Sanathana Dharma Hindu Identity [Compatibility Mode]

Dharmo Rakshatih Rakshitah Na hi Jnanena Sadrsham

Hindu Identity Challenges and Opportunities Presented by Kalyan Viswanathan President, SDF

India's GDP as a % of the World's GDP Data Recreation by Emeritus Professor Angus Madison, University of Groningen, Netherlands 35.00% 30.00% Most of us 25.00% were born Islamic here ! 20.00% Invasions 15.00% British Raj 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% E E CE CE CE CE CE CE CE C C 0 0 00 00 00 70 50 98 0 40 80 12 15 17 18 19 19 The Passage of Time Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to continue always a child. (Marcus Tullius Cicero – 106-43 BC)

Uniqueness of Sanatana Dharma Moksha Dharma Politico - Economics Pleasure Artha Kama Religion Hinduism’s Identity lies in this fundamental recognition, of the pre-eminent place of Spirituality (Dharma and Moksha) in our lives

Our Identity is very fragmented 1. Linguistic groups 2. Jatis (Caste groups) 3. Sampradayas (Ancient Traditions) 4. Gurus and Acharyas (and their Sects) Our foundational Philosophy of “Live and Let Live”, manifested as an active evolution towards diversity and specialization, but at the same time, it has also weakened our overall “Identity”

The “Illusion” of a Majority 1. Large collection of small minorities 2. Rarely act in a unified manner 3. Strong tendency to break into fragments 4. Not a ‘majority’ vote bank in any sense Hindus are therefore neither a majority by behavior, nor a minority by numerical strength – Therefore we neither have the benefits of being a majority nor the benefits of being a minority

Chinmaya Mission Art of Living Ramakrishna Mission ISCKON - Krishna Ammacchi Community Baba Ramdev Mother Karunamayi Swaminarayan Group Unified Action is difficult Barsana Dham Gayathri Parivar Sanatana Dharma burning bright, they operate largely in islands While our Gurus and Acharyas are keeping the “Spiritual” core of

Shared spaces – I : Academia Ammacchi Community Swaminarayan Group Ramakrishna Mission Academia : Hindus need to establish a significant presence in the Chinmaya Mission Mother Karunamayi ISCKON - Krishna Gayathri Parivar schools and Colleges of the World. Disciplines such as Yoga, Barsana Dham Baba Ramdev Art of Living Ayurveda, Indian approaches to Psychology and the science of the mind and the soul, Indian Philosophy, India’s history and contribution must be studied. Spirituality must be brought into the Academic domain. Chairs of Hindu studies must be founded in many universities all over the world, especially in India Corollary – Hindu youth must go into Academic programs; Wealthy Hindus must create endowments and grants

Shared spaces – II : Media Ammacchi Community Swaminarayan Group Ramakrishna Mission Academia Chinmaya Mission Mother Karunamayi ISCKON - Krishna Gayathri Parivar Barsana Dham Baba Ramdev Art of Living Media : Hindus need to establish a significant media presence. Magazines (like Hinduism Today), TV programs, Radio programs, Youth programs, and specialized periodicals and publications must be established so as to present Hindu interpretations of the modern world’s problems i.e. the economic crisis, the ecological issues facing us, vegetarianism, economic disparity, health problems etc. Corollary – Hindu Organizations that create media vehicles as shared services for other Hindu organizations must be created

Shared spaces – III : Leadership Ammacchi Community Swaminarayan Group Ramakrishna Mission Academia Chinmaya Mission Mother Karunamayi ISCKON - Krishna Gayathri Parivar Barsana Dham Baba Ramdev Art of Living Media Leadership : Departments of Leadership and Management that offer programs of study and develop leaders who are grounded in the Hindu Scriptures, and who can approach the issues of Leadership through Hindu Categories of thought, particularly with an emphasis on Dharma should be created. Corollary – We need to create new disciplines that are based on hybrids of our “Traditional Knowledge” and modern disciplines

Shared spaces – IV : Networking Ammacchi Community Swaminarayan Group Ramakrishna Mission Academia Chinmaya Mission Mother Karunamayi ISCKON - Krishna Gayathri Parivar Barsana Dham Baba Ramdev Art of Living Media Leadership Networking : Annual gatherings such as Conferences, Seminars, Leadership confluences, must be established where the pre- eminent thinking and action is brought together – where academicians, activists and spiritual leaders can dialogue together Corollary – We need to create new disciplines that are based on hybrids of our “Traditional Knowledge” and modern disciplines

Shared spaces – V : Youth Ammacchi Community Swaminarayan Group Ramakrishna Mission Academia Chinmaya Mission Mother Karunamayi ISCKON - Krishna Gayathri Parivar Barsana Dham Baba Ramdev Art of Living Media Leadership Networking Youth : New models of engaging the youth born here are required to ensure they are grounded in the Dharma Example – Youth wing in all temples managed by youth; Annual Hindu Yuva Cruise and other replicatable models

Shared spaces – V : Youth Ammacchi Community Swaminarayan Group Ramakrishna Mission Academia Chinmaya Mission Mother Karunamayi ISCKON - Krishna Gayathri Parivar Barsana Dham Baba Ramdev Art of Living Media Leadership Networking Youth Example – Youth wing in all temples managed by youth; Annual Hindu Yuva Cruise, Retreats and other replicable models

Hindu Identity - Challenges 1. Lack of knowledge of our own Dharma 2. Lack of knowledge of other Religions and Traditions 3. Loss of the Gurukula – the primary teaching institution 4. Alienation of our next generations – Youth 5. Inability to stand up to the challenges that we are faced with 6. Fragmentation of our Hindu Society 7. Difficult state of thousands of Temples in India 8. Lack of investment in Modern Institutions – Media and Academia 9. Loss of Population(s) through conversions 10. Lack of Participation in the Political Domain

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Sanathana Dharma Hindu Identity [Compatibility Mode]

by Forum for Hindu Awakening on May 24, 2010

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