1 MANDIR VANI - HMEC

PROGRAM DETAILSSATURDAY 8/18/2012Session 8A: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Room: Monte CarloServices Offering to Our Hindu Community8A.1 Engaging our seniors as volunteer for the temple8A.2 Socio-economic help for needy8A.3 Service without any expectations8A.4 Abstaining from Genetically Modified Food in MandirsQ&ASession 8B: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Room: Mediterranean CenterEducation II - Best Practices8B.1 Jiva Daya (Compassion for Animals): Process at Jain Center8B.2 Importance of Teaching Samskritam in Mandirs8B.3 Teaching Samskritam made easy: Ten Year Experience8B.4 VEDA - The Inner-net BrowserQ&ASession 8C: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Room: Governor’s BIgniting the Flame Within:Redefining the Hindu-American Youth Identity - IIContinuation of the previous sessionSession 8D: 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Room: CastillianHindu American Vanaprasthi Network (HAVAN) Workshop8D.1 Hindu Perspective for Vanaprasthis8D.2 Health and Financial Issues- Sanskruti Parivar Centers8D.3 How to Organize Havan8D.4 Government Benefits for Vanprasthis8D.5 Vanaprasthi Programs and Activities at Freemont TempleQ&A12:15 PM - 1:30 PM LunchKaushik JoshiRajendra PatelBala GanesaratnamSundar NatarajanUdit ShahDr. Shashi SaneNitin ShahBVK SastryGovinda YelagalawadiSekhar BoddupalliJenn KistamaArvind PatelShyam Narayan ShuklaYogesh NaikSheela KeneKamlesh Amin & Nagin PatelLeela MathurParallel Workshops - Break Out Sessions (9A, 9B, 9C, 9D)Session 9A: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM Room: Mediterranean CenterTemple Operation, Management & Administration9A.1 Guidelines for Effective Board Meetings9A.2 Characteristics of High Impact Temple Boards9A.3 Operation of Hindu Temples in Trinidad9A.4 Making Dharma Relevant to Hindu Youth9A.5 Hindu deities in non-dharmic depictions: denigration?Q&ASession 9B: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM Room: Monte CarloSustaining and Strengthening Dharma: Case Studies9B.1 Successful Model of HOTA – A New Zealand Story9B.2 HMEC-NCI Chaplaincy Program9B.3 Sustaining Dharma in America Through Seva in Bharat9B.4 Uniting Hindu Community Through Mandirs9B.5 Learnings from Sidhayog AshramQ&ASession 9C: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM Room: Governor’s BCreative HourSession 9D: 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM Room: CastillianTemple Seva & Outreach to Surrounding Communities9D.1 5 Principle of Effective Advocacy9D.2 How the Hindu community must support resettling Bhutanese refugees4Govinda RaoNirupama RaghavanSudesh KumarSwami Brahma DeoRavi JaishankarNilesh ShirodkarSurendra PandeyMamta BhikaDebashish BanerjiSwami MangalanandaKeshav PatelSwami Radhikananda SaraswatiAparna Pasumarthi & Ujjwala SonDeepak ShrivastavaRishi BhutadaSadhna Gupta

