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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 13, 2023 | The Indian Eye 23

where it is. So thank you, Mayor
Fried, for making that possible.”
• State Representative of Pennsylva-
nia’s 111th legislative district Jona-
than Fritz said, “Being here today,
my heart cries tears of joy because
of the pure kindness, goodness
and love that radiates from all of
you. It is a physical manifestation,
this compound, this campus, this
building. I come here and am re-
minded of the goodness, the love,
compassion, and care that is truly
the driving force that keeps us all
grounded and makes us all family.”
• Mayor John Higdon of Matthews,
North Carolina, shared, “I certain-
ly found something today. When I
heard His Holiness (Mahant Swa-
mi Maharaj) speak about the uni-
versality of the human experience
- we all breathe the same air, we sit
under the same sky, and we drink
the same water - it really touched
my heart, and I think that’s what
I’m going to come away with.”
• Texas State Representative Dr.
Suleman Lalani - “I feel that we
are blessed with a good heart, and
we all do seva, but most of us fall
under the service of convenience.
We serve when it is convenient. But
I will challenge everyone here to-
day, including myself, to follow the
example of BAPS and elevate our-
selves to the service of conviction.
And service of conviction means
whoever, whatever, whenever
there’s a need, you need to say yes.”
• Mayor of New York City Eric Ad- logue, harmony, and service. Spiri- our hearts what I got today, and thought of myself as a good person,
ams shared a recorded video mes- tuality and service must go hand in take back to my community and but as I’m leaving here, my heart is
sage saying, “BAPS and the Hindu hand. What we preach in the tem- tell my friends or relatives and my now telling me to be more compas-
community are a vital part of our ple must be practiced on the street. staff. You have to experience this sionate and giving.”
country and our city’s culture. I
The nine-day inaugural ceremo-
was fortunate to join you for your Congratulations, once again, on incredible campus, this temple, but nies, known as Akshardham Mahot-
this landmark achievement.”
more so not only from the beauti-
centennial celebration at the Cold-
en Center. And I appreciate all • Former United States Represen- ful structure but from what your sav, will continue to celebrate the
heart will observe and absorb as
tative from Pennsylvania Thomas
mahamandir and the universal val-
you do to support interfaith dia-
Marino said, “If we could get into you’re going through this. I always ues it embodies.
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