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**9mm_fan** · 04-28-2012, 05:37 PM

I did see this thread, but did not want to respond as I am not sure what is Brahmanism?
Culture is place and time specific. A Tamil brahmin is not homogeneous in different part of Tamil nadu, and across the globe. So please define a required criteria for Brahmin. Tell me that majority of TB's follow that criteria. Then I can understand the loss of that culture by moving to foreign country.

My family moved away from Tamil Nadu in 1900, my parents followed as best as they could the culture they brought with them.
I was raised in that culture, my brothers can read and write Tamil, I missed out on that.

I was influenced by Chinmayananda, may be that itself was against brahminism.
I believe that my child has been raised in that culture. They are comfortable in India, they wear Indian cloths, eat Indian food, enjoy Indian culture. Vegetarian, goes to temple, and respects elders. Loves all relatives, what more can you ask.
I do not believe in lot of superstitions, and I am open about it, and they too do not believe it. I believe in science, Karma Theory, and rebirth. I believe that our destiny is to be one with the Brahman.

So let us have a discussion about our culture and what is lost?
I rarely see in India, Indian wearing Indian cloths, I see most of the Indian using alcohol, and I see brahmin kids eating meat (including beef). In metro cities girls live in jeans and t-shirt. kids live together before marriage, pre-martial sex is common. I am not passing judgement, but I accept that culture is not lost, but is changing. I bet most of us who moved away have maintained the old traditional culture (even though it is canned version). I am told, by new immigrant that I speak Brahmin Tamil, but I do not understand their tamil.
Let us have sensible discussion, now that I put my cards on the table.

Dear Sri "Prasad",

I am impressed by your response to this thread and agree with every word, especially in the last paragraph of your post. It is also my view that culture is social evolution, a continuous change, no one can stop it, we can only fine tune it to the acceptable level of our religious belief. Look at our dress, food habits, mode of living today, every thing is changing. It has been so always in the past as well. And it will continue in future also. But the core values of our beliefs have not changed much.

Superstitions are wonderful make beliefs, fantasies, knowingly accepted by us. Look at our scientists working in ISRO or other facilities, they mark their fore head with religious symbols of their preference and even fix the time of launch of their products astrologically.

I know Swami Chinmayananda personally and organised his first Gnana Yagna (seventh in India, after his return from Uttarkashi) in 1954 at Coimbatore as Joint secretary to the committee. He belongs to my generation. My exposure to religious literature is due to Swamiji only. A dynamic personality who appeared in the line of Swami Vivekananda and Maharishi Dayananda Saraswathi to revitalise Vedic Religion.

Warm Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

04-28-2012, 05:37 PM	#18
9mm_fan Join Date May 2007 Age 53 Posts 5,191 Senior Member	I did see this thread, but did not want to respond as I am not sure what is Brahmanism? Culture is place and time specific. A Tamil brahmin is not homogeneous in different part of Tamil nadu, and across the globe. So please define a required criteria for Brahmin. Tell me that majority of TB's follow that criteria. Then I can understand the loss of that culture by moving to foreign country. My family moved away from Tamil Nadu in 1900, my parents followed as best as they could the culture they brought with them. I was raised in that culture, my brothers can read and write Tamil, I missed out on that. I was influenced by Chinmayananda, may be that itself was against brahminism. I believe that my child has been raised in that culture. They are comfortable in India, they wear Indian cloths, eat Indian food, enjoy Indian culture. Vegetarian, goes to temple, and respects elders. Loves all relatives, what more can you ask. I do not believe in lot of superstitions, and I am open about it, and they too do not believe it. I believe in science, Karma Theory, and rebirth. I believe that our destiny is to be one with the Brahman. So let us have a discussion about our culture and what is lost? I rarely see in India, Indian wearing Indian cloths, I see most of the Indian using alcohol, and I see brahmin kids eating meat (including beef). In metro cities girls live in jeans and t-shirt. kids live together before marriage, pre-martial sex is common. I am not passing judgement, but I accept that culture is not lost, but is changing. I bet most of us who moved away have maintained the old traditional culture (even though it is canned version). I am told, by new immigrant that I speak Brahmin Tamil, but I do not understand their tamil. Let us have sensible discussion, now that I put my cards on the table. Dear Sri "Prasad", I am impressed by your response to this thread and agree with every word, especially in the last paragraph of your post. It is also my view that culture is social evolution, a continuous change, no one can stop it, we can only fine tune it to the acceptable level of our religious belief. Look at our dress, food habits, mode of living today, every thing is changing. It has been so always in the past as well. And it will continue in future also. But the core values of our beliefs have not changed much. Superstitions are wonderful make beliefs, fantasies, knowingly accepted by us. Look at our scientists working in ISRO or other facilities, they mark their fore head with religious symbols of their preference and even fix the time of launch of their products astrologically. I know Swami Chinmayananda personally and organised his first Gnana Yagna (seventh in India, after his return from Uttarkashi) in 1954 at Coimbatore as Joint secretary to the committee. He belongs to my generation. My exposure to religious literature is due to Swamiji only. A dynamic personality who appeared in the line of Swami Vivekananda and Maharishi Dayananda Saraswathi to revitalise Vedic Religion. Warm Regards, Brahmanyan, Bangalore.
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