Source: www.chynetwork.org
[HPI note: This opinion piece was written by Tejas Dave on the occasion of the Hindu Mandir Executives Conference, in November, and published on the website of The Coalition of Hindu Youth,an umbrella organization to foster unity and share resources among Hindu youth and Hindu youth groups.]
USA, November 16, 2010 (by Tejas Dave): I have heard many questions about why we even need temples. God is said to be omnipresent, He is everywhere. Let me answer by saying this, air is everywhere, but we still need a fan to feel that air. God is everywhere, but we need a mandir to feel God’s presence.
Today, while the temples continue to fill this void, they also address the phenomena of Hindus born away from their ancestral home. And yet, while these great strides were made mostly by first generation Hindu-Americans, it will soon come time for a new generation to take over the reins of leadership of Hindu mandirs and organizations and expand them to adequately fulfill the needs of an ever growing population.
It is for this reason that the Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) was convened. This was not to reminisce upon the past, but to envision the future; to understand these concerns and the rapidly changing needs that our community faces. As our numbers continue to grow and our age spectrum continues to broaden, it will be necessary to make changes in the way the mandir is a part of our lives.
For the torchbearers of Hindu tradition and current leaders of Hindu temples, it is now time to search for the protectors of this legacy in the future. And for college and high school students, such as myself, it is now time to understand the rich and vast culture that we are charged with sustaining. It is time for an active effort to enfranchise and empower the next generation of leaders.
Read the full text of this reflection here.