1. Introduction
The Hinduism Summit (Hindu Dharma Sabha) aims to foster an education about Hindu Dharma by bringing forth the unique science behind concepts and practices in Hinduism, and bringing together Hindu leaders across the world to spread the message of Hinduism. One of the main reasons that we need these summits is that the majority of us Hindus have forgotten or are unaware of the true wealth of Hindu Dharma.
2. Current state of Hindus
Quite often Hindus find themselves aping different cultures and are unable to explain to people from other religions the basic concepts in their own religion. Their knowledge is quite limited and often based on hearsay tales from their elders with no attempt on their own part to understand the breadth, depth and glory of Hindu Dharma. As a result Hindus lack the pride in their religion and dare we say even feel apologetic at times when challenged about its venerable con¬cepts and way of life. Our generation holds the responsibility of passing this great Sanatan Hindu Dharma on to the next generation, but how can we do it if we have not studied and practiced it and hence don’t feel deeply about it.
3. Uniqueness of Hindu Dharma
In a world threatened by divisions (with deadly consequences) in religions and race, the age old universal principles of Hindu Dharma are a beacon of light, that if understood and followed would bring peace to our world. Only Hinduism accepts all people as the same. While we may be different on the outside, while we may have different natures, it explains that we all have the God principle (Ātma) in each of us. Hence Hindu Dharma sees the attempts to convert anyone from one religion to another as just a superficial exercise in futility because whatever the conversion, we remain intrinsically embodied Souls (jivas). Yet these religious conversions do happen and mostly from Hinduism to some other religion. What religious conversions do at best is put labels on embodied Souls and forces the segregation of humankind
4. Hinduism Summits – a catalyst to understand, to awaken, to live and to preserve Hindu Dharma.
Even in Hinduism, we are being threatened by becoming too sect orientated. In fact we as Hindus, even though we are some 900 million strong, are a conglomerate of various minority sects and isms. As a result even though we are born into this great way of life, we short change ourselves by being sectarian and less expansive. Along with this, it has many more deleterious consequences. As there is less unity amongst Hindus and most Hindus are enveloped in a “every-Hindu-for-himself” syndrome, we are also more prone to being under attack. The conversion of Hindus and their persecution is rife all around the world. Denigration of our deities and religious symbols go unabated and when this is brought to the notice of the perpetrators, instead of being apologetic, they display a certain “as-if-I-care” bravado. But today Hinduism is facing a more insidious onslaught i.e., from its own people. An example of this is when artist M.F. Husain drew Hindu deities in the most vulgar positions and poses; on talk shows in India, it was the so called Indian (Hindu) intelligentsia and secularists that defended his work as art.
Let us as Hindus join together from this day forth and make a stand for Hindu Dharma. Our prayer is that these kind of Hinduism summits, will act as a catalyst to light a lamp in our hearts to understand, to awaken, to live and to preserve Hindu Dharma and to light the flame of Dharma, inherent in every Soul, in people around us.
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