Youth Camps » Travel Photography Blog on Yoga, Meditation and Hinduism | Vedic Odyssey Spiritual Adventures

Jul 282011

Hindu Spiritual Tools for Youth

The core of our study over the last week has been to find ways to incorporate Hindu spiritual tools into our daily lives to help solve the challenges that we face. We did this by having the youth share problems and then suggest solutions based on spiritual tools that they have learned. And sometimes we enacted out these problems and solutions in skits which were highly entertaining.

In this short skit, this young man teaches Dandapani how to use Hindu spiritual tools to resolve an emotional problem.

He suggests to Dandapani to write his problem down on a piece of paper and burn it in an ordinary fire. He explains that the process of writing transfers the emotion from the unresolved experience in the subconscious to the paper. The emotion is then destroyed in the fire leaving behind an experience with no emotion attached to it allowing one to look at the experience objectively and learn from it. Good advice from an 11 year old.

In today's class we learned about the conscious, subconscious and superconscious mind. We learned how to clear out unresolved emotional experiences from our subconscious which then allows intuition to flow unhindered from our superconscious to our conscious mind.

The older youth group play out a skit that incorporates Hindu values, beliefs and spiritual tools for resolving challenges.

The other youth present are highly entertained by some very creative acting.

Jul 272011

Clay Ganeshas

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This afternoon a lot of the campers had fun making clay Ganeshas. At some point they manage to convince the two teachers, Muni and myself, to join them in this messy but creatively fun project. And we are very glad we did as we had lots of fun.

This Ganesha has a top hat and is holding a Kindle in His left hand.

Muni is enjoying making his clay Ganesha while Kabilan watches on

Rupa and Dandapani are putting the final touches on their Ganeshas.

Rupa's Ganesha.....almost done

Jul 262011

Classes and Temples – Hindu Youth Camp

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Today was filled with classes and a visit to two temples in Pittsburgh. We’ll share the day with you in the photos below.

In today's class we covered the topic titled "Are you reacting to everything all the time?"

We also continued exploring the topic of "Hindu Parenting" and laying the foundation of good parenting skills for 1st generation American born Hindus.

After lunch all the campers dressed up in their finest Indian clothing and we headed up to Pittsburgh to visit two temples.

Singing bhajans at the Hindu Jain temple in Pittsburgh

The two teachers at camp - Muni Natarajan and Dandapani, standing in front of the Hindu Jain temple

With former camp director, Ravi Balu.

All the campers in front of the Sri Venkateswara temple in Pittsburgh.

Jul 262011

Hindu Youth singing “Aum Namasivaya”!

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Each evening after dinner we get together for bhajans/kirtan. The counselors lead the younger campers in some chants at the start then Muni concludes the evening of music by leading them through some bhajans. Here’s a video from last night showing Muni leading them in singing “Aum Namasivaya!”

Jul 252011

Yoga, Meditation and Practical Philosophy for Youth

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Our 2nd day of camp and the youth are enjoying themselves. Our morning started with Hatha Yoga. It was Dandapani’s turn to teach the girls and Muni’s turn to teach the boys. Immediately after Hatha Yoga we did 20 minutes of guided meditation.

The meditation that I (Dandapani) conducted was structured in a way that it would keep the interest of children while still teaching them how to visualize and feel plus move their awareness through various areas of their mind. More than half the girls class were able to stay concentrated through the whole meditation and get to know the inner realms of their mind. It was an inwardly rewarding morning!

In my class today we continued our study from the book “Gurudeva’s Toolbox for a Spiritual Life”. The topic today was about marriage – exploring the areas of arranged or assisted marriage, inter-racial marriages, same and mixed religion marriages.

We also continued the exploration of the topic of “Hindu Parenting”. This has been by far the most liveliest topic of the camp. Advice on good Hindu parenting by children….now I’ve heard some amazing insights and solutions to good parenting today. Perspectives from 1st generation American born Hindus. These children have shared insights and solutions that are fair, just, wise and loving. We are compiling these thoughts and will share them with you soon. But I’ll leave you with one piece of advice from a young camper.

Dandapani: “Can anyone give advice on good Hindu parenting methods?”
Camper: “Parents should not get angry with their children.”
Dandapani: “Ok. If parents should not get angry with their children, do you have an alternate solution?”
Camper: “Thoughtful reasoning!”

Dandapani teaching youth yoga and meditation

Dandapani leading the group in chanting "Om" at the begining of our Hatha Yoga class.

Morning Hatha Yoga class

Dandapani teaching the under 14 years old group

The topic of Hindu parenting sparked great participation from the youth

We covered many important topics such as how parents should speak to their children

Manasa (right) is one of the two head counselors of the camp. Rupa on the left was our photographer today and is responsible for taking all the beautiful photos of camp events featured on today's blog.

Muni teaching one of the classes.

Jul 242011

Hindu Youth Camp Begins!

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Good evening from Morgantown, West Virginia where 55 Hindu youth have gathered with Dandapani and Muni Natarajan (and camp coordinators) for a week long camp. The focus is the study of Hinduism and to have a joyous time with fellow Hindu youth.

A typical day sees campers in an hour long hatha yoga and meditation class starting at 7am. Then it’s breakfast followed by classes from 9am to noon. Then lunch and an afternoon full of activities. After an early dinner, we get together for bhajans/kirtan (devotional singing) followed by half an hour of question and answers that usually takes place outdoors. Among the topics covered in class today were ‘Looking for a guru to guide your life?’, ‘Seeking to understand the mind?’ and ‘Don’t know what to do next in your life?’.

Dandapani is also discussing with the youth in each of the classes about ‘Hindu Parenting’. “What is your advice for being a good Hindu parent and why?” is the question that he has been posing to the campers. And we’ve already gotten some wonderful answers which we will share with you shortly.

The classes this year are based on lessons from the book “Gurudeva’s Toolbox for a Spiritual Life” by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami which is published by Kauai’s Hindu Monastery in Hawaii. The practical timeless wisdom contained within this book focuses on sharing practical insights and spiritual tools for challenges that most people face in daily life.

Question of the day from a young camper: “What is Michael Jackson’s karma like?”