The Vedic Cultural Fellowship began in England, where Howard and Jennifer Beckman, ERYT lived and were promoting Vedic astrology and Vedanta philosophy by giving lectures and workshops around the United Kingdom in the early 1990’s. Howard then began to travel the circuit of “Mind, Body & Spirit” expositions and they met many westerners and also those of Indian background who were interested in various facets of Vedic science and philosophy.

They realized that there were so many divisions of different temples, branches of philosophy, etc., but no organizations that sought to bring all these seekers of Vedic spiritual & philosophical thought and science together. First incorporated as a “charity” in the UK, Howard and Jennifer came back to the USA and in 1998 the Vedic Cultural Fellowship received 501 c 3 tax exemption status from the US Federal government as a church. Therefore all donations to the VCF’s programs and expansion are 100% tax deductible.

We founded the present property in 1999 and we used our personal resources to turn it from an undeveloped piece of land with a few out buildings badly in need of repair and a main house that needed months of renovations before anyone could live there and turn it into a spiritual learning center. With the faith and support of their many well-wishers in the UK Howard remained extremely busy with his UK astrological practice and with the donations from his and Jennifer’s services and their own use of everything they received personally through business endeavors the property has become what it is today.

Over the past 5 years Prince Malik from New Delhi has offered tremendous support and taken a position as a director, as have others from India and the UK. We also developed an advisory board of donors and supporters to help make decisions for management, maintenance and expansion of the VCF’s mission.

Friends for years, the Beckmans and Dr. David Frawley discussed their work frequently and were avid supporters of each other. In the past year they decided to come together for the benefit of their own work and students. Dr. Frawley will make the VCF his first “in residence” school where he will personally teach students. Our “MISSION” in the teaching center is to bring together bona fide teachers and students who are interested in Vedic spiritual arts and sciences in a place conducive to such higher learning.

At the VCF we offer classes in yoga and vedic philosophy, as well as in the spiritual science of jyotish (vedic astrology) and ayurvedic healing. With such a sattvic atmosphere for learning, practice and the healing offered here, it is natural that sattva should become prominent in the consciousness of all who visit and live here.

We are expanding now and invite all who are interested in the yogic lifestyle and India’s spiritual arts and sciences to join with us in creating one of the pillars of learning and human development for generations to come, as well as a retreat center where all can become surcharged with the healing and spiritual energy which abounds at New Rishikesh ashram and the Vedic Cultural Fellowship’s center nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.