Decline in Vedic knowledge

November 14, 2006

Hello All,

This is an issue that has always trouble me but I have not known

what could be done about it.The matter that concerns me is the

gradual decline of knowledge contained in Vedas. Most modern Hindus

(as we are called today) have no knoweledge of the essence of Vedas.

Whatever religious practices we have are based on our observation of

practies followed by our parents and they in turn would have gotten

their knowledge from their parents. Sometimes we try to improvise

our ways based of feedback of people who we feel have a better

undertstadning of some of these principles. Our lack of

undertstanding of our own practices for most times becomes a subject

of ridicule by people of other faiths. Even if you look at a pundit

or a brahmin today, as soon as they have acquired some insight or

knowledge of a practice, are immediately going to sell this

knoweledge as a service. In Toronto Canada today, I can rarely find

a brahmin who truly knows what he is doing....he simply does what

his father has thougt him...and other things that he might have

picked up elsewhere from observations...and shortcut seems to be the

norm of the day....anything that is done, needs to be done in the

shortest possible time. Essentially Vedic knoweledge is on its last

leg and unless something is done about it, the knowledge will be

completely lost. A day will come when our practices will be

ridiculed to such an extent, that a hindu would be embarassed to

publicly admit to being a hindu.

I think it is always good to discuss spirtitual ideas in this group

but it would be even better if we are able to be a little be more

proactive in doing something to preserve the knowledge and

principles we talk about. I personally feel powerless to do

something about it all alone, but if we all as a group resolve to

finacially contribute to some organisation that is working towards

retaining Vedic knoweledge, that I believe would be very good. I

undertsand that there are a lot of problems facing humanity today

and preservation of Vedic knowledge doesn't seem that important but

I believe it is the deviation from these vedic principles that is

the cuase of much of world's problem....and we are all at liberty to

make our own financial contributions to some charitable organisation

for the needy in society. But just becuase we contribute to one

effort, doesn't mean we cannot contribute to another and ofcourse,

we all contribute based on our means.

Lets do something...let's identify organisation(s) promoting vedic

knowledge and would really need our support.

Regards,

Bhupendra.

November 15, 2006

Om Nama Shivaya:

Namaskar every one.

Humble suggestion, open Gurukul's as private religious educational

institutions in every major American city. Keep tuition reasonable,

low overhead, obtain financial support via active fund raising, offer

classes on the scriptures to interested adults, doubtless that there

are those that would go onto to become Acharya...

I for one am very interested in study. There has to be a large number

of house holders that are tired of the spiritual vapididity of

American soceity, that would be willing to support such an endeavor.

Respectfully,

Ed

Om Nama Shivaya.

, "b_jamnadas"

<b_jamna> wrote:

>

> Hello All,

>

> This is an issue that has always trouble me but I have not known

> what could be done about it.The matter that concerns me is the

> gradual decline of knowledge contained in Vedas. Most modern Hindus

> (as we are called today) have no knoweledge of the essence of Vedas.

> Whatever religious practices we have are based on our observation of

> practies followed by our parents and they in turn would have gotten

> their knowledge from their parents. Sometimes we try to improvise

> our ways based of feedback of people who we feel have a better

> undertstadning of some of these principles. Our lack of

> undertstanding of our own practices for most times becomes a subject

> of ridicule by people of other faiths. Even if you look at a pundit

> or a brahmin today, as soon as they have acquired some insight or

> knowledge of a practice, are immediately going to sell this

> knoweledge as a service. In Toronto Canada today, I can rarely find

> a brahmin who truly knows what he is doing....he simply does what

> his father has thougt him...and other things that he might have

> picked up elsewhere from observations...and shortcut seems to be the

> norm of the day....anything that is done, needs to be done in the

> shortest possible time. Essentially Vedic knoweledge is on its last

> leg and unless something is done about it, the knowledge will be

> completely lost. A day will come when our practices will be

> ridiculed to such an extent, that a hindu would be embarassed to

> publicly admit to being a hindu.

>

> I think it is always good to discuss spirtitual ideas in this group

> but it would be even better if we are able to be a little be more

> proactive in doing something to preserve the knowledge and

> principles we talk about. I personally feel powerless to do

> something about it all alone, but if we all as a group resolve to

> finacially contribute to some organisation that is working towards

> retaining Vedic knoweledge, that I believe would be very good. I

> undertsand that there are a lot of problems facing humanity today

> and preservation of Vedic knowledge doesn't seem that important but

> I believe it is the deviation from these vedic principles that is

> the cuase of much of world's problem....and we are all at liberty to

> make our own financial contributions to some charitable organisation

> for the needy in society. But just becuase we contribute to one

> effort, doesn't mean we cannot contribute to another and ofcourse,

> we all contribute based on our means.

>

> Lets do something...let's identify organisation(s) promoting vedic

> knowledge and would really need our support.

>

> Regards,

> Bhupendra.

>

November 15, 2006

Your concern is genuine. I feel the same way. But I do not feel

merely opening up new Gurukuls or funding the existing one, change

will occur. I have seen students learning Vedas in one of the

gurukuls of Delhi. There simple some techniques of remembering

shlokas and processes of doing "yagya or hawan" are taught in

schools. Not more than that. Students later on become either teacher

in another Gurukul or become priests who conduct either marriages or

some "hawans" in houses or shops or industries.

There are some religious leaders in India under whom most modern

schools and colleges are being run. Some are doing the most

modern scientific research on Aurveda i.e. our ancient heritage in

medicines. These respected people are quite learned and have thorough

vedic knowledge and trying their best to inculcate their knowledge in

the young generations through their schools and colleges besides

teaching them today's latest syllabus, be it computers or Physics or

Chemistry or Biology etc. Some of them have already their

institutions abroad where lots of funds are coming in from big NRIs.

I feel that all you NRIs, wherever they are based, should invite

these knowledgeable to their places. Have discussions with them and

explain the pain, which we all have in our hearts. Fund them and help

them so that they can open new institutions in your cities. Make them

visiting your cities regularly. Only then some concrete solution will

be emerged. We should not expect anything from these pundits who are

just for making pujas, hawans on the special occasions. They are

meant for these events only.

If anything big change you want, you will have to get in touch with

the giants of this field. I think you NRIs can afford them also.

Thanks

Vijay Shanker