Mission of BSNA: Mission of BSNA: Advantages Advantages of Following Vedic Cultureof Following Vedic Culture

Brahman Samaj of North AmericaNorth East Regional ConventionHoliday Inn, Edison, NJ

4 December 2010

Om SharmaPresident, Brahman Samaj of North America 1

BSNA is for service to all and disservice to none

Our goal is to serve the humanity(according to ancient Brahman paramparaa)

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NeNeeed to d to talktalk about Vedic Values about Vedic Values There is a lack of clear understanding of Vedic

culture and its advantages due to ignorance/agyanNa hi gyanen sadrisham pavitramih vidyate

Tatswayam yog sansidhah kaalenaatmaane vindati

Api chedasi paapebhyah sarvebhyah paapkrittamah

Saram gyanplaven aiv vrijinam santrishyashi

Some Hindus who moved to the West either disregard their own culture or exhibit confusion - perhaps due to Western attitude and misunderstanding of Vedic values

Efforts on trying to demean Vedic culture and promoting serious misunderstandings against it

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What is Vedic Culture/Values?What is Vedic Culture/Values?

Vedic culture, Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism is not merely a religion but more of a spiritual path, way of living, an outlook on life and a complete philosophy

It is an eternal nature of the universal soul

Vedic culture encompasses various aspects of life: Spirituality and Philosophy (knowledge and experience) Religion and Rituals (practice and procedures) Arts and Culture (expression of developed internal

qualities)

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What is Vedic Culture?What is Vedic Culture?

Vedic culture is the most profound tradition and is one of the foremost and oldest of all spiritual paths

Most social advancements, scientific observations, religious customs, and spiritual philosophies can be traced back to Vedic culture

Indeed, it offers the loftiest and most complete spiritual understanding found anywhere, without which the world would lose its connection to its earliest roots

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What is Vedic Culture?What is Vedic Culture? It is the eternal nature of the soul and it

recognizes that there is one Supreme Being with no beginning or end, the unlimited Absolute Truth, which can be manifested in many forms

The Vedic tradition recognizes that the individual soul is eternal, beyond the limitations of the body, and that one soul is not different from another

Aryans (who have clear consciousness toward God) followed the Vedic system

Ar=clear or white; ya=God; also ya= Yadu (Krishna)

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What does Vedic Culture Offer?What does Vedic Culture Offer?

It offers more insights into life and its purpose, especially the spiritual aspects, than any other culture

Spiritual democracy - The Vedic path offers personal freedom for one to make his/her own choice of how he/she wants to pursue their spiritual approach, and what level of the Absolute Truth he or she wishes to understand

The Vedic system is a path that upholds a code of conduct which values peace, happiness and justice for all

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Maintaining Vedic CultureMaintaining Vedic Culture

Vedic culture is under constant attack

Such attacks are not only from those of other religions who would like to see the demise of the Vedic way of life but also from the lack of sincerity and the complacency of those who consider themselves followers of the Vedic path but are not serious about it

A cohesive strategy and leadership is needed to preserve Vedic culture

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Who Should Provide Leadership?Who Should Provide Leadership?

Brahmans must play a major role in upholding Vedic values

Characteristics of a Brahman are

Shamo damastapah shaucham kshantih aarjavam aiv cha

Gyanam vigyanam aastikyam brahmkarma swabhavajam

Actions need to be taken at both the organizational and personal levels

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Actions to be TakenActions to be Taken Community and temple leaders need more training in Vedic

knowledge and organizational skills

Communities need to become culturally united as a large Hindu family

Develop programs that go beyond regional distinctions and bring people together in a way that focuses on their unity in Vedic heritage

Develop programs to provide exposure to the depths of Vedic philosophy that will actually attract anyone who is really searching for the means to perceive their spiritual identity

Hindus should participate in the Vedic "samskara" ceremonies. These ceremonies or practices mark various stages of life in connection with the Vedic purpose of making spiritual progress

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Actions to be TakenActions to be Taken

Parents must be educated in the importance of Vedic knowledge in order to be able to pass this along to their children

Wealthy, educated and knowledgeable Hindus should take responsibility to protect Vedic culture

We all need to become ambassadors of Vedic culture

The Vedic culture has to be taken outside the temples to the people and congregations

The global Vedic community should be welcoming those who are from outside of the Vedic tradition, and wish to join and participate in Vedic ways

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Concluding ThoughtConcluding Thought I am leaving you with the thought that you should

think thoroughly about your own level of spiritual growth, lead a righteous way of life, seek help from scriptures and act accordingly

As in the Gita, Shri Krishna said after giving the secret knowledge to Arjuna;

Iti te gyanam aakhatam guhyaadguhyataram mayaa

Vimryshyaa aitat asheshen yethechchhasi tatha kuru

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