 |
 |
|
|
Have a Question ?
If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers ATvedantaprov.org
Newsletter May 28, 2014
Upcoming Events
Swami to San Francisco, CA – June 02 thru Fri June 06
Swami will be in San-Francisco, California from Monday, June 02, and will return on Friday June 06.
Guest Lectures:
1) Sravani Bhattacharjee will discuss ‘Sri Ramakrishna at Cossipore Garden’ on Tuesday June 03, from 7:30 – 8:30 PM, in place of the Gospel of Ramakrishna class.
2) Swami Nikhilatmananda, senior monk of Ramakrishna Order, India, will speak on 'Hanuman: Embodiment of Surrender to God' based on Ramcharit Manas with a recitation of some of the verses, from 7:30 – 8:30 PM on Friday, June 06, in place of the weekly Bhakti Yoga class. All are encouraged to attend.
3) on Sun. June 08, Pamela Dee will conduct the Sunday Service 5PM – 6PM Lecture on ‘Saraswati’, which will also be accompanied by a classical dance by Shivali Gupta.
All are welcome for above lectures.
Devotional Music Concert – Sun. June 15
Dattatreya Velankar will sing classical devotional music on Sunday June 15, immediately following the 5-6PM Sunday Lecture, from 6:00PM – 7:30PM,in the Lower Level(LL).
Day-Long Spiritual Retreat - Sat. June 14, 9:30am - 7:00pm
Sub: Living Spiritually
Speaker: Swami Prasannatmananda, Vedanta Society of Berkeley, CA
Prior registration required. Registration Fee - $20.00 per person; For 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 March & April 2014) on our website:
http://vedantaprov.org/lectures.html
Dates for Summer Programs:
1) Young Adult Retreat - July 25 - 27
2) Silent Meditation Retreat - August 1 - 3
3) Children Camp - August 12 - 16
Ongoing Weekly Classes
1) 'Walk- in' Hatha Yoga Classes
Saturdays, 5:00 – 6:00 PM: Instructor: Hannah Ressenger; for details: 401-473-4372, key2lyfe-AT-gmail.com
Sundays, 10 – 11 AM: Instructor: Pat Blake; for details: Pat.Blake8-AT-gmail.com
2) Sanskrit Class – Sundays, 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Sanskrit grammar lessons will continue to be held on Sundays, 3:00 - 4:00 PM. Deepro Chakraborty, a Sanskrit-Studies PhD student from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and a Sankrit instructor at St Stephens College, New Delhi, conducts the lessons remotely (but students gather in the Vedanta Society premises). Interested students who are willing to join the classes must have some prior exposure in Sanskrit (these are not beginning level lessons). Contact only Abhijit (a_sarcar-AT-yahoo.com) for specific details.
3) Bharathnatyam Dance Class – Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM
On ‘hold’ for family emergency these next couple weeks.
Contact Anuradha at 704-707-5430 for complete information.
4) Sitar and Tabla lessons – Sundays, 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Contact Koyel Ghoshal: koyelg-AT-yahoo.com
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, May 30 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class on Bhakti Yoga, (book by Swami Vivekananda) taught by Swami Yogatmananda |
| Saturday, May 31 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 7:00PM – 8:00PM : Aarati (devotional singing, a reading and meditation) - open to all |
| Sunday, June 01 |
5:00 – 5:40 PM: A talk - 'Conscience: Intrinsic & Acquired' by Swami Yogatmananda |
| Tuesday, June 03 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Sravani Bhattacharjee will speak on: ‘Sri Ramakrishna at the Cossipore Garden’ |
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
Indian Classical Music - Sun. May 25, 6-7:30 PM
After the Sunday Service, about fifty-five music enthusiasts attended the Indian Classical Music on Slide Guitar performed by Rhitom Sarkar, with Amit Kavathekar on tabla from 6:15PM – 7:45PM, held in the lower level(LL).
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class 'Bhakti-Yoga' - #4 - (based on the book by Swami Vivekananda) - May 23, Friday
Though the path of devotion and the path of knowledge at first appear to be contradictory paths, both lead to the same goal, the realization of the Self, and mutually reinforce one another. For the devotee on the path of devotion, the practice of discernment is of critical importance. Without the practice of discernment the devotee is liable to become fanatical. For the jnani on the path of knowledge, the practice of devotion is of critical importance. Without the practice of the devotion, the jnani may become dry and joyless. If we look to the great teachers of Vedanta, such as Sankaracarya, Ramanuja, Bhoja, and Vyasa, we see wonderful combinations of discernment and devotion. On the path of knowledge, we discern and meditate. On the path of devotion, we do the exact same thing, only our discernment and mediation are expressions of our devotion. When we love God, we remember God. The mind naturally hovers around that which it loves. Intense love for God leads to the continual remembrance of God. Continual remembrance is a type of seeing. In that sense, we can see God and thus realize the truth by constantly remembering God. Swami Vivekanda implores us to turn our love away from that which is unreal and towards that which is real, God alone. By cultivating immense devotion, we will see God and find fulfillment in life.
SHARING: A Spiritual Practice – May 25, Sunday
The ultimate goal of spiritual practice is, to realize that the ‘I’ in everybody is one and the same. Whatever helps us understand/feel/see this, is spiritual practice. We may feel this through meditation, poetry, music, or service etc. Sharing brings spiritual practice to everyone. What is connected to the body, I call mine, such as my family. The nose shares air and the mouth shares food with the body. When we give something, we feel more joy than when we snatch something. Gradually, we see the same self in those with whom we share. Then we feel pain not only when our body is hurt, but when another is hurt. The bible advocates loving God and loving your neighbor. Hindus do sacrifices every day to celestial powers (such as sun, wind and rain), parents and ancestors, teachers, and all animals, all of whom give us life and/or wisdom. Jesus shared his body, symbolized by bread, and his blood, symbolized by wine. Sharing as a spiritual practice impacts us so gradually that we don’t notice it. Sharing removes the fictitious idea of ownership. When there was a fire, King Janaka was not perturbed, because he knew his wealth was infinite, or God. Swami Vivekananda said that each soul is potentially divine. Spiritual practice allows us to realize this divinity. We chant: Let us be protected together and nourished together. Let us share what we have until we see nothing is mine, and everything belongs to God. Then we will be free.
Study Class 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' – May 27, Tuesday
Sri Ramakrishna, advises to go beyond the shame of how we measure up in the world's purview as opposed to what we are in God's eyes. We should give up false modesty and not feel shy about singing the name of God. Is social recognition more important than God? Between relative knowledge and ignorance, one is caught in the whirlpool of anger, hatred, desire, lust and fear of death. So, one has to follow spiritual practices and discipline to purify oneself and get the Knowledge of God.(Jnana). Fully established in it, one continuously experiences the Oneness while enjoying the different forms of the One (Vijnana). Sri Ramakrishna sings a composition of Ramprasad beckoning the Mind to take a walk to Kali, the Wish ful-filling Tree and collect the four fruits of human life, namely Dharma (grounding in virtues), Artha (working to earn wealth), Kama (desires), Moksha (liberation) and thereby attain the Abode of Blessedness. Mother Syama can be perceived only when the dualities (such as virtue and vice, cleanliness and defilement, etc.) have been laid to rest.
When Ishan (a devotee) asks Master as to what remains after the thorn of ignorance is removed and the thorn of knowledge is cast aside, Master simply says, "Nithya Shuddha-Bodha-Roopam =Pure Consciousness. This ultimate vision can only be had by spending one's life in the company of holy men.