Newsletter February 26, 2014

 

Newsletter Archives

 

Upcoming Events

Maha Shivratri (the 'Great Night of Shiva') – Thurs. Feb. 27
After 7PM  Aarati, there will be the chanting of Shiva-nama-sankirtanam (108 names to Lord Shiva) (chanting  begins approximately 7:15pm). All are welcome.

 

Sri Ramakrishna Birthday Celebration - March 02, 11am - 7pm
11:00 am - 1:00 pm - Worship

1:00 - 2:00 pm - Prasad-lunch

2:30 - 3:30 pm - Video

4:00 - 5:00 pm - Music

5:00 - 6:00 pm - Symposium on Sri Ramakrishna

6:00-7:00 pm - Music & Meditation

All are welcome. No Fee.

 

Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)

Friday, Feb. 28	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class on the book ‘Karma Yoga’ by Swami Vivekananda
Saturday, March 01	8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 11:00 AM – 12 noon: Guided meditation and singing 7:00PM – 8:00 PM: Aarati (devotional singing, a reading and meditation)
Sunday, March 02	11AM - 7PM: Sri Ramakrishna Birthday Celebration - See details above.
Tuesday, March 04	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 - 8:30 PM: Vedanta Study Class on 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna', Ch. 45, pg 884

 

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 7:00 – 7:25AM – A short ritual worship/Puja. Open to all.
Evening :	7:00 – 7:15 PM: Aarti (devotional music), with a short reading from 'Swami Brahmananda: As We Saw Him: Reminiscences of Monastic & Lay Disciples'(compiled/edited by Swami Atmashraddhananda) 7:15 – 8:00 PM: Meditation

 

Past Events

Swami to Atlanta & Augusta GA – Fri. Feb. 21 - Sun. Feb. 23
Swami Yogatmananda delivered a Vedanta talk to about thirty devotees in Atlanta, GA Friday evening. Late Saturday morning, in Augusta GA Hindu Temple, Swami performed a puja and in the afternoon delivered the benediction address at an eight-interfaith clergy panel discussion, with one hundred plus devotees attending. Returning to Atlanta, swami conducted a day retreat on 'Karma-Yoga' to about thirty-five devotees on Sunday.  Swami returned Monday afternoon, Feb. 24.

 

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

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

Video Lecture - Feb. 21, Friday

As Swami Yogatmananda was out of town, a video lecture on ‘Mastering the Mind' delivered by Swamini Vimalananda of Chinmaya Mission, India was shown.

 

Swami Abhishiktananda – A Christian Vedantin – a talk by Chester Boncek - Feb. 23, Sunday
Swami Abhishiktananda was born Henri Le Saux in a devout Roman Catholic family in France. He took his vows as a Benedictine monk and set out to India to convert the people there to Christianity. In India he met Sri Ramana Maharshi who resonated with him at the first meeting, although he didn’t understand the words Sri Ramana used. He was deeply impressed by the profound spirituality emanating from him as well as some other saintly personalities.  Moving from Christianity to Hinduism, he kept Christ as his Sadguru. He came to see the Lord everywhere. Chester Boncek showed a video called Abhishiktananda – An Interior Journey. At first, Le Saux wanted to make Hindus understand that Christ is the only son of God. He came to feel that he knew too much Advaita to be a Christian, and had too much of a Christian background not to be in turmoil. He felt that the church was an obstacle between him and Christ. An Indian child asked him who the devil was, and he replied: “Do not fear. Does not the Lord keep us safe?” He felt that having no money is a challenge to the possibility of owning anything. The speaker concluded that Swami Abhishiktananda went from a Christian monk to a Hindu sannyasin, and then merged the two together. Swami Abhishiktananda felt that one must crush the ego, quoting Jesus: “Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose [his life] shall preserve it.”

 

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna class - Feb. 25, Tuesday

Master was conversing with some devotees; Vijay Krishna Goswami, a former member of Brahmo Samaj was there too. He was very much influenced by the Master. He saw the very presence of the Master in Dacca, without Him being physically present there. The Divine can manifest in the human form to guide us on the spiritual path. Most religions use various names and forms to help us understand the Infinite. It is easier and more natural to understand and accept the Divine through human forms.
Master commented that God cannot be realized by reason or scholarship. Those who have experienced the ultimate reality are called the seers. Scriptures are meant as a guiding principle on this spiritual journey. Once a person has realized the Truth there is no need for the scriptures or books.
Dr. Sarkar came to pay his daily visit. Master said that profession of a physician is a very noble profession if done with compassion and love for the patients. Whatever profession the householder may have, he must try to keep some holy company from time to time. The holy company encourages the householders to lead the path of spirituality in spite of the overwhelming burden of worldly duties. As once the taste of spiritual life has been developed one is automatically drawn to the company of such like-minded people. Master gave an e.g. of one hemp smoker getting attracted to the other hemp smoker.