PROGRAM DETAILSSATURDAY 8/18/20129D.39D.49D.59D.5Seva Outreach Sangh - SOSSAC/EKALBooks on India in Temples/School/Public LibrariesBooks on India in Temples/School/Public LibrariesQ&A2:45 PM Afternoon Tea and SnacksSession 10: 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM Room: Mediterranean CenterMandir as an Instrument of Peace and Harmony10.1 Religious Education -- Necessity or Option for Hindu Children10.2 “Hindu Mandirs Code of Conduct-II” How to avoid getting into trouble.10.3 Spiritualizing Temple Leadership10.4 Report on HMEC participation in WAVES (July 2012)10.5 World Harmony Through Interfaith Dialog10.6 Persistence Can Move Mountains - Braj Seva StoryQ&ASession 11: 4:50 PM - 5:45 PM Room: Mediterranean CenterBest Practices from the Interfaith Spectrum: How Can TemplesImprove Outreach and Advocacy11.1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints11.2 Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Community Relations Council11.3 Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, San Jose11.4 B.A.P.S. Hindu Mandir in Milpitas, CAQ&ASession 12: 5:50 PM Room: Mediterranean CenterHMEC 12 Closure Session12.1 Sanatan Dharma Scholarship through Mandirs. (nation wide plan)12.2 Action Items and Resolutions12.2 Blessings and Parting ThoughtsAnnouncements & Thanks6:45 PM End7:45 PM Dinner BuffetEvening Program: 8:30 PM Room: Mediterranean CenterCultural Program & Invited SpeakersSwami Dayananda Saraswati - Video MessageThird Eye on Vedic Temple TraditionSanatan Dharma Scholarship WinnersWorld Hindu Congress 2014 OverviewCulturalVote of ThanksSarika PersaudVinod Jhunjhunwala/Sheela KeneSmita TurakhiaSmita TurakhiaNaga RajanSwami PrasannatmanandaSharma TadepalliSenthilnathaswamiAditi BanerjeeSwami ParmeshanandaAnimesh SinhaSunil ShuklaLila BringhurstDiane FisherRev. Sundari JensenB.A.P.S. RepresentativeKumar DaveTejas DaveSanjay MehtaSwami Adhyatmananda jiRajesh VermaSwami Dayananda Saraswati JiSwami Vidyadhishananda JiYouth Committee MemberNachiketa TiwariHost TemplesRomesh Japra & Keshab Chopra10:30 PM EndSUNDAY 8/19/2012Sadhana:7:00AM Yoga, Meditation, Devotional SingingGovernor’s A: MeditationGovernor’s B: YogaGovernor’s C: Bajans - Devotional SingingNityananda GroupMahendra JiNikhilanand ji8:00 AM BreakfastBus Pickup: 9:30AM HINDU MELA FREMONT5

MESSAGE FROM VHPA PRESIDENTVishwa Hindu Parishad of America Inc.(World Hindu Council of America)President’s address: 37 Kimberly Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107Tel.: 860-521-2173 Email: president@vhp-america.org Website: www.vhp-america.orgJyotish ParekhPresident, VHP-AIt is with great pleasure, I welcome you to the 7th Hindu Mandir Executives’Conference (HMEC). Over past seven years we have built up a strong networkof Mandirs in North America. During this stage a strong foundation hasbeen laid and there are incredible opportunities available to build on thisfoundation. A very successful blood donation drive, undertaken last yearto commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11World Trade Center tragedy,is an excellent example of what can be achieved because of this network.We had the overwhelming participation of 79 Mandirs and 2,500 units ofblood were donated – very impressive figures for the collective effort of thenetwork. And yet in terms of opportunities, this is just a tip of the iceberg.So collectively let us brain storm the enormous opportunities available anddevelop short- as well as long- term plans.For nourishing the tree of Hindu Dharma in this adopted land (karmabhumi), we have collectively felt a need to focus strongly on the needs of2nd generation Hindus. Last year I reported to you about the formation ofCoalition of Hindu Youth (CHY). In a short span of one year that group hasmade great progress. Many youths from across USA have joined the groupand they have undertaken many programs. I urge all the Mandir executivesto encourage the youths from their areas to participate in the programsand projects of CHY.The Hindu Samskār book committee had published the Hindu AntyesthiSamskār (final rites) and Vivāh Samskār books during earlier conferences.Both the publications have fulfilled an important need for the large HinduDiaspora around the world outside Bharat. And both the publications havereceived accolades. This year the committee is unveiling the “Hospital PrayerBook”. That will provide another critical need for the Hindu community.This year California has shown us real team spirit. Along with the FremontHindu Temple as the host, HMEC 2012 is graciously co-hosted by 16 Mandirs.This shows a sign of great unity amongst the Mandirs with an eagerness toserve the community in a noble way. We sincerely thank all of them forbeing wonderful hosts and demonstrating a way to unite for a divine cause.Jyotish Parekh, PresidentVHP of America.6

