http://www.vedicef.com/

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Letter PAMHO:8347899 (540 lines) [W1]

Hemanga (das) HKS (Wiesbaden - D)

18-Jun-04 17:45 (19:45 +0200)

Bhakti Raghava Swami

http://www.vedicef.com/

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VEDICEF

 

The Vedic Culture and Education Foundation

 

Introduction

The collective wisdom of Vedic culture's thousands of years of tradition is

most significant in the vast and exemplary contribution it can make towards

global harmony and peace. Unfortunately, however, this rich culture is in

danger of extinction. As many modern Indians aggressively pursue Western

technology, brand name clothing, pop music, movies and fast food, the

wonderful birthright of Vedic culture is ignored, trampled over, and cast

aside. The precious treasure of IndiaÕs Ancient Wisdom is gradually

deteriorating. Society must act to preserve this gem before it is forever

lost to the ravages of time.

 

In this crucial time, private foundations, government agencies and

individuals are requested to financially support VEDICEF initiatives for

global peace and harmony through the preservation of India's ancient Vedic

cultural heritage. The Vedic Culture and Education Foundation ("VEDICEF")

has become the global leader for such cultural preservation initiatives.

 

VEDICEF is currently spearheading a fundraising campaign, endeavoring to

find twenty- five individuals or foundations to pledge $1000 per year for

the next five years, to complete the development of a Vedic educational

institution, The Bhaktivedanta Academy in West Bengal, India by September

2009. VEDICEF has made every effort to systematically design a

cost-effective project- therefore, the financial contribution we require is,

comparatively, small. But the result of this projectÕs success will be of

unfathomable greatness. Please read on for details.

 

 

About VEDICEF (Legal Information)

VEDICEF is a philanthropic charitable foundation organized under the laws of

the state of New Jersey on December 1, 2002 as a non-profit corporation in

accordance with Section 501©(3) of the United States Internal Revenue

Code. It is goverend by an executive committee selected from an

International Board of Directors. Current officers are as follows:

 

Ace Volkman Simpson - President/Director/Trustee

 

Jason Michael Brown - Vice-President/Secretary/Treasurer/Managing/Trustee

 

Norman D' Costa - Senior Advisor/Trustee

 

 

Volunteer Staff/Membership

All of VEDICEFs staff and members are volunteers. Membership is open to

anyone in any part of the world, who is inspired by and committed to

VEDICEF's purposes and mission. Membership becomes official pending a

quality assurance review process of the perspective member to assess

qualification and proper placement. All members and officers pay membership

dues of $50 per annum. VEDICEF is always actively seeking cooperative

assistance. Particularly welcome are volunteers with knowledge and

professional experience in the following areas:

 

 

Project management

Communications and marketing/promotions

Architect and Building Construction

Establishing and managing/maintaining charities

Web design

Teaching and Education specialists

Financial Planning

Fundraising

Purposes

VEDICEF's purposes are to contribute to global harmony and peaceful living

through the preservation of a living tradition in Vedic culture and

education.

 

 

Mission

VEDICEF's mission is to secure funds and award grants to qualifying Vedic

educational and cultural organizations, as well as to private individuals

involved in Vedic research or promotion of Vedic culture.

 

 

Aims, Objectives and Goals

VEDICEF has three aims, each with sub groups of objectives and goals.

 

Aim 1: To support Vedic educational institutions

 

Objectives:

 

 

To provide first class educational opportunities in Vedic culture, arts,

philosophy and sciences including Sanskrit language.

To train people of character who are at peace with themselves and can

contribute to the peace of others.

To produce Vedic scholars and educators.

To facilitate Vedic research.

To preserve an ancient tradition.

 

Goals: These Vedic Educational Institutions shall

Be modeled on the traditional Vedic gurukula system (educational

institutions).

Have a curriculum that is based primarily on the fourteen books of Vedic

knowledge (see appendix A).

