A Satsang shibir was held at Stoneyhill Community Centre, in Edinburgh, Scotland on Sunday 4 May 2014.
A total of 61 adults and 20 children attended the event with the central theme of ‘My Family, My Sanskriti’.
The shibir began with a discourse by Paramtattvadas Swami on the importance of Hindu values and how they also contribute to British society. This was followed by a discourse from Aksharviharidas Swami who explained how these values are inspired and upheld by mandirs, shashtras (scriptures) and the Guru.
A team-building activity followed after lunch highlighting the importance of working together within the family. The lessons of the activity were further reinforced and developed in a group discussion among the delegates thereafter.
In the concluding session, Aksharviharidas Swami and Paramtattvadas Swami elaborated upon the practical aspects of how a family can lead a more harmonious and fulfilling life together by upholding their Hindu values, even while navigating the daily challenges of modern life. The shibir concluded with an interesting question-and-answer session with the swamis. Throughout the day, children enjoyed their own games and activities in a dedicated crèche area.
Many of the participants shared their very positive feedback of the shibir, with most praising “the informative and interactive nature of the programme”. One delegate from Edinburgh wrote, “Really enjoyed it. Feeling blessed and enlightened”, while another added, “This was my first shibir and I had a great time.” One parent summarised: “It was a fantastic one-day shibir for the family. It brings us together & the speeches reminded all of us of our family and Hindu values.”
Apart from the shibir in Edinburgh, small public assemblies were also held in Aberdeen and Glasgow which explored the topic of ‘Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living’, where episodes from the Bhagavat Purana, teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, and inspiration from Pramukh Swami Maharaj combined to throw light on how to lead a more meaningful, stress-free life.