Welcome
NIOS (North American Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies)
(rev. 2014 Dec 12)
VISION AND MISSION
Our Vision is that great saints, sages, scholars and philosophers; poets, comedians, have all had a valid view of what is the Cosmos and what is our place in it. Certainly the Founders of NIOS were all fully appreciative that Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami was one of these, and certainly approaching him would never result in a sectarian view the world. In the second verse of his translation of the18,000 verse, Srimad Bhagavatam, we find:
Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṇa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. SB 1.1.2
In a nutshell then this is the vision of NIOS: Distinguish reality from illusion for the welfare of all. Certainly this can be expanded in many ways, but this is enough for a basic orientation, no?
Our Mission within this perspective then has been to take consultation from the authors and students of World Classical Literature and to motivate modern people to appreciate the advice available in these classical texts and cultures: Take the best from the past, to use in the present, to build a better future.
HISTORY
Since its incorporation as a Tennessee, Federally-exempt, non-profit Educational Corporation, on January 12th 2004, NIOS has produced THE BHARATIYA SANSKRITI: Festival of Classical Indian Culture in convenio with San Marcos University, Lima, Peru, a three-day international seminar on The Importance of Early Indian Culture in Making A Better World with the Indian National Museum, Kokatta, published several scholarly books and movies and sent lecturers on tour around the world. Locally it is very active in its own neighborhood, regularly offering fine cultural events and participating as one of the original and continuous contributors in the Celebrate Nashville Festival.
PLANS
NIOS is fully supporting the educational initiatives of Goloka Education which is working to establish classically based Vedic education throughout North America, publish the proceedings of the Seminar with the Indian Museum and support the individual interests of its promoters, Directors and scholars. Please join us.
Write to us at:
NIOS, 2129 Stratford Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Or call:
Dr. Ravi P. Singh, President – (615) 785-788
Hanumatpresaka Swami (Professor Huber Hutchin Robinson), General Secretary – (209) 505-3219