Have a curriculum should also be vocationally oriented, training graduates

to represent Vedic culture to the public and provide them services in Vedic

sciences, arts, and wisdom.

Ideally maintain a campus that is styled after a traditional Vedic asrama,

where the buildings have floors of earth, walls of bamboo and the roofs of

straw that. Asrams are traditionally surrounded by informal gardens with

varieties of native flora and fauna and water features such as lakes and

ponds and other forms of wild life.

Endeavor to imbibe their students with Vedic lifestyle values. The dress,

dealings and etiquette of the staff and students should reflect those of a

traditional gurukula.

Aim 2: To support Vedic cultural centers

 

Objectives:

 

 

To provide people the opportunity to experience first-hand, the benefits of

Vedic Culture.

To educate people in Vedic knowledge.

To provide Vedic scholars financial support.

To contribute to world peace by helping people resolve individual and

collective problems through traditional Vedic wisdom.

Goals: These Vedic cultural centers shall engage graduates of Vedic

educational institutions to provide public services in the following areas:

 

 

Self-improvement Seminars offering Vedic Formulae for problems like: Stress

Management, Success, Leadership, Overcoming Depression, Conquering

Addiction, Emotional Balance and Meaningful Relationships.

Counseling in Ayurvedic medicine and Jyotish (Vedic psychology).

Work shops in Yoga, Classical Dance and Music.

Consulting in Vastu or the science of placement in space.

Educational resources on Vedic culture for tourists and school groups to

learn about Vedic culture by viewing permanent exhibits, educational films,

and live cultural entertainment.

Vegetarian cooking classes, catering and restaurants.

Products such as books, music, handicrafts, gifts and Ayurvedic medicines

will be available for purchase.

Aim 3: To support the promotion of Vedic culture

 

Objectives:

 

 

Encourage cross-cultural understanding.

Increase the self esteem of Vedic cultures followers.

Increase Vedic Cultural awareness worldwide.

Goals: Vedic awareness promotions are primarily focused in three areas:

 

 

Vedic Cultural Events

Multimedia productions

Awards for Achievements and Initiatives in Vedic Culture

What is Vedic Culture?

 

As there are varying academic definitions of Vedic Culture, this question

will be addressed from the paradigm of what VEDICEF, as an organization,

intends to contribute towards the preservation of that very culture.

VEDICEF's purpose is the preservation of a living tradition. The most

relevant view of Vedic culture to achieve that aim is that of fortifying and

facilitating those people and organizations who live the tradition. For this

purpose, Vedic culture shall be defined as that culture which is based on,

and inspired by, the knowledge taught in the fourteen books of Vedic

knowledge (see appendix A). This ancient body of Sanskrit literature known

as the Vedas deals with all fields of knowledge, not exclusive of medical

science, psychology, performing and visual arts, astronomy, history,

administration and philosophy. Through this broad and varied spectrum of

knowledge, Vedic culture integrates physical, emotional and metaphysical

technologies thus nurturing all aspects of conditioned man in a complete

holistic manner. Principles of Vedic culture are based on natural laws of

harmony that are universal, non-sectarian and promote peaceful coexistence

on a global level.

Documented archeological evidence demonstrates that in ancient times the

influence of Vedic culture spread to most of east Asia and as far west as

Greece. Vedic culture was also able to withstand many foreign invasions over

thousands of years, by adapting itÕs details to time and place application

of it's fundamental principals.

 

One person, or a group of persons who have modeled their lives on those

Vedic principles of knowledge shall be considered to be living the Vedic

culture. VEDICEF recognizes the value of the human factor, particularly the

role of properly educating children and adults alike in the value of human

life, as the most important for achieving success. The sanksrit word Veda

means, literally, ÒknowledgeÓ, and Vedic culture treats knowledge itself as

it's most precious resource. But knowledge only becomes useful when it is

employed in oneÕs own life and can only be preserved when it is passed on to

others. Therefore, inclusive in the above definitions shall be the

stipulation that to truly "live the Vedic cultureÓ means not just to keep

the priniciples and practices of Vedic knowledge active in oneÕs own life,

but to share those human values with others for the good of the entire

world.

