Introduction

Adhyatmik Foundation is currently operating and supporting these Activities and Projects around the world.  Detailed descriptions along with Paypal donation buttons for each are laid out below.  Your generous support of these important initiatives is greatly appreciated!  For more information about specific activities or projects, please Contact Us.

•  The International Sanskrit Institute of Veda, Ayurveda and Yoga- a library, training and education center providing access to Sanksrit teachings and scholars

•  Gifted Children Project- educational support for gifted boys and girls from 5-15 years of age
•  Give a Child a Future- providing basics such as food and water to support sanitary living conditions of under-priviledged children; and educational opportunities

•  Education in Animal Protection- to raise awareness of poor living conditions of many animals throughout India and provide solutions for care

The International Sanskrit Institute of Veda, Ayurveda and Yoga: Purnam

The home of Sanskrit is India, where philosophy and culture have always been regarded as the essence of all sciences and the mainspring of all the forces that control life in every aspect.  With this in mind a new residential building is being developed in India to house a unique and authentic library as well as training and educational facilities that will be open to students and teachers of Sanskrit.  The facility, named Purnam, will be one of the first International Sanskrit institutes. The esteemed patrons of the Sanskrit Institute are Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Sahib Singh Verma, Honourable Minister of Labour and Shri Om Prakash Gupta, the Ambassador of India to Finland.  Each patron has shared comments related to the center:

On Holi, the Festival of Colour on 23 March 2003, in India the Prime Minister has said to Dr Svami Purna:  “You are doing the most important work in the world while I am doing my humble work in my own humble way. I offer my full co operation in all that you do”.

Shri O P Gupta has requested a specific involvement in the proper interpretation and dissemination of Sanskrit texts and Vedic traditions through the Institute. 

Shri Sahib Singh Verma has requested that certain appropriate health and education projects should be prioritized through the Institute and the work of the Foundation.

Courses in yoga, Sanksrit and Ayurveda will be offered through the Sanksrit Institute.   General details are noted below.  For further information, please Contact Us.

Yoga: The Institute will offer yoga instruction based upon Patanjali's classical yoga system, which concentrates on the psychological and spiritual aspects of yoga.  During the period from the fourth to the third century BCE, Patanjali compiled his system in a text called the Yoga Sutras.  The text concentrates upon Raja Yoga, meaning royal or kingly yoga which is concerned principally with controlling the mind through meditation unlike the more recently developed Hatha Yoga (more common in the West), which more fully developed the practice of asanas (physical postures) and pranayama (breath control).  Patanjali said that Yoga practice is the means to still the mind, thereby allowing the inner self, our true ruler, to find liberation:  “Yoga is when the Self rests in its own being, in our original nature which is pure awareness”.   Through the Sanskrit Institute, the Adhyatmik Foundation offers certificates of excellence for those who have completed training in this classical system of yoga.

Ayurveda:  The Sanskrit word, Ayurveda, means “the science of life and longevity”.     Ayurveda is an ancient, profound science of living that encompasses the whole of life and relates the individual to the life of the universe.  This healing art has been practiced in India for thousands of years.  Two key tenants of Ayurveda are balance and harmony, which lead to good health and longevity.  As a science of self-healing, Ayurveda encompasses diet and nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, rest and relaxation, meditation, breathing exercises and medicinal herbs, as well as cleansing and rejuvenation programs for healing body, mind and spirit.  According to Ayurveda, our life’s Purpose can be achieved by balancing four fundamental aspects of life:  Dharma, that is duty or right action; Artha, that is material success or wealth; Kama, that is positive desire; and Moksha, that is spiritual liberation. 

Sanskrit: Introductory and advanced Sanskrit language courses will be offered as a companion tool to the yoga and Ayurveda courses as well as on a stand-alone basis.

SUPPORT for PROJECTS

You may make a General Project donation simply by clicking the button above.  Proceeds will be distributed as directed by Dr Svami Purna.  If you prefer to make a donation by check, please make check payable to “Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc.” and mail the check to Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc., 106 Crestview Court, Hawley, PA 18428 USA. 

Gifted Children Project

Adhyatmik Foundation recently launched a project to select and support gifted children – girls and boys from 5-15 years who would otherwise have no opportunity to realize their potential.   Currently Adhyatmik Foundation is funding the educational and living requirements of several children in the New Delhi capital region and in Tamil Nadu (following the Tsunami disaster).  A broader and longer-term objective is to establish a school in India that will provide a unique educational experience for the gifted children to equip them for all aspects of life.

SUPPORT for PROJECTS

You may make a General Project donation simply by clicking the button above.  Proceeds will be distributed as directed by Dr Svami Purna.  If you prefer to make a donation by check, please make check payable to “Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc.” and mail the check to Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc., 106 Crestview Court, Hawley, PA 18428 USA. 

Give a Child a Future 

In India, thousands of female construction workers are compelled each day to take their children to work in unsanitary and often dangerous conditions. There the children are left to their own devices, left to the mercy of what each day may bring. There is no shelter or supervision, little food and unclean water and – as Nirmala tells us – usually no schooling.

“Hello, my name is Nirmala. I am 10 years old. I live in India in a small village, near the Big City (New Delhi).   I have only been to school because of Adhyatmik Foundation and because what I want most is to learn to read and write.  But what will happen next? You see, my Mummy can only find casual work in construction so we can eat and wear clothes. Construction in India is hard and dirty work and Mummy is always tired. Mummy says she cannot send me to school without help. She says she needs me to grow up quickly and help with the work to look after my small brother.  There are lots of Mummies working in construction and they also have little boys and girls – some are very little. There is no one to look after them while Mummies work... Sometimes there is food, but often there isn’t. Many children get hurt and sick at the construction places. Can you help?”

