1.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 1 Session 5 Coordination and Cooperation Among Mandirs Why to Compete when We Can Collaborate! Dr. Shardanand UHJT - Washington DC/MD VHP of America September 11-13, 2009

2.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 2 Coordination & Cooperation among Mandirs When we compete –the resources are divided, –information is kept secret and –there are winners and losers although the resulting product is better. When we cooperate / collaborate –the resources are best utilized, –there are no losers only winners and the resulting product is equally good. Lesson to learn: In case of limited resources, the key to success is to adopt the process of cooperation and collaboration.

3.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 3 What do we really want and why? How to achieve the goal we all cherish? –The goal of HMEC is to sustain Hindu Dharma through Mandirs. What is that goal of Hindu Dharma that we want to sustain? After every prayer we chant –Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih Sanatana Vision Peace alone is the supreme basis of human endeavor. Let this be the ‘human-mission of our existence’ – the mission of ‘Borderless World’ – the beautiful garden enriched with flowers of different colors, sizes and smell. The flowers are the men and women with ideas supporting each other, ready to serve those in needs; and ennobling each other in peace. The society of this Vision is a HUMANE SOCIETY. Conclusion: Sanatana vision is a vision of peace. Every endeavor we undertake has a mission to achieve our Sanatana Vision: The creation on Earth: A peaceful, prosperous and humane society.

4.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 4 How to achieve this Vision? As many before, H.H. Sri Sri Ravishankar repeatedly proclaimed that we need to learn from our past history to succeed. –The history of Hindu Dharma and the history of Mother India are synonymous. In Hindu history of India, there were great successes and failures. We learn lessons from those events (successes and failures) - and move on to bring about a bright future. Learn from Success: –The period of Achaarya Chaanakya and Chandragupta Maurya is an illustrious example of success. Chaanakya did not make Hindu Dharma as the relying slogan for change but gave a call for the Unity of Cultural Bharat and could unite India under one empire. He successfully established peace and prosperity – A Golden period of Indian history. After having enthroned Chandragupta as the emperor, Chaanakya retired to teaching and writing – What an Ideal! Spirituality should be the focus of Hindu Unity

5.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 5 Learn from Our Mistakes We proudly chant Ahimsa parmo Dharma and do not even know the 2nd part of the same verse Dharma Himsa Tathaiva Cha It is novel to look for a higher goal ‘AHIMSA PARAMO DHARMA’ –Non-violence is our supreme duty. No one can disagree. The verse ‘DHARMA HIMSA TATHAIVA CHA’, literally means “so too is violence in service of Dharma,” it means that while non- violence is utmost, asserting for the sake of Dharma is acceptable as well. –In other words Himsa in the service of Dharma is as novel as Ahimsa. Tolerance is a great virtue; but to tolerate the intolerance of others is a sin. In other words: not to resist the intolerance of others is a crime by itself.

6.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 6 Is it enough to have correct understanding? Answer is absolutely no. No matter how good the individuals equipped with the right tools of understanding, they will not succeed if engaged in independent actions. For success we need to evolve a system that is –dynamic (open to adopt changes), –visible and –effective in achieving a goal. We require a working model. The success lies in the implementation that requires working together to bring: –peace & prosperity –the Vision of Sanatana Dharma. We need another approach to sustain Hindu Dharma and realize the Sanatana vision. The involvement of the temples For 35 years VHP of America has organized programs like  Hindu Heritage Day,  Dharma Prasaar Yatraa,  Hindu Awareness Day,  Seminars,  Symposiums,  youth and family camps at many places in America and met with varying degree of success.

7.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 7 WORKING MODEL OF UHJT Association of United Hindu & Jain Temples (UHJT) has become a working model of co-ordination, co-operation and implementation. Let me emphasize that every endeavor requires a “QUOTA OF EFFORTS” to succeed which is only possible if we cooperate and coordinate our limited resources and meet that QUOTA OF EFFORTS. DIWALI MELA event is being continuously organized for the last 17 years where about 8-10 thousand people come together Other Projects: –Prepared document of Core Beliefs of Hinduism. –Trained and equipped speakers with main tenets of Hinduism to convey the uniform message of Hinduism in schools, churches and other interested groups where we are often invited to talk about Hinduism. –Prepare a set of questions and answers to dispel the misconceptions about Hinduism. –Prepare a booklet to explain the concepts behind each ritual. –INTER FAITH DIALOGUE which is the NEED OF THE TIME.

8.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 8 UHJT- Association of United Hindu & Jain Temples Structure –Presently, there are 14 members in UHJT; The Association Fee is $250.00 per year; –There is an executive Board consisting of Association President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and 3 members. The past president continues to be its member for maintaining continuity; –There is a 28 member Mela Committee with 14 chairs and vice-Chairs responsible for each task area; –Vice-Chair of the previous year becomes the chair of the current year and so on; –This 28 member Committee is made of 2 representatives nominated by each temple; –There is a 5 member education committee nominated by the Board for the education and related subjects such as the TEXT BOOK ISSUES. Association does not interfere with the functioning of its member organizations but always remains ready to help if asked for Association activities are financed through advertisements in souvenir, donations, vendors fee, event entrance fee etc; The decisions are unanimous There are no elections –Each post is filled automatically in an alphabetical order of the name of the participating organizations; this method of assignment of responsibility creates a large pool of people having experience of working together; –If any organization chooses to skip its responsibility next organization in alphabetical order takes the responsibility; HMEC can be a National version of UHJT working model

9.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 9 Why temples should be involved? As the population of Hindu Americans increased, the need of the temples also increased for providing the Hindu Samskars to the Community. –The number of temples is continuously growing. –The temples performing services are mostly limited to rituals which are becoming less attractive to Hindu youth who are not enthusiastic in participating in temple activities. –This is a matter of great concern and may hinder in passing our rich Hindu heritage to the coming generations. There are no educational institutions to take care of this task; –Moreover to develop the type of such institutions will take many decades and huge resources; The temples should take this responsibility and become the centers of Hindu activities in general and education in particular; Many temples are facing unfriendly environment from the local communities that requires visible and effective response that is possible only if we are united; From the platform of HMEC: Each temple can learn from the experiences of others; Can develop a network of helping those in need;

10.  Hindu Mandir Executive Conference Sept 11-13, 2009 10 Suggestions: The HMEC conference may be held on regional basis that would provide wider participation On some regular interval (say in alternate year) it may be organized on the National scale Each temple should participate every year thus creating a pool of experienced persons required to carry out mission of the respective temple Create a Hindu Activist Committee consisting of dedicated and able people who have the passion and can spare time for Hindu Causes Such activities will require financial support – Funds should be raised.