 

 

Vedic Culture's Current Crisis

 

During the past one hundred years Vedic culture has seen an expeditiously

increasing decline in India. Professor Baradvaja of the Jaipur Sanskrit

college states, "Vedic Culture has lost more ground in India in the past

thirty years, than over hundreds of years of Mogul and British rule." The

primary reason for this decline is a change of values in Indian society. The

increasing influence of western media technology, which has intensified

since 1991 with the introduction of satellite television, is causing

IndianÕs to replace Vedic role models with the "stars" of sport, MTV and

Hollywood.

 

The Plight of Gurukula,

the Traditional Preserver of Vedic Culture

 

The traditional means of preserving Vedic culture has been gurukula, the

Vedic educational system which was always held in the highest esteem by

Indian society. That gurukula education and Sanskrit language are little

valued in India today confirms the same of Vedic culture. In Vrndavana a

town south of Delhi that proudly boasted eleven gurukulas twenty years ago,

the number has sadly diminished to only three. ÒToday, only those who can't

afford a real education, attend these gurukulasÓsays Siva Kumara Shastri, a

Sanskrit professor at one of these three remaining gurukulas. "My parents

were poor so I had to study in gurukula. All I can do with this knowledge is

teach other unfortunates."

On the other hand, Ramarajana Naidoo, a computer engineer from Bangalore who

attended a western styled school, now earns $60,000 a year, working for

Microsoft in Seattle, Washington, USA. The facts are clear - knowledge

learned in gurukula does not pay in the world.

 

The opening sentence of a recently published BBC report reads; "One of the

oldest languages in the world, Sanskrit, is in danger of becoming extinct in

India, the country of its origin" (for the full text see appendix B). The

article goes on to quote the principal of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, one of

Bombay's largest educational institutions, as saying the main reason for the

demise of Sanskrit and Vedic studies is that there are very few jobs for

anyone who studies them. "At most, they can become a teacher in Sanskrit

schools, Sanskrit colleges so their salaries are also very meager.The

other opportunity for them is to perform [religious] rituals for some rich

people," he added.

 

Many older generations resent the dwindling presence of Vedic culture as a

sociological element in the Indian family's household. Ramnatha Chaudary a

retired Calcutta businessman regrets: "IndianÕs today judge the success of

their lives by economic gain. I agree economic development is an important

factor in properly executing one's duties but just as important is adherence

to learned Vedic guidance that builds a wholesome and ethical human

character.Ó

 

Despite such sentiment, the BBC report tells of a school of thought that

believes Sanskrit education is a complete waste of time and resources,

especially as many Sanskrit colleges are publicly funded. ÒCritics of

Sanskrit say government-funded colleges should be preparing students for the

real world and offer only vocational and employment-oriented courses."

 

However the report quotes Sanskrit scholars like Girish Jani who rubbish

this approach. "Why should we read Shakespeare? Why should we read Sartre?

Are they connected really with the life in the first attempt? No. "We, at

our own level, want to be refined, to be cultured, to be a better person and

this is here, we need Sanskrit."

 

 

Equipping Gurukula for Modern Times

 

Taking into consideration the opinions of both sides, Sanskrit scholars like

Srinivasan Ramanuja call for measures to make gurukulas relevant to modern

times. "Modern day gurukulas should be able to fulfill contemporary needs

without compromising the purity of the Vedic tradition by equipping students

to market Vedic lifestyle tools to westernized society as counseling and

consulting services.Ó

Mr. Ramanuja may have a point worthy of consideration, for while western

civilization has achieved political and financial power that can buy or

destroy the world many times over, many Westerners seek something more

meaningful as a culture. People like Mr. Ramanuja believe India's timeless

tradition, rich in alternate medicine, classical dance and music, astrology

and philosophy, has universal appeal and non-sectarian application and is

thus uniquely equipped to supply these specialized interests. For many

Westerners, Vedic culture offers spirituality, a social context, and

lifestyle which helps to temper the pressure of the modern world.

