HINDU YOUTH CAMPS CRITICAL TO YOUTHS' GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Summer 2010 is upon us with all its glories and heat waves. Summer time in Richmond Hill, Queens, means many things for many people. The kids are out of school; families are vacationing or stacationing here and there; there those Guyana Day's get-togethers at the Flushing and the Cunningham Parks; there is the cousin's sweet 16 party to attend and many more social activities to keep us busy.

Another very critical activity that needs to be taken seriously by parents is the Summer Youth Camps organized by mandirs in the community. Believe it or not, there're over 50 mandirs in the Queens area. If the good folks at these mandirs can take on the responsibility to plan a one-week summer youth camp for the youngsters in the community, year after year, camping will become an integral part in the lives of Hindu kids. This would be a great service to society as a whole for many reasons.

I strongly believe in the importance of education. A good education takes you to many places in life; it helps you get better paying jobs, buys you all the man-made comforts and luxuries that were supposed to make you happy in life; it could even give you job satisfaction if you like your work and many other perks that come with high paying jobs. But, these are all material things and by now, we all know for a fact that neither money nor wealth can buy happiness - the goal of life.

The question then begs to ask itself: Where can I find happiness? And again three additional questions come to the mind:

1. Who am I?
2. From where have I come?
3. Where am I going?

To find the true answers to these questions, you must find yourself in the company of saints and sages, satsanghs and other holy people. These learnt, enlightened souls will tell you that, and I'll quote the greatest of all saints, Veda Vyasa, who composed and simplified the thousands of Hindu Scriptures into a simple sentence: "Brahma is real, this world is unreal, the Atman is real."

Brahma is the Absolute Consciousness that upholds this universe together and the Atman is the Soul or the Absolute Consciousness present within us.

Why am I mentioning all of this? Because Hindu Youth Camps should be recognized as powerful mediums that transmit scriptural knowledge to the youngsters so that they would understand the true purpose of life from a young age. Hindu Youth Camps can be catalysts for positive change in our society and mediums that can help groom the youths into becoming more balanced, well-informed and knowledgeable individuals.

A combination of formal education with scriptural knowledge can produce dynamic individuals. But, it is of paramount importance that parents make that effort to send their children to these youth camps.

The management of the Sanatan Dharma Mandir of New York must be complimented for organizing such a one-week youth camp from July 12-17 for the kids in the area. The program was a packed one that include many different activities. Very importantly, they were taught the Sacred Havan, how to perform Surya Namaskar, Sacred Mantras, the different Hindu scriptures and philosophies, Music, Yoga, Meditation and Karate. They listened to influencial guest speakers from different walks of life on topics ranging from their identity, income and expenditure and their ancestral roots. Speakers included, Mr. Ashook Ramsaran, Mr. Joe Ragnauth, Ms. Elizabeth Luckhoo, and others.

They were fortunate to have Acharya Krishna Moorty from the Chinmaya Mission who spent two days with them; one day having an open discussion with him about some of the things they learnt at the camp and showing them around at the Ganesha Temple in Flushing. The Swamiji preformed Puja for them as well. Dr. Jatin Kapadia, also from the Mission, did a great presentation on the meaning of Karma and how it affects our lives.

And the Camp Coordinator Mr. Doodnauth Dasrat did a fabulous job, along with all the very hard working women and men who were at the camp every day making sure the kids were well fed and taken care of.


Some photos of kids being intructed on a few karate moves.

Sean, Karate teacher, teaching karate

These little ones are sweating it out

Can they be more enthusiastic

Hi-Ya Ho! Kong Fu!

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE FOR OUR ANCESTORS IN KOLKATA

Mr. Ashook Ramsaran, Executive Vice President of GOPIO, recently traveled to India to finalize plans to build a memorial and museum in honor of all the Indentured Laborers at the Bhowanie Depot in Kolkata.

The land was secured and a monument of a man and woman representing our ancestors were unveiled by the Minister in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Hon. Vayalar Ravi. Over 170 years ago, thousands of Indentured laborers were lured by British sugar planters to work in the sugar plantations in the West Indies, South Africa, Fiji and Mauritius.

This memorial in India is a most fitting and deserving tribute to thousands of East Indians whose pioneering spirit, endurance, fearlessness, resilience and courage lead them to seek betterment in new lands, unknown to them.

The hardships meted out to them on a daily basis at the hands of the British planters were unspeakable, yet they never gave up. Many stayed, toiled and sweat in the sugar fields and made the new country their homes. Their stellar contribution towards the political, socio-economic growth and development of their new countries was monumental.

Many, many thanks to Mr. Ramsaran for spearheading this important project and to see it through. A museum is still yet to be built there. It will house artifacts, records, documentaries, photos and other documents on our ancestors.

Folks, when you visit India, now you have an additional attraction. It's a must to go visit this museum to just feel the ambience and spirit of our ancestors.

Below is a sneek peek of photos Mr. Ramsaran took while on his trip in India and the good people in India who helped him.

Photos of the surround area of the mesuem



Blue sky, little house, water .. almost idyllic

Mr. Ramsaran (second from right) and his counterparts in India

This photo has a feel of somewhere in Guyana

A forte on the land

Mr. Ramsaran (right) and another gentleman monument

SUNDAY'S TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE, SCIENCE & CONSCIOUSNESS

I am fascinated and intrigued by the solar system and the vast space above and it has to do with the question, "Who or What controls what happens in the sky above and the way the solar system orbits around the sun?"

