Namaste - The traditional Hindu greeting means "The Divine within me bows to the Divine within you". Sanātana Dharma (eternal order) says every one is potentially divine. It is up to us as human beings to realize that divine power thru our actions.
Mine is a prototypical immigrant success story. Came here to pursue higher studies (Masters in Industrial Engineering), fortunate enough to find a qualified job out of college during recession days of the 1990's, worked very hard to establish a quality lifestyle with a loving family. My consulting career brought me to Circle City in 1995 and been a Hoosier ever since. First 20+ years of my USA life revolved being a good moral citizen by focusing solely on work and family.
In early 2010, I met one of the eminent Monks of Hindu Dharma and that changed my perspective of human existence, kick-started my spiritual journey. I got associated with Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS, USA)* in year 2013 primarily to educate myself about the religion I was born into. At that point, I realized how little I knew about 7000-year-old Hindu Civilization. From that day onwards, I immersed myself in reading books about Sanātana Dharma as well as became an avid listener to Hindu Philosopher/Scholar talks.
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I have heard all kinds of insincere and insensitive comments like - can you speak Indian, infamous three c's (Caste, Cow and Curry), exotic and irrelevant religion, misappropriation of our sacred symbols - Swastika* and sacred practices- YOGA. These actions made my resolve even stronger to train harder to turn these misguided comments into enhanced respect for experiential/holistic Hindu practices.
A Pastor of Carmel Church encouraged me in joining my hometown City of Carmel interfaith group - Carmel Interfaith Alliance. As the saying goes, If You're Not at the table You're on the Menu. To my utter surprise, there was no Hindu voice present at many of these interfaith meetings. My primary focus at these interfaith meetings is to transform discussions about Hindu Dharma from being negative, at best mediocre to positive forms to reflect a comprehensive, accurate, and balanced narrative.
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Worked with Carmel Interfaith Alliance in conducting Know your Neighbor series at a local library as well as participated in various service projects. Around the same time joined the Carmel Clay Schools diversity committee (this is even before DEI days) to enhance religious literacy among the educators. I am a board member of Indianapolis interfaith group called - Center for Interfaith Cooperation(CIC)*. I was one of the founding member of - Indiana Multifaith Network(IMN), with the vision to inspire, encourage, and support individuals and faith communities across Hoosier state. What started as curiosity evolved into a full commitment to interfaith work.
With my involvement with various interfaith groups, was able to conduct Hindu Dharma seminars to Educators of Carmel Clay Schools, Carmel City Police and Fire Department personnel, Eli Lilly Diversity committee members as well as various congregations across the metro Indianapolis area. At the conclusion of each of these workshops, participants always walk away with
Learned so much today, realized how incredible Hindu Culture is, how each one follower can chose their own path (pluralist), how divinity is in everyone (oneness of existence)
My interfaith journey is of greater learning about other faiths in the community as well as helping to build harmonious bridges across faith communities. This is a good beginning but work continues.....
There is a calmness to life lived in gratitude, a quiet Joy. May your Thanksgiving be full of inner peace, love and joy. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!!
*HSS, USA (https://www.hssus.org/) is a 501(c)(3), voluntary, non-profit, social, educational, and cultural organization. Sangh, as the organization is popularly known, aims to coordinate the Hindu American community to practice, preserve, and advance ideals and values of Hindu Dharma.
*Center for Interfaith Cooperation (https://www.indycic.org/) provides safe environments, resources, and opportunities for service to increase religious literacy, build empathy between faiths, and facilitate interfaith encounters.
*Reporter Guide to Swastika : https://www.hinduamerican.org/swastika-reporters-guide