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SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, USA, February 14, 2005: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: the world is one big family.” This Vedic ideal not only has a strong value within the philosophies of Hinduism but also in the hearts and minds of Hindu youths and young professionals around the world. On February 4-6, 2005, forty-two students and young professionals from the Hindu Students Council (HSC) and the Network of Hindu Minds (NetOHM) gathered together for the 4th Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Retreat held on the auspicious grounds of Vraj Bhoomi in Schuylkill Haven, PA. The students present at the retreat came from all parts of the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond, including but not limited to schools such as Binghamton University, Bryn Mawr College, City College of New York, Hunter College, New York University, Queens College, Rutgers University, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Organized and conducted by a dynamic and enthusiastic team of regional coordinators and regional team members, this three-day event turned out to be informative and exciting for many. The morning commenced with a meditation session conducted by Ravi Wadhwani, a student of the Ayurveda Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He discussed the importance of managing stress within our daily lives and provided simple routines that individuals can follow to create a healthier, more energetic lifestyle. The morning continued with a presentation on “Hindu Kashmir” by Mr. Dhiraj Bakaya. Mr. Bakaya, a native of Jammu & Kashmir and a young professional, provided an in-depth look into the lives of Hindu Kashmiris, the ancient Hindu culture and religion, and how Kashmir is known as “India’s Crown Jewel.” Mr. Niraj Mohanka, a student of Indology, and an entrepreneur, gave an interesting discourse titled, “Decoding Hinduism.” Mr. Mohanka has devoted the past 8 years on two long-term projects: one documenting the entire history of India and the second, translating all 10,000 scriptures of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). He provided a detailed, well-structured spreadsheet to the attendees of the retreat, outlining the entire history of India – which was breathtaking for many. There was also a special discussion by Swami Nikhilananda – who talked to the participants of the retreat about the significance of “maya” and self-realization.

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