Newsletter September 14, 2011

The New Chapel construction work is progressing well as per plans. The major outer wall-work is finished and internal walls are getting done now. This should be finished by Sept. Click here to see New Construction - Updates and Photos.

Past Events

Swami Veetamohananda's talk – Tue. Aug. 30

Swami Veetamohananda, head of Vedanta Society of France, spoke to about thirty devotees on compassion and strength of Ramakrishna and how to emulate/incorporate such qualities in our lives, immediately following 7:00PM Arati and devotional singing by Sarada and Naren (two devotees from France). Click to see photo.

Swami Yogatmananda's visit to Ridgely – Sep. 3 & 4

The retreat by Swami Yogatmananda's at Vivekananda Ridgely Center on September 3 – 4 was cancelled due to the Hurricane Irene.

Weekly Classes

Universal Brotherhood Day, Brown University – Sep. 11, Sunday

About two hundred fifty people attended the Universal Brotherhood Day & ‘Remembering 9-11 Together’ program that was hosted by Brown University and collaboratively sponsored by Rhode Island Voices of Faith, Rhode Island Council of Churches. There was a labyrinth meditative-walking, peace-flag making and multi-faith information tables on the Main Green from 2:00PM. From 4:00PM – 5:00PM, on the Manning Chapel Steps, eight Interfaith leaders offered reflections, three interfaith songs were sung, and Ruth J. Simmons, Brown University president gave conclusion remarks. Click to see photos.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna class – Sep. 13, Tuesday

Sri Ramakrishna’s life and teachings show us the way to fulfillment of life. In truth, we are infinite and immortal, but due to our false identification with the body we feel limited and subject to death. The words of Ramakrishna restore our infinite nature and immortality by helping us to realize that we are not the body. Ramakrishna emphasized the importance of sticking to our spiritual practices, even in the midst of intense worldly duties. Before we can remove our identification with the body, we must first remove our attachment to the world. As we become detached, we will see that the world is unreal. Ramakrishna taught that the goal of life is the realization of God. Other things in life are of secondary importance. If these secondary aspects help us realize God then fine; but if not, they are certainly hindrances to life’s ultimate goal. Ramakrishna points out that all of our human powers and faculties need to be turned towards that which will bring illumination and ultimate bliss in life. If our powers and faculties are allowed to pursue the activities that take us away from the goal of life then that powerful store of energy is frittered away. By organizing our lives around life’s primary goal—the realization of God—and through sincere and dedicated spiritual practices, we can attain to the realization of God who is inmost self of each of us, infinite and immortal.