Understanding God's Omnipresence

• Collection of study notes from provided text

All About God

• God has created everything including the sun, moon, mountains, and oceans
• Neither humans nor any other being has the capability to create such objects
• God exists everywhere and is omnipresent, without form, and is not visible to the human eye
• God exists both within and outside of humans
• If one always remembers God, they avoid sinning and thinking ill of others
• God is present in all and everywhere in the universe, as stated in the Yajurveda 40/1
• Only one God exists everywhere, knows all, and is all-powerful
• Upanishads say: God is hidden within all living beings, omnipresent, and exists in the hearts and souls of all beings
• God exists within everybody, like butter in milk or unseen air around
• Realization through study, meditation, and prayer helps to see God's pervasive existence
• "Bhagwan" prefixed to names like Rama and Krishna signifies reverence for godlike qualities, not incarnations
• God is shapeless, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, ever-existent, birthless, and immortal

The Vedas

• "Veda" comes from Sanskrit "vid," meaning 'to know, to learn', therefore, 'Veda' means knowledge
• The four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva) instruct humans on behavior in life, family, society, country, world, peace, worship, and the benefits of divine knowledge
• God, who is everywhere and knows everything, provided this knowledge to bring happiness and contentment, similar to parents teaching their children
• God gave the knowledge of the Vedas to the Rishis at the beginning of human life
• It was not written on paper or via pen, but put in the pure hearts of the Rishis so they could use knowledge to serve
• Vedic knowledge remains constant and unchanging
• The Vedas are for all, wanting true knowledge and happiness, as God is the father of all
• Instructions from Rishi Dayanand regarding the Vedas should not be forgotten
• The Veda is the book of all true knowledge, and all Aryas should study and practice it

What Do The Vedas Teach Us?

• The Vedas teach that God is one, omnipresent, omnipotent, just, and merciful
• Worship should be directed only towards Him
• Various gods mentioned in the Vedas like Agni, Indra, Varuna, Shiva, denote God's attributes and qualities
• The Rigveda says God is called by various names
• God can only be worshipped in silence in one's heart
• Meditate, express gratitude, and serve the needy and poor as true worship of God
• Vedas teach that God is like a parent, view other human beings as siblings, and help them in any possible way
• High-born/low-born is un-Vedic, untouchability is unacceptable
• The law of Karma is taught; good deeds lead to good results, and bad deeds result in punishment in this or another life.
• God is just, and truth always wins
• The Vedic theory of Rebirth is accepted worldwide
• Professors Ian Stevenson and Pasricha have researched and corroborated the theory of rebirth over many years and multiple subjects
• Law of Karma operates over multiple births
• Disparities in wealth, abilities, attributes, and characteristics are also believed to result from past lives
• The mind carries lessons to later lives
• Karma explains disabilities and perfect fitness at birth
• The concept of cleansing sins by bathing in the Ganga is un-Vedic
• Values such as non-violence, truth, forgiveness, and mercy for all living beings, etc., are the only qualities, and noble acts, are equivalent to visiting places of pilgrimage
• The Vedas teach developing the body, mind, and soul equally and taking exercise, eating well, and reading books
• People should practice noble acts, help the poor, and try to understand the purpose of life

What is Dharma?

• Dharma means behaving well towards all living beings and objects in the universe
• Dharma leads people on the path of progress and sustains human society by applying its conventions
• Dharma holds and sustains everything in the universe, causes growth, and joins everything with love
• Actions causing trouble and division are not Dharma
• Dharma is a broader concept than religion
• Religion has practices and ideologies to which modern times adhere
• Dharma is what leads to progress, prosperity, happiness, and liberation from the bond of death
• Dharma applies to the body, heart, soul, society, country, culture, the world, and the harmony of every aspect of life
• Manusmriti lists the ten aspects of Dharma
• Dhriti (Patience): Staying calm when experiencing difficulty
• Kshama (Forgiveness): Forgiving someone who makes a mistake
• Dama (Self-Control): Controlling oneself when in distress or under temptation
• Asteya (Non-Stealing): Not stealing anything that belongs to someone else
• Shaucha (Cleanliness): Leading a clean life by bathing, wearing clean clothes and having pure thoughts
• Indriyanigrah (Sense-Control): Controlling senses and avoiding improper behavior
• Dhi (Intellect): Improving mental faculties by not taking drinks, drugs, etc.
• Satya (Truth): Speaking the truth without succumbing to temptation
• Akrodh (Non-Anger): Not getting angry and staying calm
• Vidya (Knowledge): Acquiring knowledge to progress
• Dharma has four other dimensions for everyone to practice (Individual, Family, Social, and National)
• Individual Dharma relates to one's happiness and well-being while family Dharma relates to family members and their rules of conduct and is obedient to elders
• Social Dharma relates to society, love of neighbors and improvement of their living standards
• National Dharma consists of national pride in culture, heritage, unity, obeying law, and fulfilling national defense
• Gayatri Mantra is known as Maha-Mantra
• The Gayatri Mantra leads to purity of intellect, mind, and heart and recited at the beginning of prayers and celebrations
• Gayatri Mantra is an invocation and a prayer to the Almighty providing the right direction and inspiration

