Campers share some of what they learned at the SV Temple Hindu youth camp that took place in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.
Jul 312010
Campers and teachers gather for a group photo in front of the Sri Venkateswara temple in Pittsburgh.
Friends, friends, friends!
Raghava and his little sister, Nidhi
Farewells on the last day.
Question and answer session outdoors with the campers.
Classes every morning from 9am to noon. We covered the basic beliefs of Hinduism and looked at its practical applicability in every day life.
We love iPhones!
Having fun on camp fire evening.
Head stand during the morning hatha yoga session that begins at 6:45am.
Those who come every year to camp can get into the poses very well.
The group is divided into two – boys and girls. Easan and Dandapani take turns teaching each group, alternating every day. After hatha yoga is our morning meditation session.
Classes on Hinduism from 9am to noon. The group is divided into 3 age groups and they rotate among the teachers.
Happy campers!
In the afternoon campers make clay Ganeshas for the upcoming Ganesha Chaturthi festival.
Smaller groups were formed and each entertained all the campers with performances.
We’ve been using the book “Dancing with Siva” as our class text book. It was written by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and published by his Himalayan Academy located at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery in Hawaii, USA.
In today’s class I talked about ahimsa (noninjury). It is defined in our text book as “the first and foremost ethical principle of every Hindu. It is gentleness and nonviolence, whether physical, mental or emotional. It is abstaining from causing hurt or harm to all beings.” We looked at how this ancient timeless teaching can be applied in our modern day life.
One of the places that it can be practiced is in the Hindu home. Parents always raise their children with love, wisdom and understanding. They never, ever, physically, mentally, emotionally or verbally abuse their children. Such acts are the height of cowardliness. Parents must always take the approach of positively and constructively disciplining their children using techniques such as natural consequences and more to lovingly guide their children to be mature and insightful young adults.
The campers have been very inspiring. It is so nice to see a group of young Hindus that are encouraging and supportive. The older campers look after the younger ones with such loving care. Carrying their bags when they are tired, encouraging them, teaching them how to sing, play games and more.
Hinduism is a solution orientated religion. Hindus look at problems only as opportunities for creative solutions. These young boys and girls exemplify this. Hinduism has a bright future thanks to them.
The campers ask insightful questions on Hinduism and its applicability in every day life.
Easan covers Hindu Festivals using material provided by Hinduism Today.
Jul 242010
Off to the Sri Venkateswara (SV) Hindu Youth camp in Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania. The week long camp will host 96 campers from the ages of 8 to 18. I’ve been invited to be one of two teachers at the camp.
A brief stop in Washington DC. A look at the Pentagon from the sky.
A priest from the Sri Venkateswara temple in Pittsburgh does a puja to officially begin the youth camp.
The campers gather for the ceremony.
The first event of the camp is singing of bhajans. The older campers lead the younger ones in devotional songs.
Singing bhajans at the SV Temple Hindu Youth Camp in Slippery Rock, PA.
Easan, the other teacher at the camp besides me, joins the campers in the bhajans.
