Report on the Dharma Summit 2005

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> HinduOpenForum, "lakshmiravu"

> <lakshmiravu> wrote:

Sent to me by a godbrother in the USA...

 

> Report on the Dharma Summit 2005

>

> Lakshmi Ravu

> August 22, 2005

> New York

>

> 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!

>

>

> Ms. Lakshmi Ravu was born in 1983 in New York of Telugu speaking

> Hindu parents. She is currently a student majoring in philosophy and

> law.

> --- End forwarded message ---