharmic culture (Hindu and other eastern faiths) is the multitude ways in which the Puranic, (ancient traditional stories and epics are brought to life through festivals. These festivals play an important role in expressing the spiritual significance in a celebratory, joyous ways while bringing people together. And, during this time, our traditions encourage seva in diverse ways.
In October, Navaratri honors the many aspects of Devi; symbolically of women’s strength. ShaktiSeva - “Listen, Learn and Inspire” each other.
In Diwali, removal of ignorance with the light of knowledge and triumph of goodness over evil is celebrated. The theme is DhanaSeva – resources empowerment (serve as resources of wealth of knowledge, goodness and economic empowerment) to do seva projects to promote education, economic help, awareness of the festival, job fairs, canned/boxed food to replenish local food banks for Thanksgiving, etc. within and outside our community.
During December HASC suggests SarvaDharmaSeva – Interfaith service – in which people from all faiths, including non-believers, can continue to foster respect and understanding. And, in the spirit of inter-faith cooperation: working on the holy days, (Christmas, Chanukah, Muharram, Kwanza) of other faiths.
Another historic event is taking place today, September 28, 2010. YogaSeva is being offered at the Capitol Hill. Members of Congress and their staff have been invited to come and attend the multiple classes with teachers from Art of Living and Patanjali Yog Peeth. Our event was listed in the notification sent out to House of Representatives staffers. A presentation of What Yoga means from our cultural perspective will be shared.
