The document discusses the importance of maintaining and promoting Vedic culture. It outlines that Vedic culture encompasses spirituality, philosophy, religion, rituals, arts, and culture. It provides profound insights into life's purpose. The document calls on Brahmans and the Hindu community to take leadership in educating about Vedic values and passing traditions to younger generations. Actions proposed include community building programs, exposure to Vedic philosophy, and participation in spiritual practices and ceremonies. The overall goal is to protect Vedic culture from attacks and for it to be accessible to all.

1. Mission of BSNA: Advantages
of Following Vedic Culture
Brahman Samaj of North
America
North East Regional Convention
Holiday Inn, Edison, NJ
4 December 2010
Om Sharma
President, Brahman Samaj of North America 1

2. 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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3. Need to talk about Vedic Values
 There is a lack of clear understanding of Vedic
culture and its advantages due to ignorance/agyan
Na 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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4. 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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5. 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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6. 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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7. 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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8. Maintaining 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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9. 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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10. Actions 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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11. Actions 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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12. Concluding 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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