Last Sunday, 16th May 2010 (Akshay Trutiya Nija Vaishakh Shukla Trutiya 5112 as per Hindu calendar) the auditorium at the Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Camberwell, Melbourne reverberated with the auspicious sounds of conch blowing and Vedic recitations, commencing the much awaited first ever Hinduism Summit (Hindu Dharma sabha) in Australia. Eminent speakers, Pandit Abhay Awasthi of the Hindu Community Council of Victoria, Mahant Swami Shankaranand Saraswati of the Shiva ashram, Shri Bhakta das of ISKCON, Shri Sean Clarke of the Spiritual Science Research Foundation & Shri Rohan Mehta were awarded the ‘Vishwa Hindu Ratna’ award for their selfless service to Hinduism. On this occasion Swami Paramanand Saraswati, President of Yo Veda was also present.
The speakers spoke to an attentively packed hall and the audience viewing the online live webcast with a lot of concern for the current state of Hindu Dharma and also the uniqueness about it. They listened raptly as Pandit Abhay Awasthi opened the presentations, highlighting the universal Sanatan Dharma. He emphasized how important it is for us and our children to have Dharma education. Shri Sean Clarke inspired the audience to consider spiritual measures in resolving issues facing the Hindu community, through SSRF’s spiritual research video footage showing the power of Saints and subtle negative forces. Mahant Swami Shankaranand expressed in very nice simple words how unique Sanatan Dharma is, how God is in each and every person and that we need to connect to everyone. Shri Bhakta das also shared the same principle of how following Sanatan Dharma and Vedic culture is the only sure solution to all our problems in this materialistic world. He also emphasized that if we take one step towards God, He takes 100 steps towards us. Shri Rohan Mehta spoke passionately about the need to stop rampant denigration of Hinduism and proposed practical methods to learn about denigration and stop it. Shri Atul Dighe concluded the presentations with emphasis on Hinduism education and spiritual measures to overcome issues facing the Hindu community and to experience firsthand the unique science underlying Hinduism concepts and practices.
On this auspicious occasion, Mahant Swami Shankaranand also inaugurated a Souvenir on understanding, living and preserving Hinduism.
The following resolutions were passed at the Hindu Dharma sabha:
1. The Government should take strict action against the perpetrators of attacks on Indians in Australia.
2. The media must give unbiased and sufficient coverage to the recurring attacks on Indians in Australia!
3. Hindu Dharma should be recognized as a major religion, as are others like Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism!
4. Every denigration of Hindu Dharma should be protested peacefully but surely!
5. We shall not support any art, products or any media that denigrate our revered concepts and practices!
6. We shall take Dharma Education ourselves, impart it to our children, and others who are interested through Dharma education satsangs and other means
The Hinduism Summit concluded with the speakers answering questions from the members of the press and the attendees, on the direction ahead to understand, live and preserve Hinduism. Majority of the attendees expressed their desire to acquire education on Dharma and to start a Hindu school in Melbourne.
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