Our Traveling Monks Attend HMEC

Our two traveling monks concluded their third day at the annual Hindu Mandir Executives Conference (HMEC), the seventh that the monastery has attended. This is certainly one of the most effective of all Hindu cooperative initiatives in America. They work to strengthen the mandirs (temples) and all who worship, study and participate. There were some 200 temples represented in the room.
 
Three other swamis were present and gave great presentations (we noticed that the swamis always spoke of higher-chakra matters): Swami Paramananda of New York's BSS center, Swami Aksharananda from Guyana, Swami Pratyagbodhananda of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Pennsylvania  and Swami Nikhilananda from the Radha Mahadev Dham in Austin, Texas.
 
The theme this year was youth and how best to serve and nurture them and keep them on the dharmic path. But lots of discussions around seva and communication, teacher training and community outreach programs. Many of the leaders present already use the Himalayan Academy educational resources and all present got a copy, thanks to Shankar Mallampallai and his family. Shankar drove six hours from Florida to spend the three days with us and help with needed coordination.
 
After the final group photo was taken, the rush began. One after another came up to the monks from Hawaii, with praise, questions, suggestions (down to editing changes on our history lessons!), requests for travel details to get to Kauai and more. A small group of Bhutanese came forward for photos and to ask how they might better integrate their community of 85,000 into the fabric of American life better, sharing stories of the conversion pressures they are facing as other faiths offer rent and food, provided they convert. It took us over an hour to get from the photo to our room. Off next to Tucson, Arizona....

The pano shot of the main hall. Here is where we would spend the next few hours listening to several opening presentations, the first being Sadasivanathaswami\

s slides on Iraivan progress, California textbook progress and Hindu Megatrends. The next two days the room would be divided into 3 sections with parallel presenters. '

Here is the outside of the conference venue selfie. Swami and sadhaka took walks around the beautifully wooded area everyday. We were surrounded by Maple and Black Pine trees.

The opening ceramony of lighting the kuthuvilakku lamp. Priests then came forward to chant auspicious mantras.

Here is Sadasivanathaswami with the opening presentation on two screens, one of them directly behind him.

Since this was the opening talk there was a peak level of attendance. Swami covered Iraivan and California textbook progress and discussed Hindu megatrends.

We had many people approach us on the following days requesting more info. It was well received as it was one of the view positive talks given.

Here is Raj Narayan on screen at the end of the first day. The Hindu History movie part 3 was played for anyone who wanted to stay an extra 20 minutes. There was a high level of attendance for it being so late in the evening. Almost a full house stayed to watch.

This is a morning shot of our blue folders that went to each chair

Thanks to the volunteers at the conference everything was passed out before the second day began

And of course a very special thanks to Shankar Mallampalli and his family for putting all 300 folders together at their home in Florida. Shankar drove the folders down to the conference in Atlanta and attended all 3 days. Unfortunately we lost the photo with Swami and him together. Shankar is a magnificent library of Sanskrit and chanted Sri Rudram 6 times on the drive over. He has a wealth of knowledge in Hinduism and is a very inner person. Thank you Shankar.

Here is Skanda Prasad of Atlanta, currently doing his PhD at Georgia Tech. Skanda is son of Choodie Sivaram, one of the main writers for Hinduism Today magazine.

Skanda had a wonderful darshan with Paramacharya and was gifted several things for him to enjoy during his college days.

Thank you for driving to see Swami, Skanda. May your schooling open new doors for you and your future.

Here is a monk photo of orange and white fullness. From left to right: Rajanatha, Swami Parameshananda, Paramacharya Sadasivanathaswami and Swami Aksharananda. Walking into the hotel and seeing these two monks is like seeing family. A large hug was shared by all monks. We truly are a brotherhood, a family.

Swami Aksharananda, far right, has visited Kaui\

s Hindu Monastery before and is planning to visit again soon. He is working out of Guyana, South America. Swami Parameshananda, far left, is working out of New York and works heavily with the UN. He also joined the monks on our 2014 Mauritius Innersearch. '

Here we have two Chaplains from the army visiting the conference to raise awareness of the available positions of Hindu Chaplains in the army, and indeed for all levels of the military. The position is actually completely open as there is not one Hindu Chaplain currently in the US military.

And of course the HMEC group photo following ending talks on the third and final day

Thank you for another HMEC. Keep an eye out for the Global Dharma article covering some of the details from this conference. Next year the conference will meet in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana.

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