Newsletter May 15 , 2013

 

Newsletter Archives

 

Upcoming Events

Swami to NY – Sat. May 18
Swami Yogatmananda will participate in a panel discussion on ‘Unity in Diversity’ at Vedanta Society, New York, on Saturday afternoon. He will return to Providence to deliver the 5PM lecture on Sunday.

 

Natraj East-West Fusion Concert – Sun. May 19
Following the 5-6PM Sunday lecture, Natraj, the East-West fusion jazz band, will perform from 6PM – 7:30PM. Phil Scarff, on soprano and sopranino saxophones; Rohan Gregory on violin/ viola; Mike Rivard on string bass; Jerry Lake on tabla/multipercussion; and Bertram Lehmann on drums/percussion. All are welcome. Suggested $15.00/person donation

 

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

 

Update: Check out some new Sunday Lectures (from March & April 2013) uploaded here.

 

Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)

Friday, May 17	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: study class on Bhagavad-Gita Ch 18 cont.
Saturday, May 18	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 19	5:00–6:00 PM: 'Sankara’s Presentation of Superimposition' by Swami Yogatmananda 6:00 PM–7:30 PM: Fusion-Music Concert by NATRAJ: Indian classical; West African; contemporary : see info above 7:30 PM: Aarati (devotional singing) and dinner
Tuesday, May 21	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study class on The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Ch. 45, p. 859

 

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

 

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

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

 

Bhagavad Gita class -May 10, Friday

Ch. 18, Verses 23-28: Sri Krishna explains that there are three types of knowledge: saatvica knowledge, by which one perceives the underlying unity within the apparent diversity; rajasica knowledge, by which one identifies distinctions and determines the characteristics of things; and tamasica knowledge, by which one of the things is seen as everything. The type of knowledge one possesses seeps into the actions a person performs. The person who perceives the underlying oneness of existence performs saatvica  action- an action that is performed without any attachment, in spite of the person’s likes and dislikes, and with no desire for personal gain. Rajasica action is an action that is performed in order to fulfill selfish desires. Tamasica action is performed out of an impulse or delusion and is destructive and hateful. An understanding of these three types of actions is not meant for criticizing others. All of us have these three aspects in our personality; efforts should be made to increase the saatvica actions, or at least rajasica actions, and to avoid the tamasica actions. This is how our personality will evolve. Sri Krishna explains that there are three types of doers, which correspond to the three types of actions. A saatvica doer is one who performs an action enthusiastically and without any selfish desire. A saativca doer purifies himself through the performance of the action and makes himself or herself devotionally connected to the cosmic reality. A rajasica doer is one who performs an action out of attachment and who seeks a reward for that action.  A tamasica doer is one who first looks to avoid work and performs action in an uncultivated manner. Sri Krishna has explained the three types of knowledge, action, and doers; in the next class we will see how the three different types of intellects work so that we can learn to guide our intellect in the right way.

 

Inward Training (based on Taoism) – a lecture by Prof.  Harold Roth, Religious Studies Dept at Brown University - May 12, Sunday
Nei-Yeh (=inward training) is considered the foundation of Taoism/meditation. In the written form, it dates back to 4th century BCE. Teachings were originally taught and memorized in rhyme format through the centuries from teacher to student. Taoism as a religious and philosophical training was ‘founded’ by Lao-Tzu about 6th century BCE. It was (humorously), erroneously claimed that he ‘taught Confucius how to more perfectly perform Confucian practices’. It is recorded that Lao-Tzu went west into India, becoming the Buddha; so when Buddhism entered China, the folks said’ these are teachings of Master Lao-Tzu’. His three prominent students started Tao ‘schools’, which teaches “existence of Absolute Force’ and advocates proper surrender to death as a natural transformation to ‘The Way’. After millenarian rebellions against Han government, Taoism became a’ religion’: worshipping Lao-Tzu as deity and practicing arts of longevity/immortality. Taoism is one of two indigenous religions/philosophies of China. The inner training called ‘Mey-Yeh’ (Early Taoist Wisdom Training) is the‘oldest extant, unaltered record of classic breathing traditions’, containing strikingly modern commentaries on environment, cosmology, politi-econo-governing, and inner-training practice emphasizing ‘fluid cognizance’ rather than ‘fixed cognizance’(how to merge with’ Tao’). Meditating on word ‘Tao’ eventually releases oneself from ego. That enables merging into the mantra-word, which is ‘The Way’- All-ness and Nothingness, allowing one to re-enter ‘the world/activities with even, unflappable, energy flow.
The speaker illustrated the topic using slides, anecdotal humor and two  short ‘breathing meditation practices’ (coiling & uncoiling) to complement the lecture.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Class - May 14, Tuesday

Sri Ramakrishna says that while we seek happiness in various worldly objects, what we truly want is God. This world lands us in so many difficulties and kicks us so many times yet we crave for the world. This happens due to our ignorance – we do not understand our true nature. Once we find our true selves we will be full of bliss and not seek happiness in external things. We may not know the way to seek God. But, Sri Ramakrishna says that if one has sincere longing (Bhakti) then he will get appropriate help and direction. While such a person may occasionally lose the way, gradually he will realize God. Intense longing for God is a key pre-requisite. It helps overcome other desires and leads to God-realization.

A devotee wants to know if God has form or is formless. Sri Ramakrishna says that God has form and He is formless too. This is very difficult to understand and people wonder how can God be both, formless and with forms at the same time. Sri Ramakrishna says that this becomes clear only once when one realizes God. Until then, this doubt remains. He explains it with the example of a chameleon: a one-time observer thinks that a chameleon has a definite color; but one who lives with a chameleon knows that it can take on any color and may also be colorless. Similarly, one who realizes God, knows that He can be both, formless and with forms.