Thought for the week

I think I have understood Hinduism correctly when I say that it is eternal, all-embracing and flexible enough to suit all situations.

-Mahatma Gandhi, as quoted in Relentless Brush Strokes : A Memoir (2008) by Lalitha Shankar, p. 185

Thought for week

" Do I wish that the Christian would become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid... [the parliament] has proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, [and pitiing anyone who] dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others."

Swami Vevekananda, Parliament of Religion 1893 as quoted in American Veda p. 77, by Philip Goldberg

Why is it worth to keep our identity while being Americans?

As a culture, we have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations. From ancient times our existence was threatened by invading rulers by taxing heavily for keeping our own selves.

We were denied our inherent right to culture, language, and faith. As such we are a people that escaped persecution to save these traits and our lives.

What have we done so far as a Hindu community towards starting a temple?

In August of 2011, we held a three day Geeta Prabachan Program from which we have been able to save just over $2000. Hindu members from the refugee community are committed to having a religious/spiritual/cultural center. Community members are proactive in mobilizing the community so that we can generate some funds towards the goal. Some of our Hindu friends from the Indian community in Erie have supported our endeavors by kindly attending and contributing in the prabachan program.
We celebrate Durga Puja(Dashara, Dasain) and Tihar (Diwali, Deepawali) with a yearly combined religious-cultural event. Our community meets at houses where religious rituals are held to chant bhajans. When our community was tiny, we used to meet weekly at different Hindu homes, and perform devotional chanting, but as our community has grown it has become impossible for us to get together regularly, due to space constraints.
Community members aware of the constitutional provision for religious freedom have been educating other members that we should be able to practice our own religion freely here. Occasional trips for the elderly Hindus to temples in nearby cities have been coordinated and provided. 

Being a Hindu

"I know the path. It is straight and narrow. It is sharp as a razor. I rejoice to walk on it. When I slip, I weep. God's word is, he who strives never perishes. I have implicit faith in that promise. Though, therefore, from my weakness, I fail a thousand times, I will not lose faith."

Thought for the Week

यदि सत्सङ्गनिरतो भविष्यसि भविष्यसि ।

तथा सज्जनगोष्ठिषु पतिष्यसि पतिष्यसि ॥

- हितोपदेश, मित्रलाभ 

Literal Meaning:

If (you) stay in good company, you shall stay.  Similarly, if (you) fall off from good company, (you) shall fall.

Commentary:

One's character is immensely influenced by the company he keeps.  The more one stays in good company, the better he prospers.  That, in turn implies, that when one's company or association is not up to the mark, he shall fall off from the pedestal of character.  The company one keeps speaks volumes about his mettle.  Someone once said, 'tell me thy friends and I shall tell you thy character'!  Such is the profoundness of one's  association.  The more one keeps good company, the more he grows.  The more one moves away  from it, the more he regresses.  One has to be mindful of this always. It is not a goal to achieve one day and forget all about it!  It is a constant process towards progress.

The beauty of the verse, is also in the play of the words.  The verse at first shot might seem confusing or even wrong!  But punctuation is powerful.  There is a ',' between the two bhaviShyasi-s and the two patiShyasi-s!  The first bhaviShyasi indicates, being in good company.  The second one means, you shall be (as in, survive)!  Similarly, the firstpatiShyasi means, fall off from good company.  The second one implies, you shall fall (in morality and survival)!!

May each person be good and keep good company, so the entire universe will become a 'company to keep' !!

Source: http://sanskritpearls.blogspot.com/

सर्वेन्द्रिय गुणाभासं  सर्वेन्द्रिय विवर्जितम् ।

                              असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणम् गुणभोक्तृ च ।।१३-१५।।

sarvendriya-gunabhasam

sarvendriya-vivarjitam
asaktam sarva-bhrc caiva
nirgunam guna-bhoktr ca

"The Supersoul is the original source of all senses, yet He is without senses. He is unattached, although He is the maintainer of all living beings. He transcends the modes of nature, and at the same time He is the master of all the modes of material nature."

Bhagwad Gita 13.15

Source: http://www.bhagavad-gita.us/categories/The-Gita%3A-Chapter-13/