Stories like Nirmala’s unfortunately are all too common throughout India.  That is why Adhyatmik Foundation has decided to step in by providing funds for food, clean water and sanitary conditions to help provide more healthy living conditions for these children.  And, as Nimala mentioned, Adhyatmik Foundation is offering education as the need and potential of each child dictates.  

It is the immediate goal of Adhyatmik Foundation to extend this kind of assistance to 20 children – with a view to expanding the support to a larger number of children.  This is a realistic goal; nonetheless, achieving it will require substantial funds.

SUPPORT for PROJECTS

You may make a General Project donation simply by clicking the button above.  Proceeds will be distributed as directed by Dr Svami Purna.  If you prefer to make a donation by check, please make check payable to “Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc.” and mail the check to Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc., 106 Crestview Court, Hawley, PA 18428 USA. 

Education in Animal Protection Project

Adhyatmik Foundation, as part of its environmental program, is developing an authentic Vedic Village in India to prioritize the need for co-existence with animals and nature.  This will include an animal sanctuary.  Efforts are already underway to protect animals at risk.  Adhyatmik Foundation seeks to provide assistance on a case-by-case basis at this stage; yet, Adhyatmik Foundation’s longer-term goal is to provide courses, materials and instruction to help educate officials who are responsible for regulating animal welfare that we, as a society, have an obligation to provide animals with basic needs such as food and water and to treat them with love and kindness.  This education program will also be extended to the general population, particularly children through the school system. For more detailed information, visit DAWN (Devoted to Animal Welfare Now) section of a sister site WSS-India.org    

A Personal Story- Sonia

The passage below was provided to the Adhyatmik Foundation by Sonia, a dedicated volunteer who lives in India and has worked throughout her life to ensure better treatment of animals in her country.  Her story is an inspiration to all who think of making a change but have not yet taken action to effect change.

"I was born in Amritsar, a small agricultural town in Punjab; always had pets like dogs n cats at home. Since a kid, always brought home sick animals to treat, if I saw them anywhere. Mum n dad always helped me out and never discouraged me. My uncle was also good with animals and always kind. These early influences always stayed with me.

I was sent to a girls boarding college in Simla, for five years; there were girls from all over India and the world. It helped me understand India, not just as a subject, but practically with its problems n issues. And, I already had a cause - to never cross an animal which needs help and to do something about it than just feeling sorry.

Our college motto was "Non Nobis Solum" which means not for self alone; stayed with me as well. 

I came to Delhi and became a flight attendant with Swissair and then with Virgin Atlantic and on my off days, I've always been helping sick animals. The conditions of animals in big cities really upset me and the cruelty put me off; that's hoe I came in contact with Mrs. Maneka Gandhi and I've worked closely with her fighting animal rights and against cruelty.

In India, the compassion is inversely proportional to one's income now a days, that's why you find more compassion in rural India and more cruelty in urban cities. When I shifted to Gurgaon from Delhi, the newest most modern city of India - people actually employ guards, not just to guard the premises, but to hit dogs, cats, cows, monkeys etc is very common. They like to stay in posh houses and think the only way to ape the west's stray free situation is by beating the animals away. They want to bypass the labour, kindness and commitment involved to create a stray free environment of the west, rather they take a short cut by chasing and beating the animals away. Their suffering just does not mean anything to these people.

I famously stood up for the lives of certain dogs and their right to live and protected them from being killed or maimed. I also led a march for awareness to create kindness among general public. People were really moved by my cause because it was happening everywhere. So, now I get all sort of calls from people wishing to help animals from cruelty, injury, accident, rescue, sickness etc. I do all I can do to help them. I look after Mrs. Maneka Gandhi 's five sanctuaries in Gurgaon, help my friends Bob n Jean with their donkeys. I' am trying to get the town's administration to actually do something for animals and keep taking their help in various cases that keep coming. I' am actually doing what I can, NOT WHAT I'LL LIKE TO DO. I know the system and there has to be something seriously wrong with it for us to see, what we see, on our roads.

If I can do this much alone to help animals and make a difference, why can't everybody think the same and do something about it." 

Two Elephants

The following note was sent to Adhyatmik Foundation by Sonia, who has become frustrated with the uncaring attitude of local officials.  She and the elephants could use your support!

"I received a call to help two elephants. The complaint was that they had not been fed for the last three days!   I had to go and check and when I did, sadly I realised that they did not have anything to eat or drink, they were standing in a pile of garbage, tied to a shadeless tree (temp was 42 deg C). They seemed agitated and were swaying continuously.  They are two girls – sisters in fact.  I tried calling Wildlife SOS and all they could say was that their papers were fine and why don't I take some bananas to them!!!!!

  I called some other people, but nothing was working out.  Next I contacted the municipal commissioner myself, asking him to do the needful thing, (provide food and water) since it is under his jurisdiction.  Neglect like this can cause animals to react by causing damage to life and property, similar to what happened in Meerut and Agra before. The commissioner then assured me that the elephants would be looked after. Now, today is another day and I am going to check if these gentle giants are alright.

 If we had our shelter, I am sure at least I could have got the help they needed. At times like these, my hands really feel tied. The Asian Indian elephant is an endangered species as well - just like the tigers - rare and numbered. I am afraid for these elephants and I feel extremely bad when people mistreat animals badly. However, I am still at the case and I will not give up.  I do need help, please!"

SUPPORT for PROJECTS

You may make a General Project donation simply by clicking the button above.  Proceeds will be distributed as directed by Dr Svami Purna.  If you prefer to make a donation by check, please make check payable to “Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc.” and mail the check to Adhyatmik Foundation, Inc., 106 Crestview Court, Hawley, PA 18428 USA. 

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