 

The global potential of Vedic cultural interests can be explored as a

socio-economic factor. Deepak Chopra, an Ayurvedic doctor based in

Hollywood, who sells millions of books as the American popular voice of

Eastern Mysticism. Millions of Westerners take yoga and meditation classes.

The science of placement Feng Shoi, based on the Vedic science of Vastu, has

popular international following.

 

Self Improvement Seminars are also a multimillion dollar business Ð and

Vedic socio-philosophy has the knowledge to offer solutions to issues from

the environmental crisis, stress management, addictions and relationships,

to empowered management and leadership principals.

 

 

VEDICEF's Initiatives to Preserve Vedic Culture

 

VEDICEF is committed to giving scholars like Mr. Ramanujan the benefit of

the doubt by funding gurukulas oriented to equipping their graduates to

offer Vedic lifestyle tools, supporting the development of Vedic cultural

centers where Vedic cultural services are marketed, and promoting Vedic

culture to the western and westernized public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking into account IndiaÕ's custom of trying to catch up with the West, one

can surmise that as Vedic cultural tools become popular in the west, the

trend will quickly catch on in India too.

 

 

VEDICEF's Grant Criteria, for:

 

Vedic Educational Institutions

To qualify for grant awards as a Vedic educational institution, the applying

institution shall fulfill VEDICEF's goals for a Vedic Educational

Institution. Qualifying Vedic educational institutions providing any level

of a study from primary to tersely may apply for grants for: curriculum

development, campus construction, purchase of land or buildings,

construction, renovation, equipment purchases, teachers wages, scholarships

and general maintenance.

Vedic educational institutions that provide correspondence courses in Vedic

knowledge via the Internet may also apply for grants. Such institutions must

conform to the applicable directives listed above.

 

Vedic Cultural Centers

To qualify for grant awards as a Vedic Cultural Center the applying

organization shall fulfill at least five of the goals listed for Vedic

cultural centers. Qualifying Vedic Cultural Centers may apply for grants

for: curriculum development, purchase of land or buildings, construction,

renovation, purchase of equipment, the development of exhibits, and "start

up" funds.

 

These Vedic cultural centers maybe located in cities, towns, villages, or as

retreats in rural areas, anywhere in the world.

 

Vedic Awareness Promotions

Qualifying corporations and individuals may apply for grants for Vedic

Awareness Promotions primarily focused in three areas:

 

Vedic Cultural Events

Vedic Educational Institutions that meet the qualifications of the

foundation or any non-profit organization that is affiliated with such a

qualifying institution, may apply for grant awards for organization of Vedic

Cultural Events in public places. Such events shall focus of providing

opportunity for the public to view various forms of Vedic dance or theater

or hear classical musical performances. They may also include Vedic cultural

exhibits and interactive workshops on various aspects of Vedic philosophy

and culture including dress, food and literature or Vedic sciences like

Ayurveda, Jyotish and Vastu.

 

Production of literature and films Authors, researchers and institutions may

apply for grants for multimedia production including the publication of

literature and films that promote Vedic culture, philosophy and sciences.

Grants may also be awarded for the publication of brochures and as "start up

funds" for magazines that will focus on providing reports on Vedic cultural

events and projects, historical features, highlight achievements in research

of Vedic culture, as well as personal experiences and other areas.

 

VEDICEF Awards Ceremonies

VEDICEF offers cash and other awards to individuals and institutions for

Achievements in Vedic Education and Services to:

 

 

Encourage Vedic cultural initiatives

Popularize Vedic Cultural awareness

 

Grant Application Procedure and Evaluation

Grant Application

Grant Applicants must provide VEDICEF a three to four page letter with the

following information:

 

 

Name and Address of the Organization

Contact person's title, telephone number and e-mail address

Official documentation of the organization

A brief history of the organization

A statement on why the applicant feels the organization qualifies for grant

support under the Corporations "Three Phase Initiative" and qualification

guidelines.

