The
National Day of
Service and Remembrance is an opportunity to salute the heroes of 9/11,
recapture the spirit of unity and compassion that inspired our nation
following
the attacks, and rededicate ourselves to sustained service to our
communities. This year is especially poignant with the recent shootings
at the Sikh Gurudwara. The community is undertaking many projects
across the country.
In honor of the 9/11 day of service, people in towns and cities across the country are planning acts of service – large and small – to strengthen their communities and build stronger bonds with the issues and people they care about. Many temples/ashrams/spiritual centers plan to do different projects such as feeding the homeless, blood drives, well as YogaSeva through the month of September. Ashtanga Yoga's first yogic value is ahimsa (non-violence). Hindu places of worship will invoke that value through prayers and service. Project information can be uploaded in www.serve.gov
We also remember the other 9/11. Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha movement started in South Africa, on September 11, 1906, the launch of the modern Non-Violent Resistance Movement, which inspired America's Civil Rights movement. And, on September 1893, Swami Vivekananda, the first Hindu Swami to come to America, gave his welcome address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. YouTube,
In honor of the 9/11 day of service, people in towns and cities across the country are planning acts of service – large and small – to strengthen their communities and build stronger bonds with the issues and people they care about. Many temples/ashrams/spiritual centers plan to do different projects such as feeding the homeless, blood drives, well as YogaSeva through the month of September. Ashtanga Yoga's first yogic value is ahimsa (non-violence). Hindu places of worship will invoke that value through prayers and service. Project information can be uploaded in www.serve.gov
We also remember the other 9/11. Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha movement started in South Africa, on September 11, 1906, the launch of the modern Non-Violent Resistance Movement, which inspired America's Civil Rights movement. And, on September 1893, Swami Vivekananda, the first Hindu Swami to come to America, gave his welcome address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. YouTube,
Vedic Hindu statement - Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah* – Non-violence is the foremost duty to the extent that it supersedes all other duties Explaining the value of ahimsa, Sri. Swami Dayananda Saraswati has this to say:“A human being, as any other living organism, has an instinct to survive. Being endowed with free thinking he/she can recognize the same instinct in all living beings; a value is born—ahimsa. Therefore, we have a statement from the Veda, ‘ahimsa paramo dharmah’ - not hurting is primary value. All other values like non-stealing, non-cheating and so on are derivatives of ahimsa because each one of them would hurt the victim. If people practice, with care, ahimsa, abiding peace and harmony will prevail in the world.” *Mahatma Gandhi emphasized this statement and value repeatedly during India's struggle for independence |