Dharma Summit

1. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 1 Dharma Summit How Temples and Religious Institutions can involve participation of new generation: A perspective from Swadhyaya Parivar Presenter: Dr. Darshan Patel

2. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 2 What is Dharma ? �Dharma is what holds individuals and society together. It is conducive to self-development and social good. Dharma is a Meta concept that includes philosophy and spiritualism in a consummate sense and is integrated into our daily lives�.  - Pujya Pandurang Shastri Athavale, Dadaji

3. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 3 Religion and Self Development Reason Based Religion Reason Based Devotion Religion and Devotion not based on Faith or Belief only. Selfless Love and relationship The young generation should be intellectually convinced and proud.

4. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 4 Development of Integrated Personality Integrated personality and character: Physical Intellectual Emotional Spiritual Holistic education

5. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 5 Development of Life Emphasis on developing a life that is jnanpurna (full of wisdom), bhavpurna (full of kindness and concern), krutipurna (always involved in the welfare of fellow beings) A young life without any higher goals is a waste and likely to go astray Religion can help people choose goals Religious people can lead by example

6. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 6 Continuous Process Development should be continued through all stages and the activities should be all encompassing and not limited to a short segment of life. Regular and constant process. Not once in a while or once in a month or year Short term activities bring short term results, temporary contentment. Long term process done on basis of devotion brings transformation in life.

7. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 7 Activities and Instructions Language should be English so that youth growing up in western society can easily understand, communicate and explain to others. Activities of children and youth should be well connected and synchronized with activities of adults

8. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 8 Children Ages 3 - 14 Education: Draw out the potentiality of people for creativity. based on life sustaining principles and not just on earning livelihood alone Ideal time to generate the sentiment of fellowship and development of cultural, religious and spiritual values Anchors young to religious and cultural values through innovative means

9. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 9 The Young Minds Children should meet weekly in local centers Their curriculum and format should be same nation wide children in remote corners have the same opportunities as that of Metro centers Ability to pay or money should not be factor. Rich and poor should have equal access and opportunity. No pressure of soliciting money.

10. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 10 Bal Sanskar Kendra These Kendras provide warm, intimate and continuing relationship through a number of activities Environment conducive to intellectual, spiritual, and emotional growth of children. 300 Bal Sanskar Kendras in USA. Attended by 6000 children

11. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 11 Bal Sanskar Kendra Several ways of articulating values: Stories like Dhruv and Prahlad for younger children, Abhimanyu and Nahiketa as they grow. Celebrate festivals in order to connect to roots Cultural programs to draw out latent talent in areas such as writing, elocution, story telling, poetry, acting, dancing, singing, directing plays Organizing sports events, picnic and camps to foster team spirit Gradual Introduction to philosphy : Satyam Vad to Chidanandrup Shivoham Shivoham

12. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 12 Bal Sanskar Kendra Organizing summer camps where the stated goals can be achieved in an intensive manner Children stay together in summer camps and learn Sharing the resources Sah Jivan Teamwork Family spirit Through all these activities inquiring mind learns tolerance and adventure Sanchalak work with children in Kendra with a heart of a Mother

13. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 13 Goals for Youth Activities Prepare the youth as a confident, cultured, person well connected to roots and able to succeed in today�s society Awaken the insights to a sense of right and wrong Achieve a true happiness in a world full of complexities.

14. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 14 Youth Activities Weekly/Biweekly Centers Learn from the lives of Socrates and Yagnavalkya, Lincoln and Vivekananda. Discussion based and in English. Learn reasons behind symbols, rituals, and prayers. Should be able to ask �Why?� Why Swastika and Aum ? Why Diwali and Holi ?

15. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 15 Life Oriented Activities Applied Philosophy: How it relates to my life in USA Focus is Integrated Life (Sarvangin Vikas) Individual, Family, Society and Spiritual 300 Centers in cities as well as on campuses No walls between Religion and Day-To-Day Life.

16. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 16 A Challenge To Youth Street Plays on Janmashtami, Ram Navami 200 plays in 2004 enjoyed by 10,000 people Elocution Competitions on Bhagawad Gita 1200 youth participants in 2004 (1.4 M world wide) Annual Sports Festivals Attended by 3000 youth and their families Youth Conferences Held on 10 campuses. 7000 youth attended Paper Publications Youth Camps

17. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 17 Annual Summer Youth Camps Study of Scriptures, Culture, Religion Ramayan and Mahabharata Bhagawad Gita, World Religions Appreciation of Other Cultures Character Studies of Great Lives Kaushalya and Sita Moses and Martin Luther King Sports and Yoga Cultural Activities Character Development, Team Work at the core Family Spirit, Positive Peer Group is the result �I am not alone� Attended by 1100 youth in 2005 Supported by 450 adults working on the basis of Devotion

18. Devotional Associates of Yogeshwar 18 "It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a Western beginning will have to have an Indian ending if it is not to end in self-destruction of the human race. At this supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of salvation is the ancient Hindu way. Here we have the attitude and spirit that can make it possible for the human race to grow together in to a single family.� British Historian Dr. Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889-1975)

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