Newsletter April 09, 2014

 

 

Newsletter Archives

 

 

SPECIAL MUSICAL EVENT in MAY

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Scheduling Mishap – Sun. April 13

Please note that there has been a scheduling mishap in the e-mail and paper monthly announcement for April

 

• On Sun. April 13th, Prof Sukalyan Sengupta , UMASS/Dartmouth MA, will speak on: ‘Rama-Lakshmana Dialogue’

 

** Visiting Swami Speaks - Thur. April 10 **
Swami Yuktatmananda, head of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Vedanta Center, NYC, will speak on ‘Imperatives from the Bhagavad Gita’ on Thur. April 10 from 7:15 – 8:30 PM, immediately after the Aarati singing. All are encouraged to attend. Bring someone along!

 

Swami travels – Sat. Apr. 12-14
Swami will travel to Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, DC, Sat. morning, April 12, to conduct a retreat that day. He will deliver the Sunday morning Lecture and participate in their Foundation Day Ceremony. Swami returns Tue. morning April 15.

 

Bharathnatyam Dance Classes – Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM
To learn traditional South Indian Classical dance, taught by classical dancer Anuradha, please call her only at 704-707-5430 for complete information

 

Sitar and Tabla lessons – Sundays, 4:00 – 5:00 PM

To learn to play beginner’s level sitar or tabla, taught by Koyel Ghoshal, please contact her only at koyelg-AT-yahoo.com

 

Check out some of the archived Sunday Lectures (from Jan. & Feb. 2014) on our website:

http://vedantaprov.org/lectures.html

Day-Long Spiritual Retreat - Sat. April 26, 9:30am - 7:00pm

Subject: ‘Let us be Spiritual’

Speaker: Swami Ishatmananda, Minister-in-charge, Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago

Prior registration required. Registration fee: $20.00 per person (Online Registration: $21.00 per person).

Click here for more information and to register online. (Schedule subject to change)

 

Check out some of the archived Sunday Lectures (from Jan. & Feb. 2014) on our website:

http://vedantaprov.org/lectures.html

 

 

Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)

Friday, April 11	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class based on the book, ‘Karma Yoga’ of Swami Vivekananda, Ch 8
Saturday, April 12	8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 11:00 AM – 12 Noon: Guided meditation and singing 7:00PM Aarati (devotional singing, a reading and meditation)
Sunday, April 13	5:00 – 6:00 PM: 'Rama-Lakshmanan Dialogue' by Prof. Sukalyan Sengupta, UMASS/Dartmouth, interspersed with song(s) and a classical Indian dance relating to lecture. 6:00PM – 7:00PM - Soup Supper 7:00PM – 8:00PM – Aarati (singing two devotional songs, a short reading and meditation)
Tuesday, April 15	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Vedanta Study Class on the book, 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna,' Ch. 47, pg 892 onwards

 

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. 4' 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

Attleboro Interfaith Meeting – Thurs. April 03

Swami, a devotee and fifteen other clergy/congregation members participated in the monthly ‘Attleboro-based’ interfaith group, this month meeting at Agudas Achim synagogue, Attleboro MA, where Rabbi Elyse Wechterman offered a symbolic luncheon; explained the Judaic religious branches; Torah; brief on High Holy Days, etc. A hearty question session followed.

 

Walk-in Hatha Yoga – Sun. April 06
Three students attended the Hatha Yoga class from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, conducted in the Lower Level (LL), by a Vedanta devotee.

 

Sanskrit Class - Sun. April 06
Five students participated in the Sanskrit class (all classes on written translations and grammar) from 3:00 - 4:00 PM.

 

Bharathnatyam Dance Class – Sun. April 06
Five dance students attended dance class taught by Anuradha from 3:30 – 5:00 PM.

 

Tabla-Sitar Class – Sun. April 06
Three students so far are being taught beginner tabla by Koyel from 4:00 – 5:00 PM.

 

Children’s Sunday ‘Spiritual-Arts & Storytelling’ Class – Sun. April 06
Six children under age twelve participated in the 4:00 – 6:00 PM 'Kids Only!' Class. In the last half hour kids learnt to sing 'Namaste' from Peter T, who was leading on guitar.