The Five Yajnas

• Yajna is important teaching and concept, a spiritual and religious act performed in homes and temples.

• Rishi Yajnavalkya defined Yajna as a perfect offering

• Yajna purifies the air and counteracts pollution but, essentially helps purify inner thought and spiritual awakening.

• Selflessness and service of poor is the true meaning

• 'Yaj' root of Yajna has three connotations: honoring learned and God; uniting people; charity

• The five Yajnas, or duties, are Brahma Yajna, Deva Yajna, Pitri Yajna, Balivaishvadeva Yajna, and Atithi Yajna

• Students are required to do the first two Yajnas, householders all five

• Brahma Yajna means performing the Sandhya prayer every morning and evening and regularly studying Vedic scriptures

• The Sandhya prayer brings peace of mind, studies expand knowledge, and there is an understanding of the meaning of life.

• Deva Yajna means conducting Havan by lighting fire, burning herbs, chanting mantras destroys harmful germs in the atmosphere and purifies performer thought

• Balivaishvadeva Yajna means giving food animals and caring for them, which has transformed in modern times to taking care of animals in general

• Pitri Yajna means looking after the well-being of elders, parents, and one's teachers

• Pirta means savers which applies to Father, Teacher, Sage and giver of Advice, or the people who can save you from fear and give you the best chance to be successful

• Performing Shradh (feeding Brahmins) each year is useless and illogical

• Taking care of parents during their lifetime is the real shraddh

• Atithi Yajna means welcoming any guest, sharing a meal, shelter or whatever gifts of kind is needed

• To welcome one who arrives at your home without invitation or known time

• The scriptures say: 16 Sanskara during a lifetime is very important, representing purification. There are many festivals which are to be enthusiastically celebrated, including New Year, Ramanavami and others

A Balanced Life: The Four Stages

• Average age according to scripture is 100 years broken into four stages to fulfil the needs of being alive in the present

• The four stages of life are called the Ashramas (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sanyas)

• Life is lived accordingly with purpose and duties

• The ultimate purpose of human life to achieve peace and merge one's soul with the power of God after living a complete and meaningful life

• 'Brahmacharya' involves knowledge (Gyan) and practice (Charya), with devotion to the subject itself

• Education in the first 25 years covers all aspects of life

• In olden times education was provided by Gurukula with high discipline

• Grihastha Ashrama begins after marriage for husband or wife

• Activities include raising a family, and fulfilling duties to relatives and the greater world

• Vanaprastha commences at the age of 50 after children take responsibility dedicating to the community and spirtual

• Vanaprastha Ashrama involves social development and the study of scripture

• Sanyasa Ashrama includes detaching from the home and dedicates remaining years to the community

• A Sanyasi wears unique robes and teaches the vedas being taken care of by the people

Rishi Dayanand: The Founder of Arya Samaj

• Rishi Dayanand was born in the village of Tankara, Gujarat, in 1824

• His first name was Mool Shankar

• His father was Karsanji Tiwari & mother's name Amritbai

• Father was a landlord and worked as an officer

• Mool Shankar loses worship when seeing Lord Shiva was unable to dismiss the mouse

• Moolji's sister died to Cholera and death lead to wanting renunciation

• Poomnanad Saraswati initiated him as a Sanyasi and names him Dayanand Saraswati.

• Swami Virajanand a resident of Mathura influenced his work in Vedas and spread Dharma

• Following the teachings of Swami Dayanand, he instructed all over the country to denounce idol and work to eliminate societal problems

• Swami Dayanand released multiple books to communicate Vedic beliefs

• Yajurveda Bhashya - Interpretation Of Yajurveda in Sanskrit

• Aryabhivinaya - Book Of Vedic prayers

• Satyartha Prakash - In Hindi was major work to detail Vedas in an appropriate way

• He created schools and organizations for disadvantaged children

• He was in deep conflict with system of untouchability system for those who were widows from taking place in normal societal happenings.

