Newsletter May 08 , 2013

 

Newsletter Archives

 

Upcoming Events

Guest Lecture – Sun. May 12
Prof.  Harold Roth, director of Contemplative Studies Initiative Dept and professor in Religious Studies Dept at Brown University, will  speak on ‘Inward Training’ (based on Taoism) from 5PM - 6PM in Vedanta chapel.

 

Spiritual Retreat on Saturday, Jun 01, 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Speaker: Swami Atmajnanananda, Resident Minister, Vedanta Center of Gr Washington DC

Subject: VIVEKANANDA’S Song on Samadhi

Prior registration required. Registration fee: $20.00 per person. (For online registration: $21 per person)

For more information and Online Registration:

http://www.vedantaprov.org/spiritualretreat.html

 

Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)

Friday, May 10	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: study class on Bhagavad-Gita Ch 18 cont.
Saturday, May 11	8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 11:00am – 12 noon: Guided meditation and singing 7:00PM – 8:00 PM: Aarati (devotional singing, a reading and meditation)
Sunday, May 12	5:00–6:00 PM: ‘Inward Training’ by Prof. Harold Roth, Brown University, (Contemplative Initiative Studies Dept.) 6:00 PM–7:00 PM: Soup Supper 7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional singing) and Meditation
Tuesday, May 14	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study class on The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Ch. 45, p. 858

 

Daily Programs

Morning :	5:45 – 6:45 AM: Meditation 6:45 – 7:00 AM: Chanting followed by a short reading from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 3
Evening :	7:00 – 7:15 PM: Aarti (devotional music), with a short reading from Swami Chetanananda's book: ‘Mahendra Nath Gupta ‘M’' 7:15 – 8:00 PM: Meditation

 

Past Events

Prayer in the Park – Sun. May 05
Three devotees participated in the first annual ‘Prayer for Caregivers’ at the Temple of Music, Roger Williams Park, Providence, by chanting a few vedic hymns and their translation. About seven interfaith leaders/congregation members also provided prayers. Among other programs, there was music by ‘Three Amigos’ and two soloists. This will become an annual event to honor all caregivers and their service to humankind.

 

Indian Classical Vocal Concert on Sunday, May 05, 6:00-7:30 PM
Immediately after the Sunday Service, Smt. Shashwati Mandal Paul, a prominent vocalist of Hindustani Classical Music from India, performed from 6:15 – 8:15 PM to about forty music enthusiasts. Accompanying her were: on Tabla- Pt. Ashis Sengupta, & on Harmonium- Pt. Sanatan Goswami. Dinner followed.

Click here to see photos.

 

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated.)

 

Bhagavad Gita class -May 03, Friday

Ch. 18, Verse 18-22: In the 18th chapter of the Gita, Sri Krishna explains why we perform actions, why we perform actions in the way that we do, and why different people act in different ways. Three things generate the impulse to action are the following: the knower, the object of knowledge, and the connection between the two (knowledge). For example, I may have the knowledge that a cookie is in front of me, that I am hungry, and that the cookie has the capacity to remove that hunger. Since there is supposed disunity between me and the cookie, I am compelled to “seek unity” between myself (the knower) and the cookie (the object of knowledge) and to eat the cookie. There are also three aspects to every action: the doer, the necessary instruments, and the thing that is being done. Furthermore, the knowledge, the knower, and the action are each of three varieties according to the gunas. Sri Krishna explains that the knowledge by which we see the unity in the midst of the diversity is saatvika knowledge. That knowledge which emphasizes differences and distinctions is rajasika knowledge. Rajasika knowledge propels one to action. Wherever we see difference, we act in order to mitigate that distinction. This is due to the deep inner craving for unity in all of us. However, this is seeking unity in the wrong way; it will only lead so to sorrows in life. Although similar in appearance to saatvika knowledge, tamasika knowledge is really opposite of it! In tamasika knowledge, one object, due to its fascination, occupies one’s mind to the exclusion of everything else. We can become free in this universe through the cultivation of saatvika knowledge, by identifying ourselves with the unchanging Self and seeking the unity in the midst of diversity.  

 

What is Kundalini Awakening? – May 05, Sunday
Yoga and Vedanta is a science of making consciousness evolve. ‘Sleeping’ Kundalini is the start of this evolution. The kundalini rises through chakras, which are the levels of awareness, or the stations, on the way to manifesting our divinity. The chakras, are symbolic, not physical.  The chakras are portrayed in the spinal cord. The Muladhara chakra is the root station. Very little expression of consciousness here. Inert things like rocks are at this stage. All potential is stored here. Svadhisthana is the chakra where most plant and animal life exists. The goal of people at this level is to maintain existence through pursuit of food and sex. In the Manipura chakra the development of art and science takes place. At this level, a sense of morality awakens. It is the step from animal to human. The Anahata chakra awakens the ‘I’ as unchanging and as distinct from body and mind. This is the most important chakra for spiritual progress. There is a glimpse of intuition. Sraddha awakens. The person at this level must struggle hard to overcome the lower pull. At the level of the Vishuddha chakra, spiritual awareness is stable, bringing serene bliss and peace. The danger of a fall here lies in being egotistical about spiritual progress, and in complacency. The person at this level is advised ‘Stop not till the goal is reached!’ The Ajna chakra brings a state of samadhi, in which the person sees God. There is no 'I' left and no struggle. Although there is a thin transparent screen between the ‘I’ and God, the awakening at this level is carried along by its own momentum. Here, the ego is not doing anything. The state of the Sahasrara chakra is beyond description and thought. It is at the crown of the head, portrayed as being a lotus with a thousand petals.
People are advised not to try to attain higher chakras through drugs etc as that is very dangerous and of little spiritual value. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga will give a lot of insight on this topic.
 

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Class - May 07, Tuesday

Master is addressing a householder devotee, Ishan, in his conversations. If we all try to mould our lives as per the instructions given by Master, which are available to us in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, then gradually, we will witness the bliss and peace in our life too. It will not bring any outer change but the person will change from within.
During the course of conversation, Master commented that there is no difference between a realized monk and a realized householder as such. They both belong to the same class but still the realized householder has a reason to fear. The tendency of human mind is such that it gets attracted to the lower ideas very easily. Hence the danger of falling down from the ideal is high in the midst of worldly attractions to a householder. Master gave some examples from the day-to-day life to reinforce this fact on the devotees minds.
After realization, some prefer to enjoy the bliss themselves while some think of doing good to others. People like King Janaka and Narada  came back to the world after attaining knowledge. They have the power to carry a few others with them across this ocean of the world.
 During this discussion, Dr. Sarkar commented that knowledge makes a man speechless and then he/she develops Love for that higher ideal. The knowledge shows the unreal and transient nature of the world; this automatically develops the true love for God. As the love expands even further, one realizes that the self is same in all. That knowledge enables them to love everyone equally.