I've been following this total solar eclipse which began its 11,000 kilometer (6,800 mile) arc over the Pacific, plunging remote islands on its path into darkness in a celestial display that climaxed on Easter Island, on Sunday, July 11th 2010.

I checked with the Hindu calendar and it states, "Amawasya, NM - 3:40 PM, Sun Eclipse begins 1:10 PM - 5:57 PM." This is interesting because I know that Pandit Yoga, Pandit Babb and others have put together the 2010 calendar during November - December 2009. When they checked the Hindu Patra, the information about the solar eclipse was there.

That is just one incident which brings out the scientific calculation of the solar system, space and time available in the Hindu 'shashtras' that our pandits have to use to create the new Hindu calendar. This task involve minute detail work because of the need for accuracy in date and time.

It is clear that our pandits functions like scientists as well. To understand this concept, you must take a look at the Hindu calendar, to observe how many full moons, new moons and the many other major Hindu parbs and festivals in the year that have to be calculated.

I am of the strong believe that NASA - the government space agency - should recruit a few of our top-notch, advanced and highly skilled pandits to work at the agency. I say it is the right time to train a few Hindu pandits or astrologers to take that illusive, lengthen trip high up in space. It will add a totally different dimension to the US space program. It will also be like an education process for the scientists - to educate them to gradually move away from to the path of proof and evidence and give them a chance to experience the power of OM or Consciousness.

You see, in Hinduism we worship the Sun and the Moon and the Earth and the other planets. These are powerful entities that to grasp how they work is beyond the realm of our limited understanding. The planetary system is known as the "Nou Graha Devtas" (9 Devtas) who influence our lives from time to time, depending on our Karmas. So, to understand how the planetary system works is to understand Consciousness - the Ultimate Science of creation. That without Consciousness, a solar eclipse of any kind is not possible - absolutely not.

As much as we need science and scientists to survive and make our lives better or our living experience a better one, I believe that scientists have to approach their individual fields or research works with a more "Consciousness" feel to it - and just accept that certain things are beyond their control.

Like the total solar eclipse that people were so fascinated by yesterday (even the footballs fans in Tahiti ran to look at it), scientists could not have stopped it or controled its path. No, because it is called Consciousness and It works miracles for us. Let's just sit back and enjoy the world and its fruits while we can and believe that Consciousness exists.

Below some spectacular photos of total solar eclipse (courtesy online)

Cresent-shaped moon.

Totoal solar eclipse

The solar eclilpse path as show by an image for NASA.

JULY 4TH & ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW - SB 1070

July 4th is Independence Day in the United States of America - that was the day the founding fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776 and declared this country independant from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

July 4th then, was an immensely happy ocassion for the fore fathers and the population. July 4th continues to be a day for joyous celebrations, great felicitations and of course, plenty of spectacular fireworks throughout the country.

America has always been welcoming towards immigrants from across the globe. This great nation continues to welcome new immigrants with open arms, particularly, if the process was conducted through legal means.

It is one of the greatest legacy of this vibrant country - giving new immigrants the opportunity to make something out of their lives, which otherwise may not have been possible in their countries of birth.

This rich legacy puts America in a unique position in the world and makes it stands out from the rest of the world. At the same time, immigrants living in this country have worked extremely hard and dedicatedly to help build this country. Immigrants have helped to put America on the pedestal as the greatest, most powerful nation in the world, almost untouchable.

Today, this same immigration policy has caused a rift among top political representatives of the country. There is the 'controversial' Arizona immigration law - SB 1070 - for which the Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the state from implementing it.

While states have the authority to pass laws in regards to same sex marriages, abortion rights, and other matters, immigration laws have always been an issue that the Federal Government has the jurisdiction to oversee.

The DOJ is arguing that the Arizona immigration law "interferes" with the US foreign policy. It also notes that a state should not "criminalize aliens whose presence is known and accepted by the federal government," (excerpts from an online article).

The State of Arizona is in a prime spot at the Mexican border where the people from Mexico can easily 'slip' over illegally in Arizona. According to the latest count, over half a million illegal Mexicans are in Arizona and over 12 million undocumented aliens are in America.

That is cause for pause. This is a big, hot button problem that the government has to tackle and fast. One can sympathize with Arizona. But, at the same time, if all the states are allowed to make their own immigration laws taylored to suit the individual states, this could create chaos among states and Federal Government, not to mention funding, resources, etc.

I will be speaking for millions of people when I say, let the immigration reforms be an issue that the Federal Government deals with. After all, Congress and the House have representatives from all the states and they will all be contributing their inputs to the immigration reforms, but please make it happen very soon.

Please remember that the immigration coin has two sides: country giving people new opportunities; people helping to build the political and socio-economic growth and development of this great nation.

We should call on our local representatives to come up with 4 or 5 criteria for the immigration reforms, like those undocumented who has been in the country for over 8 years (cut off date), have clean records, went for higher education, those with petitions, those with little children, etc. Simultaneously, seal the Mexican border as close as possible, as practical as possible.

The immigration problem needs to be solved. It would be impractical to send back the over 12 million illegal immigrants to their countries, excepting those who have criminal records. The best the government can do is to bring out reforms that will help the ones meeting the creteria to pay their fines and lead them to the path of legalization. This will help them live with dignity and stop them from being exploited by unscrupulous people.

And, to quote President Obama, "Yes, we can!" And we must solve the immigration problem sooner than later.