Report on the Dharma Summit 2005

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HinduOpenForum, "lakshmiravu"

<lakshmiravu> wrote:

Report on the Dharma Summit 2005

 

 

The overwhelmingly successful Dharma Summit that recently took place

at Rutger's University was arguably the largest and most important

Hindu conference ever organized on American shores. In this

gathering of almost 450 Hindu leaders, gurus, and intellectuals, a

new course was outlined for the future development and growth of the

Hindu community in North America, India, and throughout the globe.

 

Several of the themes of the conference included: a) the need for

Hinduism to assert itself as a unique and living religious tradition,

b) the importance of referring to our religion as "Sanatana Dharma",

c) that Hindu management and leadership needs to become more

professional, better trained, and more effective, d) that any and all

attacks against Sanatana Dharma (whether by Christian missionaries,

Islamic terror, anti-Hindu academicians, etc.) need to be combated

forcefully, e) the rejection of Radical Universalism (the false idea

that all religions are the same), f) that energetic and fired-up

Hindu youth need to take charge of the task of saving Hinduism for

the future.

 

Some of the most important Hindu leaders in the world were present

for this event. Including: Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji (the

inspiration behind the Dharma Summit, and convener of the event), Sri

Chidananda Muniji (the creator of the Hindu Encyclopedia project),

Sri Bodhinatha Veylanswami (Publisher of Hinduism Today Magazine) and

several of his sannyasis, Sri K. S. Sudarshan (leader of the

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the largest Hindu service organization

on earth), Dr. Pranav Pandya (leader of the several million members

of the Gayatri Pariwar), Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda (Ramakrishna

Order), Dr. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastriji), Dr. Frank Gaetano

Morales (the well-respected American Hindu intellectual and

philosopher), Sri Steven Knapp (a prolific American Hindu author),

and many others. These Hindu lights and dignitaries all filled the

first row of the auditorium. Several Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh

leaders were also present.

 

Many inspiring talks were given during the three-day event. Both Sri

Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Sri Chidananda Muniji spoke on the

crucial need of defending Hinduism as a unique religious tradition,

and on the importance of fostering global Hindu unity. Sri Dayananda

Saraswati also stressed the importance of rejecting the false notion

of Radical Universalism ­ the mistaken idea that Hinduism teaches

that all religions are the same. "Hindus do not teach that all

religions are the same", he assured the large audience, "After all,

we're not idiots!"

 

Sri Bodhinatha, Publisher of Hinduism Today, gave an impressive

PowerPoint presentation on how to explain Hindu beliefs to children.

Sri Anuttama Prabhu of ISKCON spoke at length on the importance of

Hindu organizations adopting professional techniques to more

effectively communicate the Hindu message to the media. Dr. Frank

Morales gave one of the best received talks of the event (even

beginning his talk in perfectly pronounced Hindi!), stressing that

Hindus need to reject derogatory terminology when referring to Hindu

beliefs and practices, and need to use the term "Sanatana Dharma"

rather than "Hinduism". Other speakers included: Kanchan Banerji,

Rajiv Malhotra, Ved Chaudhary (the conference's main organizer), and

other Hindu leaders.

 

The last day of the event was devoted to issues revolving around

temple management. It was reported that there are presently well

over 700 Hindu temples in America, with another 20 ­ 25 being started

every year.

 

Overall, the mood of the Dharma Summit was exuberant and

enthusiastic. The many Hindu leaders and delegates in attendance

left Rugters University with a renewed sense of excitement and

optimism about the future of Sanatana Dharma in America and

throughout the world. The overwhelming consensus was that the very

best days of Sanatana Dharma are yet to come!