On Tuesday, November 26, 2019, ‘Wayne Township Celebration of Thanksgiving’ was held at Our Lady of Consolation, 1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ 07470 at 7:00 p.m. It was sponsored by Wayne Clergy Fellowship. The main program has been attached at the end of this post. I was very happy to be invited to share my thoughts on this occasion as a representative of the Hindu faith. All the speakers were given a couple of minutes to share their thoughts.
It was a great pleasure to be with people of various faiths and find out that all religions talk about love, peace, service, and gratitude. The following are my thoughts which I shared on that day.
Dear Friends:
Good evening and Namaste:
I sincerely thank the organizers for inviting me to participate in this Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. It is my great joy to be with the people of various faiths celebrating “Thanksgiving” together.
One of the main principles of the Vedanta Philosophy of Hinduism is “Unity in Diversity”. It says that there is only one Existence, one life-force which is manifesting through varieties of human beings, animals, plants, birds, and many other things. We are all connected. Keeping this in mind, there is a Hindu prayer which I recite every day and so do millions of Hindus:
May all be happy,
May all be healthy,
May good comes to all,
May no one suffers
The great teacher and Saint Swami Vivekananda, in his 1893 lecture delivered in America have said, “Unity in variety” is nature’s plan in the evolution of the universe, and that only by harmony and brotherhood among religions and by mutual toleration and help can the mission and destiny of humanity be accomplished.”
As we evolve in our understanding, we see more and more unity in this diverse world. As Mr. so and so I am different from all, but as a human being I am same as all human beings. As a being, I am the same as all living beings, humans, animals, plants, trees, and others.
Bhagavad Gita is the essence of the Hindu Scriptures. It consists of 18 chapters and 700 shlokas (verses). In chapter 6, shloka 29, Shri Krishna says,
I know recently many people are taking Yoga lessons and do Yoga exercises. It is good for health and the soul. In this verse, Lord Shri Krishna himself tells us who is a true Yogi.
He says, “A person established in the Yoga sees all beings in God and see God in all beings. He/she respects all equally.”
Again in Chapter 18, shloka 20, Shri Krishna says,
“When one sees unity in diversity, then he/she has acquired the highest knowledge.”
Thanksgiving is an occasion of family get-together. About family a Hindu scripture Maha Upanishad says:
– (meaning) for a broad-minded person, the whole universe is one big family.
In nature, we find that
The sun shines equally on all beings.
The clouds shower rain on all beings
The air provides oxygen to all
The fire cooks meals for all and
Mother Earth holds all beings.
Thus, nature is teaching us to see the same life-force in all, love all, and serve all.
Thank you.
Wayne Township Celebration of Thanksgiving
Sponsored by Wayne Clergy Fellowship
Our Lady of Consolation, 1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ 07470
Tuesday 11/26/2019 at 7:00 pm
PRELUDE OLC Musicians
WELCOME Fr. Michael Lombardo
PROCLAMATION OF THE DAY Mayor Christopher Vergano
SURAH-AL-FATIH & ISLAMIC PRAYER Imam Ali Aktan
HYMN: We Gather Together/Adapted by Lavon Baylor OLC Musicians
JEWISH PRAYER: Modim (We are Grateful) Rabbi Meeka Simerly
COMMUNITY SONG: If I Had a Hammer/Peter Seeger
CALL TO GRATITUDE: Psalm 138 Rev. Robert Mountenay
REFLECTION: The Awakening Mind Of Giving John Cerullo
COMMUNITY SONG: Let There Be Peace on Earth OLC Musicians
REFLECTION Deacon Deborah Drake
SONG: Imagine/ Based on John Lennon’s All Community Youth
REFLECTION Dr. Mahendra Jani
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING Rev. Andy Smith
Food donations received tonight will go to Wayne Interfaith Network Food Pantry.
OFFERTORY SONG: Forgotten Promises Melek Oztoprak & Hikmet Ozdemir
PRAYER OF DEDICATION Rev. Marvin Wills
CLOSING BLESSING Rev Mary Marcus & Rabbi Randall Mark
POSTLUDE * Those able are invited to stand OLC Musicians
Thank you for joining in this Interfaith Thanksgiving Service,
sponsored by the Wayne Clergy Fellowship.
PARTICIPANTS
Imam Ali Aktan North East Islamic Community Center
John Cerullo Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace
Deacon Deborah Drake St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Dr. Mahendra Jani Vivekananda Vidyapith
Ft. Michael Lombardo Our Lady of Consolation
Rev. Mary Marcus Preakness Reformed Church
Rabbi Randall Mark Congregation Shomrei Torah
Rev. Robert Mountenay St. Timothy Lutheran Church
Melek Oztoprak & Hikmet Ozdemir Peace Islands Institute*
Rabbi Meeka Simerly Temple Beth Tikvah
Rev. Andrew Smith Grace United Presbyterian Church
Mayor Christopher Vergano Township of Wayne, NJ
Rev. Marvin Wills United Methodist Church in Wayne
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
OLC Musicians
OLC – for hosting us
mahendrajani 