A description of the project, objectives, target groups, needs addressed,

activities, expected outcome, project timetable

Project budget

Plan for evaluating results

History of previous support and achievements

Evaluation and decision on grant applications

 

VEDICEF's executive committee will evaluate grant applications. Their

analysis will be presented to the board of directors who will decide on the

possibility for and size of grant awards.

 

Current Projects

 

VEDICEF is currently developing the first phase of itÕs mission to

contribute to world peace through the preservation of Vedic education and

culture by supporting the development of The Bhaktivedanta Academy, a Vedic

educational institution developing in Mayapura, 135 kilometers from Kolkata

in West Bengal, India. Scheduled to open classes in a temporary facility in

September 2003 The Bhaktivedanta Academy is modeled after a traditional

Vedic gurukula, but with added initiatives for contemporary relevance to

capture the best of both eastern and western educational traditions. In time

The Bhaktivedanta Academy will be capable of educating 200 students,

graduates will be trained to provide traditional Vedic services in their

specialized area of qualification.

 

Cultural Environment

Vedic educators, recognizing the effect of the environment on the

consciousness on the students, have traditionally set up their gurukulas in

a peaceful environment. Therefore, many of The Bhaktivedanta Academy

buildings will be styled after houses in traditional Indian villages with

floors of earth, walls of bamboo and roofs of straw thatch and surrounded by

informal gardens and water features such as lakes and ponds. For the

preservation of a living tradition, endeavor will be made to imbibe the

AcademyÕs students with Vedic lifestyle values. The dress, dealings and

etiquette of The Bhaktivedanta AcademyÕs staff and students will reflect

those of a traditional gurukula.

 

The Bhaktivedanta Academy will also support primary and secondary schools

that share Vedic values and ideals. Students of these schools will be

groomed to pursue higher education in The Bhaktivedanta Academy. One of the

AcademyÕs many planned projects is the development of a thematic curriculum

to teach children, aged five to eighteen years, academic knowledge through

traditional Vedic stories and wisdom.

 

Curriculum

India'ms greatest living Vedic scholars and professors in Vedic Culture are

being offered positions as teachers and commissioned to develop a curriculum

that is service oriented. This curriculum will be centered on the Fourteen

Books of Vedic Knowledge.

 

The Bhaktivedanta Academy has also established affiliation with The

Bhaktivedanta College (BC), an Internet college in North Carolina, USA. With

this agreement, all The Bhaktivedanta AcademyÕs degrees will automatically

be recognized degrees by the State Government of North Carolina (i.e. The

Kovida degrees will automatically translate into a Ph.D. in Vedic philosophy

and culture from the BC.) Affiliations are being sought with other

universities and or colleges in India.

 

What has been achieved so far?

In 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Academy project was donated ten acres of land.

More than $15,000 has been invested in raising the land above the highest

West Bengal flood levels. Ten thousands books on Vedic studies have been

collected for the development of a library and $30, 000 have been invested

the libraryÕs construction, which is presently underway.

 

Another $100,000 is needed to complete the construction of the campus and

the gardens.

 

VEDICEF are endeavoring to find twenty five individuals or foundations to

pledge $1000 per year for the next four years, to complete the development

of The Bhaktivedanta Academy by September 2006.

