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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Session 9Summary of the Youth &
Workshop Sessions
Moderator
Shri Vijay Prasad
September 11-13, 2009
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Youth Session
• Youth Retention - need youth leaders and not youth participant
• Seva - starting seva from home to outreaching through mandir
• Youth Network - Set up a medium for sharing and networking
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Management & Administration of Mandirs
Dr. Sharma Tadepalli
September 26-28, 2008
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Planning, Proactive, focus on core values, consistent performance; qualified priests, executives,
volunteers
Resources Management
Scale
/ gro
wth
M1M2
M3
M4
M5
Complexity
Simple
Split
Challenges
Fragmented/polaized
Management & Administration of MandirsStructure
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
• Mindset, attitude and behavior
• React to accidents; not proactively plan and mitigate the risk.
• Parking lot Construction Oil Lamps • Kitchen• Crowd control • Trips and falls
Management & Administration of MandirsDiscussion - Safety
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Management & Administration of Mandirs
1. Qualified Priests – Knowledge of Vedas, rituals and Jyotish as well as English language to be able to explain the importance of rituals, religion and Dharma to the new generation
2. Parents/Teachers – Need to be Role models – Engage in activities that uphold Dharma
3. Food habits – Influence person’s thoughts and actions
4. Independent Living – Increases selfish behaviors and family/community values are lost
5.Proper religious Education – Mandirs need to take lead in proper religious education
Common Problems in Administration of Mandir: Problems, Conflicts & Solutions
Shri Ravi Shetkar
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
• Introduction of Temple’s role in Life.• Presentation of religious knowledge in
scientific way through Temples.• Preparation of new educational material for
explaining Dharma• Seminars on deferent religious topics
organized by temples.• Co-operation of parents with new generation.
Dr. Ram Pandey
Challenges for Hindu Temples: An Outsider’s perspective Discussion
Management & Administration of Mandirs
Solution
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Management & Administration of Mandirs
Duties Of Mandir Executives
• Arrangements of proper and timely worship through qualified priests.
• Introduction of all rituals, festivals and ceremonies according to Hindu traditions.
• Involvement of new generation in management of temples.
• Parents must take interest in preserving their culture and get actively involved in the community affairs
Challenges for Hindu Temples: An Outsider’s perspective Discussion
Dr. Ram Pandey
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Invite Federal,State and Local Legislators to Visit the Temple.Conduct guided temple tours to local community(Public relations)
Dr. Bapineedu Kuchipudi,
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights DivisionA Guide To Federal Religious Land Use Protections The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) protects religious institutions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. The law was passed unanimously by Congress in 2000, after hearings in which Congress found that houses of worship, particularly those of minority religions and start-up churches, were disproportionately affected, and in fact often were actively discriminated against, by local land use decisions. Congress also found that, as a whole, religious institutions were treated worse than comparable secular institutions. Congress further found that zoning authorities frequently were placing excessive burdens on the ability of congregations to exercise their faiths in violation of the Constitution.
In response, Congress enacted RLUIPA. This new law provides a number of important protections for the religious freedom of persons, houses of worship, and religious schools. The full text of RLUIPA is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/housing_rluipa.htm.
Management & Administration of Mandirs RLUIPA
Managing Growth. Issues that arise in scaling mandirs from small scale
operation/facility to a large scale operation
Dr. Bapineedu Kuchipudi,
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Management & Administration of Mandirs
Duties Of Mandir Executives
Managing Growth. Issues that arise in scaling mandirs from small scale
operation/facility to a large scale operation
• Issues with Priests (hiring) • operations
Dr. Bapineedu Kuchipudi,
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
A Summary of the Panel Discussionby Dr. Susheelabai Pasupuleti
Members of the Panel include:Dr. Rajan Narayan, Ramesh Deshpande, Dr. Vipin Kalia, Mrs.
Padma Kuppa, Dr. Dinesh SinhaModeratorated byDr.Prakash Rao
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Interesting Questions at the end of the Discussion
• Vegetarians are not offered options to follow dietary restrictions according to Hindu faith in the public schools.
• Are mental disorders are a taboo?• How the senior citizens can support the temples?• How to support the temples and how the temples can
be a platform to speak about the various problems that the Hindu immigrants face in various situations?
• There is not enough understanding and knowledge about the mental issues among Hindu Americans.
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Plan of action
1. Write a temple letter schools on behalf of the temple to the schools districts about the vegetarian diet and preferred diet to the children.
2. Conduct a research study/survey to assess the needs of the elderly population and mental health issues among the Hindu-American community.
3. Educate priests and volunteers about mental health and ways to help Hindu families dealing with stress, health, mental health issues.
4. Stress the importance of yoga, meditation and Hindu way of living to prevent and solve problems.
5. Draft and provide guidelines to all temples about Hindu way of living and habits for healthy living.
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Session - Education and Integration
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Session - Inter-racial Marriage
• Discussion:– Universalist approach vs Multiculturalists’
approach; Proper teaching and explanation of Hindu tradition. Compatible “Guna” or core values of life, “Karma” or career path, “Swabhaava” or temperament.
– Action: The group unanimously adopted the resolution to provide pre-marital counseling to youth of all Mandirs.
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Marriage and MulticulturalismShri Krishna Kirti Das
• Spoke about two approaches to religion• Universalist approach: Here Individual sees the
Universe according to his/her own value system based on their own religion. In this approach, one’s faith will strengthen Hindu-American identity as Hindus.
• Multiculturalists’ approach: Here Individual accepts every culture and religion as equal. In this approach, Inter-racial marriage will weaken Hindu-American identity as Hindus.
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Dr. B. DoobayRetaining Hindu Identity:Maintaining Caribbean / Trinidad & Tobago experience and Learning
• Preserve Hinduism by proper teaching and explanation.
• As long as Hindus embrace their religion and are able to cherish Hinduism, then people can marry outside race.
• Family marries a family, not just boy and a girl.
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Dr. Darshanand RamdassProcedures and Policies to welcome/initiate willing individuals into the Hindu fold
• Vedic Vision: the Soul is genderless and raceless
• Anyone can marry anyone as long as your “Guna” or core values of your life, “Karma” or career path, “Swabhaava” or temperament are campatible.
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Shri Kaushik JoshiYouth Networking Programs at Chinmaya Mission
• Kaushik ji explained in details the different activities of children from Balavihar, Yuvakendra, and young adults to impart Hindu values.
• Cultivate leadership and understanding of Hinduism.
• These values will remain in inter-racial marriages.
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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference
September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD
Action Item
• The group unanimously adopted the resolution to provide pre-marital counseling to youth of all Mandirs.