• Supporting the Independence Movement leading him to influence Hindi becoming a major language.

• Swamiji had to suffer many conflicts as a spreader for vedic dharma.

• His teaching influenced a push for political awakening

• Believing in the process of Swarajya being needed and that if foreigners were governing it would never end

• His death and tragedy were a cornerstone for the Samaji's ideology

• Died October 30th 1883 in Ajmer because Raja had used a dancer to poison his body, which hurt his body severely

The Ten Commandments of Arya Samaj

• Arya is a Sanskrit word that means the person is religious, righteous, kind, and just

• Vasistha Smriti is used for the explanation

• A Righteous Person does what is right without harm

• Arya describes venerable, esteemed, justice and peace

• a 'Samaj' is a jointly functioning group to provide support for a cause

• The word Arya Samaj is what guides it from the ten commandments from Swami Dayanand

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the social practice

• Arya Samaj was made to preach religion and improve the values of the community

• Ten commandments are as follows:

1. origin and fountainhead of knowledge
2. to accept god and to only have devotion for him
3. the veda is only true knowledge
4. always be ready to accept true is and disregard is not
5. to always act in correspondence with dharma itself
6. the aim of Arya Samaj is to provide people with good physical and spiritual values
7. to treat everybody with love regardless of everything
8. to avoid people ignorance
9. to never become not satisfied with an individual growth but to support that of everybody
10. the norms will be based what the individual or people will be getting from the group

• these commandments are necessary for everyday act and moral to have cosmopolitan behaviors.

Beliefs and Precepts for Swami Dayanand

• In clear view, He had projected 3 basic needs of the time (independence, use of goods and the nation speech being in Hindi)

• Believed that if the citizens became stronger in body / mind then political power would be a natural end event.

• Having an increasingly view that political reformers had to socially uplift their country

• Gandhi said, 'Swarajya necessity with the importance and that not being touched was a terrible crime without the right'. Dayanand supported this.

• Stating Swadeshi back of Swarajya. A need to remember he helped build india.

• Swami Dayananad was a true believer of the Democratic process that people deserve

• Views regarding the different religions in India was that it should be as 1

• 1877 the first time the community was brought together to agree on belief

• His goal in life was to end the social distrust and to support everybody

• System with India views was wrong with teachings of other vedics made division in community

• he was not blind and felt that if one wanted to join hindu he would support it and raised his voice

• he believed no matter society should not base their lives on heritage.

• he did not overlook anything in culture at the time because as well women were being subjugated because of lack in strength

• He was true believer of helping with each country having it the supplies it needed.

• he was big traveler and wanted to supply his nation

• All of his reform in his vision was progressive

The Martyrs of Arya Samaj

• The People who gave their lives are important to mention and respect because of what had taken place, in a variety of conditions.
• first was poison by his own chef who later got forgiven. The Cook was able to escape to Napal.
• Lekh Ram, was murdered by a fanatic muslim who hated the reconversion process in hindu
• Lekh Ram used Urdu which during the time was used to teach teachings of vedic ideals.
• Th rid of the world was Swami Shraddanand known for starting "education establishment".

Arya Samaj and Based Educations

• During British time in india the system in place gave them an inferior education by being in servitude

• "never says in British Empire " was often used

• With new establishment came focus on Indian Culture / rights through education

• Mahatma Hans Raj, an Arya Samajist who came into a view of creating education based children education

• He headed the first institute

• There system was the basis for other organizations, schools and colleges to form in India for English and Science

• Swami Shraddhanand helped take the cause using Vedic and Ancient education called, 'Gurukul'.

• Since 1886 the school has been registered building with lots of great members taking part of the movement

• During the partition, India became a lot slower taking a hit

• Mahatma Hans Raj born April 1864 was a leader working for the first Headmaster of the DAV school

• With his whole soul he began his work and started as one of top best in district

• Because of how it's grown it is what shapes India being very useful there.

• DAV follows both ancient and modern education The institutes manage over 700 different location

• The dav community provides students with all sorts of opportunities Under providing help include different schools, colleges of a variety

• It Helps people with Literacy over multiple years

• Focuses on Ashram programs mostly in Nagaland-Manipur states

• Providences help and structure in all the levels

• Center is located for children with physically disability