Kutumba · Journal of Spiritual Care
kutumba
Journal of the Hindu Community Institute
Volume 1 | Fall 2022
Letter from the President
Hindu Community Institute and Kutumba
Hindu Community Institute was founded in 2018 to provide foundational training for community volunteers and spiritual care providers, such as Spiritual Directors and Chaplains. On our 4th anniversary, we are proud to introduce the semi-annual journal "kutumba." The name represents the Hindu tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, translated as "the universe is one family." Kutumba also sums up the workings of HCI as a "by the community, for the community" institution.
Our daily free yoga classes started as pandemic relief. To date HCI has conducted over 3,000 classes with over 40,000 attendees.
Kailash Joshi, PresidentFrom the Editor
Welcome to Kutumba
HCI trains professionals from all fields for community service and for further studies towards Hindu Chaplaincy. Our objective is to provide spiritual care and compassionate services to the broader community regardless of race, religion or ethnic background. Kutumba will expand on this vision by presenting the work of our dedicated volunteers, providing updates on the CHT course, and featuring resources for counseling support.
Counselor of Hindu Tradition Course
CHT Course Updates — Cohort 5
We listen, and we refine! CHT Cohort-5 starting in October 2022 will have more depth and more discussions that will make it a big win-win for scholars and faculty.
Usha Narasimhan, HCI RegistrarSA
Gains from the CHT Course for Me and South Africa
The CHT course has given me the knowledge, skills, attitude and values that will enable me to give expression to my desire to serve my community effectively. HCI and its Karma Yoga programmes have inspired us to replicate the programmes here in South Africa. We envisage an HCI chapter here as we do not wish to create any new organisation.
Feature Articles
Feature
Learn to Serve: Give-Ananda, the Joy of Giving
One of the most prominent yogis of the 20th century was a medical doctor in the Himalayan town of Rishikesh. From his small free-service hospital next to the Ganga river, he launched many teachers of Vedanta that are well-known in modern times. It was said of this doctor, Swami Sivananda, that he used to love serving others so much that his name should rather be "Give-ananda," the swami who gets his joy from giving to others.
I believe that true satisfaction comes from doing things for others. Money cannot buy it, and time cannot steal it.
Gaurav Rastogi
Arrival of Hindus at the "Chaplaincy Table"
The Hindu diaspora needs to appreciate the need for spiritual care, as we now live in scattered communities instead of joint families or village environments. Accommodating Hindu religious practices in hospitals, prisons, military units, universities, and schools is the gap we need to address. A Hindu chaplain is a person who supports Hindu care recipients in our communities both in public and private institutions.
If we don't have Hindu chaplains as guides to serve people from our faith and tradition, then that gap gets filled by people who give their voice to our faith.
Neeti Soota01
The Critical Need for Hindu Chaplains on US Campuses
Since the launch of the Hindu Students Council in 1990, the Hindu American community has increasingly understood the importance of building Hindu identity on college campuses. Hindu students struggle to proudly wear their identity for several reasons — many misconceptions exist around Hindus and our culture. Hindu chaplains serve as an anchor of continuity on campus.
Feature
Why Should You and I Care About Palliative Care?
My wife's oncologist recommended a palliative-care consultation during one of her checkups. This was the first time we heard about it, and my wife subsequently received beneficial palliative care alongside her ongoing treatment for cancer. Palliative care is specialized care for people living with a serious illness, focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of different kinds of serious and chronic illnesses.
Quality research provides evidence that the early introduction of palliative care results in fewer hospitalizations, a reduced burden on the family, and greater satisfaction overall.
Mukund Acharya, Ph.D.Perspective on Receiving Service
Remembering Dear Arunay
Jan 18, 2021 was a beautiful day at Cowell Ranch Beach in Half Moon Bay on the California coastline. But it turned into our worst nightmare in just a few minutes when a rip current snatched away Arunay, our 12-year-old son. Two weeks after we lost Arunay to the ocean, a close family friend introduced us to Hindu Community Institute leaders. They knew about this incredibly painful event and offered to be there for us whenever we had doubts and questions.
Growing up in Hindu families we have witnessed various practices to assimilate the reality of the death of a loved one. But that did not prepare us to deal with the agony of outliving our own child.
Sharmistha Chakraborthy & Tarun PruthiMeditations
Meditation
A Meaningful Invocation
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
May Brahman protect us both. May we both be nourished in our studies. May we acquire the capacity to study with vigor. May our study be brilliant. May we not misunderstand each other. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
We recite this Shanti mantra to remove obstacles on our path to acquiring knowledge, and so that both teacher and student approach the learning process with a favorable attitude.
Lakshmi Srinivasan — from the Katha and Taittirya Upanishads