Inaugural Conference of Hindu American Seva Charities
President Obama’s call to service Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnership Advisory
Council recognized and appreciated Hindu Seva Organization and individuals at the
White House.
Representatives of Hindu American Community from across the country gathered for
the historic briefing at the White House on July 29, 2011. Hindu South Carolinians
were well represented at the conference. Among those individuals was Hima Dalal,
Owner of Vital Energy Wellness &Rehab Center located in Lexington, SC. Hima
Dalal, is an Occupational Therapist, Reiki Master & Healer who offers free services to
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain sufferers and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through
free support group meetings held each month at the center as a seva (public service)
to American communities and Military as well as teaching Alternative Therapies such
as Yoga, Self-Help Techniques, and Spiritual Healing to take charge of their life.
www.vitalenergytherapy.com
The conference was initiated by Hindu American Seva Charities, a nonprofit
organization, founded by Anju Bhargava, is working to mobilize the Hindu American
community around seva to advance interfaith dialogue, social justice, and healthy living.
The focus is at engaging faith-based offices within federal agencies, academic, civil
society, religious, business and press communities as part of community building effort.
It also served as a platform to develop a roadmap to engage faith-based communities to
address domestic concerns through partnerships.
It brought in more people, nationally, from the academic, business, government,
nonprofit, and press community- which also acts as a unique networking opportunity
for our attendees and the community-at-large. The main focus of summit covered the
following issues:
- Health and Healthy Living & Nutrition
- Education
- Poverty Alleviation
- Energy & Environment
- Refugee Resettlement
- Serving Military Families & our Veterans
- Alternative Therapies & Medicine
Leaders from many different spheres were in attendance. The conference hosted an
impressive line of speakers from former Senator Harris Wofford, Joshua DuBois,
Executive Director, Office of Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Dalia
Mogahed, Senior Analyst at Gallup and Executive Director of the Gallup Center for
Muslim Studies, author Phil Goldberg, and Journalist Joshua Stanton. A variety of
subjects from honoring the Hindus in military service to how to start a seva center,
to how to keep temples green were addressed. At Vital Energy Wellness & Rehab
Center, Hima Dalal, offers services to both military and civilians who suffer from
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by teaching them self-help techniques.
The conference also kick started the Yoga PALA Challenge program. Yoga has
become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United States, crossing many
lines of religions and cultures. Developed in partnership with the First Lady Michelle
Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative. The MPC has set a goal to get 1 Million Americans to
earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA). Vital Energy Wellness & Rehab
Center is a supporter of this initiative. The Center offers health and fitness training,
exercise and nutrition programs, Yoga, as well meditation and relaxation techniques.
An opportunity for interfaith dialogue was made possible through the speakers who
represented the Judiac, Christian, and Islamic traditions. In 1893, Swami Vivekananda
introduced Hinduism to America, declaring his audience as sisters and brothers. He
added, “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance
and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all
religions as true.” The passion, enthusiasm, and dedication to serve that were deeply
expressed by every participant at the conference over a century later, reflects the right
direction our nation is taking.