 

* Rama Naama Chanting - Tue. April 08, 6:30 - 7:00 PM *
To honor the birthday of Sri Rama, there was food offering and chanting in the morning puja, a mini-food/flower (puja) offering to Rama at 6:30 PM, followed by chanting of 108 names of Sri Rama (Rama Naama Sankirtanam); after which the nightly 7:00 PM Aarati and class commenced.

 

Click here for some past event photos

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

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

 

'KARMA YOGA' (based on the book by Swami Vivekananda) Class – April 04, Friday

The goal of karma yoga is to transform the attitude with which we do our work from selfishness to total unselfishness. When absolute unselfishness is achieved, there is an infinite expansion of the individual personality. Our conscience provides us with the ability to discern the gap between what we feel we should be doing and what we are actually doing. 'Karma Yoga' teaches us that through the practice of unselfishness this gap can be bridged. The practice of unselfishness is the essence of karma yoga and the means by which the karma yogi attains freedom. The high ideal of total unselfishness may bring fear to the spiritual aspirant because it entails the dissolution of the little self, or ego. Nonetheless, the karma yogi must have the strength to take the very courageous step of letting go of that which is changing. The “little I” is in reality a phantom. Whether we believe in God or don’t believe in God, karma yoga can help us to achieve the highest goal in life through total unselfishness. Although in an absolute sense it is impossible to do good to the world, we can achieve good in a relative context: When we see that someone is suffering, it is our duty as karma yogis to attempt to substitute his or her misery with happiness. As karma yogis we must acknowledge that pleasures and pains are inevitabilities in life and that it is only through the practice of unselfishness that one attains liberation.

'Learning from the Ramayana', lecture by Pravrajika Vrajaprana – April 06, Sunday

Rama’s play on earth is eternal. The life of the Ramayana-author Valmiki, a robber and killer turned saint, shows that we all make mistakes, and that reaching the goal  in life comes from listening to the Guru and having faith in oneself. Lord Vishnu was born on earth as Rama to teach us. Rama was the embodiment of dharma. Lakshmana’s loyalty to Rama signifies the loyalty we need to have towards God. Rama was even-minded when he was first about to be crowned king, and then exiled to the forest for 14 years. We all have the evil maidservant Manthara in us, in the form of fear, envy, and jealousy. Our joy goes if we succumb to our lower nature. Lakshmana and Sita accompanied Rama to the forest, indicating that in Lord’s company, no place is dangerous. Sri Ramakrishna said that if a person clings to truth he or she will realize God. Rama embraced even the outcaste Guha, indicating that the Lord loves us all. Bharata loved Rama without caring if Rama loved him back. Ravana started off as a Brahmin, but became a demon because he wanted to keep beauty all for himself, leading him to kidnap Sita. Shabari waited 70 years for Rama to come, showing her dedication. We must think that today may be the day that the Lord appears. Hanuman was the ideal devotee who was able to achieve a lot when his spiritual teacher reminded him of who he really was. All work is equally important when done with devotion. Ego and lust caused Ravana to become demonic. Sita’s purity was tried by fire, as we are all tried by fire, and we will be unscathed if we love God completely.

 

'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' Class – April 08, Tuesday
From 6:30 – 7:00PM, 108 names to honor Rama (Sri RamaSankirtanam) was chanted. A mini puja food offering was conducted; then Aarati and class.

Sri Ramakrishna says that one cannot understand God through reasoning. Reason is limited to warding off misleading ideas about God. True knowledge doesn’t come from reasoning but directly from God. This happens when one’s ego is eliminated. When ego does not obstruct, knowledge flows freely from its inexhaustible source that is God Himself. Sri Ramakrishna completely surrendered to God and hence experienced that someone was supplying Him with the ideas and experiences as required in any situation.

Sri Ramakrishna also saw that He was not the performer of his own actions. God made Him do various things. It is ego that brings the idea of free will - man thinks that he can do things as he wills. But Sri Ramakrishna says that there is no such thing as free will. Man only performs the actions as per God’s will. Man is just a machine and God is its operator. Man is impelled by his nature to act. In Mahabharata, Arjuna did not want to fight but Krishna showed him that he did not have this choice. Arjuna’s very nature would make him fight.