Vedic Friends Association Announces New President
The Vedic Friends Association in an effort to address the growing Hindu community, both Eastern and Westerner practitioners, has elected it's first ever African American president. This is an historic event for this well respected Hindu based nonprofit.
Stone Mountain, GA, July 23, 2018 --(PR.com)-- Benny J. Tillman (Balabhadra Bhattacarya Dasa) has become the President of Vedic Friends Association beginning Jan. 1 this year 2018. Previously director of VFA Atlanta, Tillman is the first African American President of the organization. The Vedic Friends Association (VFA) is an international body of people who have embraced the Vedic culture or deeply respect the Vedic vision and way of life, including its systems of yoga, meditation, pranayama, languages and literature, Ayurveda, astrology, vegetarianism, forms of worship and spiritual knowledge. The VFA is committed to the promotion and preservation of Vedic heritage, civilization, and culture. It was formed in 2002 in Detroit, MI. Tillman is an avid reader and preacher of Bhagavath Gita, the ancient sacred Sanskrit text from India, holy to a billion plus people, his specialization is engaging the youth in Dharmic activities in many of its dimensions. He is very eager to network with likeminded people and organization for serving their socio-spiritual needs.
A direct disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Tillman joined the Hare Krishna Movement in 1973 in Atlanta and has since traveled extensively in India and other parts of the world practicing and teaching the ancient Vedic philosophy. Prior to joining the Hare Krishna Movement, he was a successful entertainer in the Atlanta music scene during the late 60’s and early 70’s. Tillman served as president of the Atlanta Hare Krishna Temple for more than eighteen years.
Tillman is one of the most respected leaders in the Atlanta Hindu community, having served that community for more than 40 years. He frequently gives lectures at major Hindu events as well as lectures at local universities such as Morehouse, Emory, Georgia Tech and Clark Atlanta universities.
In his own words, “I am looking forward to creating a signature VFA program in Atlanta in August 2018, which will show cause the true spirit and dimensions of Vedic Hindu Dharma. We also plan to take this up in other parts of USA as we gather strength. I am thankful to our previous president Stephen Knapp (Srinandanandana Dasa) for forming and managing the VFA organization since 2002 and bring to a state where we can further this organization. I am looking forward to the guidance of VFA board of directors, comprising of Chairman David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri), Co-Chairman Stephen Knapp (Srinandanandana Dasa) and Co-Chairman Jeffrey Armstrong (Kavindra Rishsi).”
Vamadeva Shastri (aka David Frawley), who is the Chairman of VFA, says, “VFA is the first western Vedic association that brings together all serious minded students and teachers in the Vedic field. It addresses Yoga, Vedanta, Ayurveda, Jyotish and all aspects of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma.” Over the last two decades VFA has created a firm foundation for future growth with a dynamic and experienced team of instructors and guides. Now VFA is launching several important new initiatives to take the organization to a new and transformative level of expansion and development where Tillman will be in-charge of it is as the Executive President of VFA.
Vedic knowledge system provides the foundation of cosmic knowledge for the dawning global era. They show us how to live a life of higher consciousness according to dharmic values. As such, they are relevant to everyone in all walks of life, as well as proving professions of their own as Vedic educators, counselors, and guides. In this new knowledge and information era, Vedic knowledge system provides the key to take our human understanding to a universal level.
VFA has established a network of Vedic practitioners from a diverse assortment of Vedic traditions who could work together to help show the ways that these traditions have to offer for humanity to reach their higher potential. Conferences organized by the VFA and attended by interested parties to discuss various points on how to spread an honest understanding of the Vedic traditions have been successful. Separately, many VFA writers/lecturers have been invited and gone on lecture tours in India to help show the influence of India's ancient Vedic culture in the West, which was very inspiring to the Indians who attended.
VFA has established a monthly journal which helped explain various aspects of the Vedic traditions to members who subscribed to it. This allowed more exposure for the VFA writers to promote their work, and for subscribers to learn deeper levels of the Vedic traditions.
Srinivas Konteti, VFA - Secretary
A direct disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Tillman joined the Hare Krishna Movement in 1973 in Atlanta and has since traveled extensively in India and other parts of the world practicing and teaching the ancient Vedic philosophy. Prior to joining the Hare Krishna Movement, he was a successful entertainer in the Atlanta music scene during the late 60’s and early 70’s. Tillman served as president of the Atlanta Hare Krishna Temple for more than eighteen years.
Tillman is one of the most respected leaders in the Atlanta Hindu community, having served that community for more than 40 years. He frequently gives lectures at major Hindu events as well as lectures at local universities such as Morehouse, Emory, Georgia Tech and Clark Atlanta universities.
In his own words, “I am looking forward to creating a signature VFA program in Atlanta in August 2018, which will show cause the true spirit and dimensions of Vedic Hindu Dharma. We also plan to take this up in other parts of USA as we gather strength. I am thankful to our previous president Stephen Knapp (Srinandanandana Dasa) for forming and managing the VFA organization since 2002 and bring to a state where we can further this organization. I am looking forward to the guidance of VFA board of directors, comprising of Chairman David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri), Co-Chairman Stephen Knapp (Srinandanandana Dasa) and Co-Chairman Jeffrey Armstrong (Kavindra Rishsi).”
Vamadeva Shastri (aka David Frawley), who is the Chairman of VFA, says, “VFA is the first western Vedic association that brings together all serious minded students and teachers in the Vedic field. It addresses Yoga, Vedanta, Ayurveda, Jyotish and all aspects of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma.” Over the last two decades VFA has created a firm foundation for future growth with a dynamic and experienced team of instructors and guides. Now VFA is launching several important new initiatives to take the organization to a new and transformative level of expansion and development where Tillman will be in-charge of it is as the Executive President of VFA.
Vedic knowledge system provides the foundation of cosmic knowledge for the dawning global era. They show us how to live a life of higher consciousness according to dharmic values. As such, they are relevant to everyone in all walks of life, as well as proving professions of their own as Vedic educators, counselors, and guides. In this new knowledge and information era, Vedic knowledge system provides the key to take our human understanding to a universal level.
VFA has established a network of Vedic practitioners from a diverse assortment of Vedic traditions who could work together to help show the ways that these traditions have to offer for humanity to reach their higher potential. Conferences organized by the VFA and attended by interested parties to discuss various points on how to spread an honest understanding of the Vedic traditions have been successful. Separately, many VFA writers/lecturers have been invited and gone on lecture tours in India to help show the influence of India's ancient Vedic culture in the West, which was very inspiring to the Indians who attended.
VFA has established a monthly journal which helped explain various aspects of the Vedic traditions to members who subscribed to it. This allowed more exposure for the VFA writers to promote their work, and for subscribers to learn deeper levels of the Vedic traditions.
Srinivas Konteti, VFA - Secretary
Contact
Vedic Friends Association
Benny Tillman
404-820-5308
vedicfriendsassociation.org
Benny Tillman
404-820-5308
vedicfriendsassociation.org
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