 

 

Contact Information:

For further information on VEDICEF's projects and to offer financial

support, please contact either or both:

 

Ace Volkmann Simpson

VEDICEF International, Director

Address 1: Gurukula Library Building, Mayapura, Nadia Dist., West Bengal,

India,

Phone: 91 (3472) 45 580

Address 2: ul. Twarda 66/5, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland

Phone: (48) 603 108 108

E-mail: simpson (AT) vedicef (DOT) com

 

Jason Michael Brown

VEDICEF, Managing Director

Address: 1207 Pike Street, Easton, PA 18045

Phone: (610) 258-2048

E-mail:sundara (AT) vedicef (DOT) com

 

 

Appendix A

The Fourteen Books of Vedic Knowledge

The fourteen books of Vedic knowledge have been the basis of the gurukula

curriculum for thousands of years. The fourteen books of Vedic knowledge

are:

 

Four Vedas: (1) Rgveda, (2) Samaveda, (3) Yajurveda and (4) Atarvaveda; and

the Upanisadas (philosophy and metaphysics).

 

Six Vedangas: Four of the Vedangas are connected with the Sanskrit language:

(1) Siksa (phonetics), (2) Vyakarana (grammar), (3) Chanda (meter), and (4)

Nirukta (dictionary). The other Vedangas are (5) Jyotish (astronomy and

astrology), and (6) Kalpa (Deity worship, yagnas and Vedic samskaras or

rites of passage).

 

Four Upangas: (1) Dharma (including Canakya Pandit's Nitisastra, and the

Manusamhita or Vedic book of law), (2) Vedanta (philosophy), (3) Nyaya

(logic), and (4) Purana (history, including the Itihasas Ramayana and

Mahabharata, and Vedic sciences taught in the four Upapuranas: (1) Ayurveda

(medicine), (2) Gandarvaveda (performing arts), (3) Stapatyaveda (vastu or

the science of sacred space), and (4) Dhanurveda (martial science).

 

 

Appendix B

Sanskrit struggles to survive

By Sanjeev Srivastava

BBC correspondent in Bombay

Monday, 5 August, 2002, 12:51 GMT 13:51 UK

 

One of the oldest languages in the world, Sanskrit, is now in danger of

becoming extinct in India, the country of its origin. Sanskrit was the

language of the elite in ancient India, but it no longer enjoys the exalted

status it once had. Most Indian languages still use the basic grammar of

Sanskrit. But no more than a few thousand people in a country of more than

one billion can claim to read, write and speak fluent Sanskrit.

 

Poor job prospects

In Bombay's Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, one of the city's oldest and biggest

education institutions. students recite Sanskrit shlokas. We, at our own

level, want to be refined, to be cultured, to be a better person and this is

where we need Sanskrit.

 

Only 150 students come here to learn this ancient language - a very small

number if you compare it with the tens of thousands of students who go out

every day to the city's schools and colleges. So why are so few students

coming to learn Sanskrit? The school's principal, Narendra Kumar Singh says

there are very few jobs for anyone studying Sanskrit.

 

Some get jobs as priests

"At most, they can become a teacher in Sanskrit schools, Sanskrit colleges

so their salaries are also very meagre.The other opportunity for them is

to perform [religious] rituals for some rich people," he added.

 

Lacking relevance?

The other reason why Sanskrit is losing out is because it was never really

the language of the masses. It was the language of the elite used for

correspondence amongst royalty and for composing classic prose and poetry.

There are some who opt for Sanskrit because it is regarded as a subject in

which one can get high grades and can help improve one's overall grades. But

most students learn the language to know about the past.

 

Some study Sanskrit to improve their grades

There is a school of thought which believes that teaching and learning

Sanskrit is a complete waste of time and resources, especially as most

Sanskrit colleges are publicly funded. Critics of Sanskrit say

government-funded colleges should be preparing students for the real world

and offer only vocational and employment-oriented courses. However, Sanskrit

scholars like Girish Jani rubbish this approach.

 

"Why should we read Shakespeare? Why should we read Sartre? Are they

connected really with the life in the first attempt? No. "We, at our own

level, want to be refined, to be cultured, to be a better person and this is

here, we need Sanskrit."

 

Scholars like Mr Jani do have a point and there is logic in their argument

about Sanskrit being a language of cultural refinement, but the sad reality

is that Sanskrit is fighting a losing battle in the country of its origin.

(Text PAMHO:8347899) ------

 

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