Temple U's Cafe Krishna

[Guest guest]

Groups share, practice faith outside of religious venues

By: Sammy Davis

Issue date: 6/5/16 Section: Temple Living

Article Tools: Page 1 of 1

 

Currently, there are 11 faith-based student organizations on campus.

While this changes year to year based on groups' request for

allocations from Temple Student Government, students have a variety

of outlets, some mainstream and others relatively unknown. The

following is a description of three lesser known groups on campus.

Vedic Heritage Society

 

When Roli Khare enrolled at Temple last year, she saw a void for

students like her who follow the Vedic tradition, the study of the

Bhagavad Gita.

 

"Here at Temple, I found that we don't have a lot of those

resources," said Khare, a second year Beasley School of Law

student. "Meanwhile, I was struggling through law school, and I felt

that if there's nothing else now … that there was no organization …

that I would create the organization."

 

So Khare revitalized the then dormant Vedic Heritage Society. The

Vedic tradition embraces Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism

faiths through study of the tradition's most holy text, the Bhagavad

Gita.

 

Every other week the group meets for "Cafe Krishna," a gathering for

members to meditate and study the Ghita in a relaxed, coffeehouse-

themed environment.

 

The essence of the Vedic philosophy is to become closer to God, and

this reconciliation of love between God and man can only be achieved

through meditation and chanting.

 

At each meeting, members chant a pattern of mantras 108 times, each

mantra representing one bead on the meditation string they hold.

 

Oftentimes a meeting's theme will connect to current events. Most

visitors to Cafe Krishna do not have a Vedic background but enjoy

discussing the Gita's themes, Khare said.

 

"We look at the philosophical tenants that lay in the Gita and then

we have a discussion about it and how we relate it to our own daily

lives, because if it doesn't relate to our daily lives as students,

then it has no use to us," Khare said. "Students get really into

these. We have these three-hour conversations."

 

The Vedic Heritage Society meets every other Tuesday in the

intellectual heritage lounge on the second floor of Anderson Hall at

4 p.m. Visit www.cafekrishna.com for more information on the Vedic

tradition.

 

 

Lion of Judah Rastafarian Club

 

For Desmond "Bobodesi" Brown, being Rastafarian is more than just

practicing a particular religion - it's how he lives his life.

 

"It's the way that we eat, it's the way that we dress and it's the

way that we speak," said Brown, whose priest-given Rastafarian name

is Bobodesi. "It's our way of life."

 

Brown, a native of Jamaica and current Ph.D. student of biochemistry

at Temple, founded the Lion of Judah Rastafarian club in 2003 for the

practice of the Christian religion and lifestyle. The group, headed

by Brown, meets with city-wide Rastafarian groups in a community

building in West Philadelphia early Saturday mornings for chanting,

drumming, food and fellowship with approximately 50 people, 20 of

whom are usually Temple students.

 

Rastafarianism originates from Ethiopia, where the first monotheistic

religion of one-God worship in Africa began. Rastafarians also

believe that God is a physical presence in everything and everyone on

earth.

 

"Our heaven is something that's on earth. It's not something that's

in the sky," he said. "When my sister and my brothers see me, they

still greet me as, 'Oh yes my Lord.' That's how we greet each other

still. It's still that concept of being able to see God in each

other."

 

Contact Desmond Brown at dbrown17 for more information

about the club or visit www.houseofbobo.com to learn about the

Rastafarian culture.

 

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

 

When the winning gets tough, sometimes athletes need something beyond

the playing field to find strength. The Fellowship of Christian

Athletes, headed by Chaplain Terry Hill, is open to athletes, student

trainers or anyone looking for another way to worship, said member

Jamie Beiler, a senior elementary education major.

 

FCA will often have a guest speaker, including a recent appearance by

a player of the NFL, to talk about issues related to Christian

athletes. Running themes include team unity, perseverance and facing

the everyday challenges of being a student athlete. Meeting lessons

and games are often taken from the FCA's version of the Bible, God's

Game Plan.

 

"[God's Game Plan is] geared toward athletes," Beiler said. "Every

lesson has to do with athletes and what they do in their lives

because of sports."

 

The national organization has more chapters in area high schools than

colleges.

 

Meetings usually begin with prayer, followed by a game or

refreshments and an ice breaker activity. A speaker will talk to the

group or someone will give a lesson.

 

"It gives [athletes] a unity on their team … they know that others on

their team are watching out for them," Beiler said.

 

The group meets every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in Pearson Hall, room

211.

 

Sammy Davis can be reached at s.davis.

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