Mumbai: Swami Brahmavidananda and Swamini Brahmaprajnananda, Advaita Vedanta teachers and founders of the Vedic Wisdom festival, a two-day seminar, will speak on topics ranging from Vedanta and science to Vedanta for growth and success, Vedanta for managing one’s emotional life, sowing the seeds of our heritage for today’s children, tomorrow’s leaders, the role of astrology and mantras, and myths about Hinduism and Vedanta for contemporary living. The seminar will be held at Ramkrishna Mission, Khar, between 9.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on November 24 and 25. Excerpts from an interview with Swami Brahmavidananda and Swamini Brahmaprajnananda.
Swamini Brahmaprajnananda
Tell us about the Vedic Wisdom festival?
Swami Brahmavidananda: The Vedic Wisdom festival is conceived of and presented by Aarsha Vidya Foundation, a registered trust to share ancient Vedanta teachings for contemporary living. Hinduism or Sanaatana dharma rooted in the vedas, is so vast and multi-dimensional. No wonder people are confused and hence have distanced themselves, especially the modern, educated city person. At the core of Hinduism is Vedanta, the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. We thought about presenting teachings through different teachers under one roof and the idea of the festival was born. Through this festival format, we are making available the wisdom and teachings to seekers and people who are looking for a unique experience that will open their minds. The speakers include monks as well as householders and even a foreigner.
Swamini Brahmaprajnananda: When it comes to ‘preserving heritage’ people generally think of vintage wine, heritage structures and antique pieces dating less than a few hundred years. All our traditional festivals are a celebration. They trace their source to the teachings of Hinduism for a life of freedom with the foundation of dharma and moksha, freedom from a sense of bondage. The teachings proclaim the oneness of all forms and we want to celebrate the source or mother of all festivals.
What is Aarsha Vidya Foundation?
Swami: Aarsha Vidya is a Sanskrit term referring to the wisdom of the rishis, seers, loosely translated as vedic wisdom. Aarsha Vidya foundation is a registered trust set up almost 15 years ago. Under its aegis, we have been sharing vedic wisdom through traditional classes, workshops for personal growth, seminars, corporate workshops and intensive retreats. The festival is our latest offering to you and the tradition.
Swamini: Aarsha Vidya, was a term used by our guru, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji (1930-2015), a renowned global Advaita teacher of his times. In honour of his presence and our lifelong commitment to carrying forward the teaching tradition with authenticity, Aarsha Vidya Foundation responds to the needs of society with various offerings as Swamiji mentioned.
How is this different from so many other events?
Swami: Our society is going through an upheaval where a lot of Indian wisdom and practices are still seen through a western lens. Being products of a western education ourselves, a qualified marine engineer (me) and Swamini Brahmaprajnananda, a psychologist we continue to be steeped in the vedic tradition. We clearly see that there is a need for a truly Indian narrative to emerge which offers us the stability of being rooted to our tradition and having the wings to fly globally, unapologetically.
Swamini: The narrative in print and social media is getting shriller by the day. One extreme is Hindu nationalist discourse and the other extreme is the secular, by-the-way Hindu discourse on matters of living and religion. Our backgrounds give us a unique position to offer a well considered balanced perspective and present the teachings of Hinduism authentically.
What is the need for vedic wisdom or Vedanta?
Swami: Everything that the human being does, is for a sense of fulfilment and happiness. And still, this fulfilment proves to be elusive and illusive. For true fulfilment, you need to discover who you are. For everything else there is the internet. The need to know who one is, exists in every generation and there are teachers in every generation unfolding this wisdom.
Swamini: One good sign of our times is that so many young people are interested in spiritual matters having ‘been there, done that’. With all the promises of the most blissful spiritual experience, there is much confusion too.
How will benefit people?
Swami: In a span of just two days, about ten speakers, all spiritual masters, will highlight key topics in Vedanta which will offer doorways of understanding and many take home points for action. Participants will gain many insights into our own heritage and how to enhance their lives with these tried, tested and proven insights. There will be question and answer sessions with every speaker.
Swamini: We hope that the festival answers many questions and offers clear direction to those who have a quest.
Who does this festival address?
Swami: It is for everyone. When this wisdom was imparted, it was given to all of humanity and not to a particular community or religion. It just happened to be preserved as a systematic teaching tradition in the Indian region.
Swamini: Our prayer, ‘Sarve bhavantu sukhinah’...praying for the happiness of all shows how inclusive the vedic vision was. We also have foreigner students who have different religious backgrounds. The main eligibility for this knowledge is the willingness to want to know and hence it is available to all.
( The Hindu is the official media partner)