CONVENER’S MESSAGERespected HMEC delegates,Saadar Namaskar!Welcome to the 7th HMEC that is being held for the first time in San Jose, California.We are pleased to inform you that this HMEC is being co-hosted by 16 mandirs, a newrecord in the history of HMEC. This entire HMEC has been planned and organized byvolunteers from VHPA and host and co-host temples and it has taken nearly 9 monthsof dedicated efforts.Often people ask us, why people volunteer their time to organize the HMEC and donot even seek recognition. We do this selfless work because we feel it is our Dharmato do meaningful activities to sustain future generation of Hindus and Hindu templesthat have been built with great efforts and financial investment by the community.Such a monumental task of bringing together mandirs to collectively discuss issuescannot be done by any organization alone. Therefore, HMEC has become a rolemodel for VHPA working together with many different organizations. By providingspiritual, cultural, and social nourishment to the community, these Hindu institutionscan become the heart of the community. It is our duty not only as Hindus but as goodcitizens of the community to serve the community via these institutions. That is howAmerican society will recognize the values Hindus live by and our future generationswill not only be proud of us but also follow the leadership. Therefore, we requestthe delegates to spread the message to their constituents so that mandirs performnot only Hindu festival celebrations and poojas in mandirs but also work together toserve the community at large. With sustained efforts, we can bring the principle ofVasudhaiv kutumbkam to reality and experience “ Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah” (i.e.you protect Dharma- Dharma will protect you).Besides the conference activities, HMEC has taken on several projects over the lastseveral years. In line with previous years, this year HMEC has prepared a prayer bookthat is focused to help the Hindus who are experiencing an illness.Dr. Umesh ShuklaHMEC ChairmanDr. Romesh JapraConvenerWe hope that you will find your stay comfortable and the conference will be meaningfuland productive and you will become an ambassador for the HMEC at your institution.We know we are not perfect. Therefore, please forgive us in the event you had anyinconveniences.The Hindu Mandirs and Spiritual Institutions are our real legacy to the communityat large. Let us be united and continue the journey of HMEC so that it becomes aworldwide movement. A strong network of Hindu Mandirs will help us not onlysustain our society but will bring much needed support from the larger multi-faithcommunity.DhanyavadSincerely YoursUmesh ShuklaRomesh JapraDr. Umesh ShuklaHMEC ChairmanDr. Romesh JapraConvener7

MESSAGEI am very happy to know that the annual conference of the Hindu Mandir Executivesis imminent, and I am sure it will be well-attended.This get-together is bound to create better bonds and good networking among thepeople connected to the Hindu Mandirs in America. Perhaps these Mandirs togethercan plan and execute a project in India as a North American Hindu Mandirs' project.It can be a specialty hospital, or a prestigious educational institution, or even a fewmodel villages.Sunday, July 29, 20128

