A diverse group of people and media leaders enjoyed a vibrant Thanksgiving Luncheon in Jericho, Long Island, on December 6. It was hosted by Abhishek Mishra of New Jersey and presented by ALotusInTheMud.com. Each of the 17 guests spoke about what they are grateful for, how they respect people from other religions and communities, and their work.
Parveen Chopra, Founder of ALotusInTheMud.com, kicked off the meeting, thanking the community for supporting his holistic health and spirituality web magazine, which is entering its 4th year with a world-class design in the New Year. He said he was happy to take Mr Mishra’s message of belief in God to the media.
Mr Mishra, who has worked in the IT industry for 20 years, has been sharing with the Indian American media and the general public the miraculous manifestation of Lord Shiva’s images in his Edison, NJ, home as proof of God’s existence. He said, “God is one, known by different names across different religions.” He noted that Religion and Dharma are often mistaken for synonyms. Religion is a set of rituals and modes of worship, while Dharma is the cosmic law, righteous conduct, and a path to truth.
Sharanjit Singh Thind, editor of ‘South Asian Insider’, told the group that he was running for the US Congress in New York’s District 18 in the Hudson Valley. He promised to safeguard people who may lose their jobs to AI by holding AI companies accountable and helping prevent financial fraud against seniors. Sikh-born, he said he was grateful that in America he could practice his religion freely.
Jasbir ‘Jay’ Singh, President of Long Island Diversity Council and publisher of ‘Hum Hindustani’ Hindi weekly, said. “God is one, and we pray to him in different ways.” He also said that, whether Democrat or Republican, we should all support and get Sharanjit elected to Congress.
When asked, Kaavya Ramani, a 16-year-old motivational speaker, author, and actress, noted that it is possible to change habits, given the new understanding of neuroplasticity. On AI, she dispelled its bad image. “AI is important for efficiency, particularly when human supervision is involved. It may be taking jobs, but it is also creating jobs, as in professors teaching AI in colleges,” she explained.
Pritpal Kaur, chief of Preetnama Multimedia Network, agreed that we should make use of AI without fear. She has produced shorts on the Lord Shiva manifestations and how Abhishek Mishra interprets it.
Bimal Ramani, who has groomed his daughter Kaavya, also spoke. He is an acclaimed Life Coach specializing in enhancing human potential through the study of psychic abilities, ESP, and vibrational energies.
Shomik Chaudhuri, a media marketer-turned-finance consultant, said his deep spiritual experiences since childhood culminated in a book titled ‘Some Whispers from Eternity’. “It is about the evolution of consciousness and the upliftment of humanity through Om Kriya Yoga, a sadhana I learnt from my spiritual master,” he said.
Anne Moffatt, a chair yoga teacher, expressed her gratitude to the Indian community for introducing her to yoga, a science of aligning the body to promote good health. She has taken the Indian name Aanya Prarthana and is married to Kripa Ranjan Prasad, who works for ITV Gold and videographed the event
George Joseph and Sunil Tristar talked about India Life TV and E-Malayalee, which they jointly run.
Vishnu Raja, editor of NRI Tamil, discussed the Pancha Bhuta (five elements) temple he plans to build in India.
Namita Mishra, married to Abhishek Mishra, said she worked as a computer engineer in corporate America for 22 years and has taken a break to care for her family. “I am grateful for what the universe has given me. Now, I am trying to find how to help others.”
Renu Chopra, a sales representative at a cable company, said she was seeking a sense of purpose in life. “My husband, Parveen, and I try to look positively at every situation,” she added.
Rehana Siddiqui said she became spiritual after starting to follow her religion, Islam. “From studying Islam, I learnt how to live in this world, how to lead my life.”
All guests appreciated the food and hospitality at Luxe Restaurant and thanked its manager, Raj Sahni.
ITV Gold telecast a 10-minute segment edited from the Thanksgiving Luncheon, which was videographed by Kripa Ranjan Prasad. Here is the YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/HqOP4uwW8ak?si=Xyr1oW3gkOuZA24e.
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