OBJECTIVES

 

  • PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
  • UNIQUE FEATURE
  • SCOPE
  • WHAT CAN DANAM DO FOR YOU?
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    The primary objectives of DANAM are:


    (1) To impart knowledge from particular fields of scholarship in Dharma traditions to practitioners in North America who seek in-depth scholarship-based information about these traditions (through, for example, the development of an informative web-site and lectures by scholars at special forums and gatherings.)

    (2) To establish a dedicated intellectual space for ongoing scholarship in constructive philosophical, theological, ethical, and epistemological engagement with these traditions through various publishing projects and the DANAM symposium at the AAR.

    (3) To attempt to renew the historical dialogue and mutual exchange between the major Dharma traditions (Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh) through future joint efforts, DANAM Symposia panels and publishing projects that include scholarship on the diverse schools and systems of Dharma.

    (4) To engender contemporary responses from Dharma Scholarship to new developments in the fields of science, technology, environment, ecology, gender relations, social practices, etc., by holding Thematic Symposia and an Annual Academic Meeting at the site of the American Academy of Religion (AAR).

    (3) To familiarize the present and future generations of Dharma practitioners with teachings of Dharma as described above, so as to instill in Western-born Diaspora Youth, a sense of active engagement with, and understanding of, the basic worldviews of Dharma.

    (4) To provide an information bridge between the world of Dharma scholars articulating contemporary research on Dharma and the world of the Dharma community seeking a deeper understanding of Dharma.

    (5) To address issues pertaining to Diaspora followers of Hindu Dharma as minority communities, and empower the members of the association to present the traditional Hindu Dharma in ways that are authentic to normative and historically accurate lived experience of the Hindu tradition(s).

    (6) To create greater understanding between Dharma and other traditions by setting up standards (in print and other communications) for the accurate definition and proper usage of Sanskrit Hindu Dharmic terms ( such as, murthi, deva/devi, Bhagavan, etc.) in the English and other non-Sanskrit language media, and, vice-versa, to define in Sanskrit language, the non-Dharma religious terms (e.g., religion, God, Allah, angel, scripture, etc.) for which there might not be an exact Sanskrit equivalent.

    (7) To generate quality educational products on Hindu Dharma Theology, Ethics, and Spiritual and Lifestyle Practices in multi-media (including print, photographic, video, movie, electronic, and web site formats) for both the Community and others interested in Hindu Dharma.

    (8) To organize a network of local DANAM Chapters to (a) provide meeting forums where the community can come together to share, discuss and identify issues and solutions pertaining to their community; and (b) act as dissemination centers to distribute the information obtained from both expert advisors and other Chapters, and (c) facilitate communications among themselves and with other organizations.

    (9) To organize an annual DANAM Meeting, solely or in cooperation with other organizations, to provide a venue for the representatives and religious leaders of the community can come together, hold group meetings, workshops and panels to review and assess current community issues and their resolution status, identify knowledge gaps, seek remedial actions, and plan future activities.

     

    2002, 2003© Dharma Association of North America