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SPIRITUALITY FOR PEACE AND HAPPINESS IN LIFEShyam Narayan Shukla, Ph.DAccording to the Hindu Dharmaour present birth is the resultof our prarabdha sanskara orkarmas of our past lives. Nowthat we are here we should make thebest use of our present life to make itmeaningful, happy and peaceful. Weshould also try to achieve perfection in thislife so that we are in the path of Moksha,that is, liberation from the cycle of birthsand deaths by merging into Brahman, theSupreme Being. Thousands of years agothe Hindu Rishis came to the conclusionthat every human being should have fourobjectives in this life, namely, Dharma,Artha, Kama and Moksha to make his orher life meaningful and happy. Theseare also called the four Purusharthas orobjectives of life.About the author: Dr.Shukla is a retired professionalengineer and scholar. He hasauthored several articles andbooks on Hinduism and Vedicscriptures. He is a GoverningCouncil member of VishwaHindu Parishad (World HinduThe term Dharma is loosely translated asCouncil) of America.E-mail: shuklas@comcast.net) ‘religion’ in English, but it does not reflectits true and deep meaning. Dharma isderived from the Sanskrit root verb Dhri,which means to support or to hold. ThusDharma is a set of ethical rules which holdsa person, a family, a society or a nation ingood balance. For example, the Dharmaof a human being is that he should havelove, compassion, truthfulness andjustice for all beings. Only such qualitiescan lead a person to divinity. Artha, thesecond purushartha means wealth. HinduDharma encourages a person to earnwealth to have a happy life. However,the wealth should be earned ethically,by observing all the rules of the Dharmaand without hurting a fellow being. Thethird purushartha is Kama, which meansdesire - actually good desire. Dharmaencourages a person to fulfill his gooddesires in his lifetime. He may wish to bea mayor of his city, governor of his state,a professor, a doctor, a scientist, etc., butin that process he should keep in mindagain that he has to observe the laws of12Dharma. He should also keep in mind thathis ultimate purushartha (or paramartha)is Moksha. If one deviates from Dharma inachieving Artha and Kama, one will neverachieve Moksha.The Karmakanda of the Vedas defineMoksha as ‘living in the heaven’ for anindefinite period and that it could beachieved by performing yajnas (sacrifices).The Vedic Rishis, who like scientistsdevoted their lives in search of Truth,determined that it was not possible toachieve heaven for an indefinite period bymeans of a limited entity yajna. They saidthat one would be able to spend time inthe heaven only in proportion of the goodkarmas done on this earth, after whichone falls back to this earth with a newbirth. The Upanishads, the Jnanakandaof the Vedas, define Moksha as realizingAtman (being one with Atman), thedivine element within oneself. They alsofound out that when one meditates onthe formless Atman for a certain lengthof time every day, one eventually realizesAtman and that the Atman and Brahman,the Supreme Being, are one and the same.In the process of this discovery the Rishisrealized that even if one does not achieveMoksha in this life, meditation givessome other radical benefits. Usually ourmind constantly thinks about our somany problems of the everyday life. Itthinks even when we are sleeping. Thethinking during sleep produces dreams.This results in mental fatigue and tension.Therefore, they recommended for us thepractice of japa (repeated chanting of theLord’s names), bhajana (devotional songsin the praise of the Lord) and dhyana(concentration on the Lord). During theseprocesses our thinking is channeledtowards our favorite deity. When weare meditating or chanting bhajan or

performing japa, our mind calms down, gets rid of all theworries for some time and in this state we are closest tothe Almighty. Eventually our attitude towards life changesdrastically and we are able to deal with problems of the lifemore easily. By Ishvara-pranidhan (surrendering to God)we observe a change in our attitude, in that whateveris happening to us is done by Him, the Almighty who isour well-wisher and protector. It gives us a tremendousmental strength.It is recommended by the Hindu scriptures that one shouldstart one’s spiritual practices under the guidance of a wellrenowned guru. A guru should be a person of an idealcharacter, have great self-control and deep knowledgeof the scriptures. He should be adept in meditation andworship of Ishvara.Leading a spiritual life is the key to happiness and peace inthis life and a sure pathway to Moksha.HINDU AMERICANFOUNDATIONPromoting understanding, tolerance, and pluralism.HAF is an advocacy organization thatinteracts with and educates leaders inpublic policy, academia, media, andthe public at large about Hinduism andglobal issues concerning HindusHAFSITE.ORG t (202) 223-8222910 Seventeenth St. NW, Suite 1180Washington, D.C. 2000613

GIVING INSPIRATION:THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE VEDIC TEMPLEStephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana Dasa)IAbout the author: StephenKnapp (Sri Nandanandanadasa) is the author of over20 books on Vedic culture,the founder of The WorldRelief Network, President ofThe Vedic Friend Association,Chairman of the Board at theDetroit Hare Krishna Temple,and has been involved invarious aspects of templemanagement for forty years.He is also a direct discipleof Srila A. C. BhaktivedantaSwami Prabhupada. Moreinformation about him andhis books can be found l: srinandan@aol.comt is not often recognized, but the primarymission of the temple, over and aboveeverything else, is to inspire others totake a serious look into t

Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple, San Jose, CA Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Devasthanam, Milpitas, CA Sunnyvale Hindu Temple, CA Hindu Society of Minnesota, Maple Grove, MN Hindu Temple And Cultural Center of South Carolina Sri Ganesh Temple, Nashville TN Durga Temple of Virginia (As of Aug. 9,2012) Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Inc.