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Have a Question ?
If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers ATvedantaprov.org
Newsletter September 24, 2014
NOTICES:
1) The Sunday Morning Yoga class by Patricia Blake will start from Sun. Sept. 21. The Sat. 5 pm Yoga class has been shifted to Tue. 6:15 to 7:00 pm.
2) Some Sunday Lectures from May & June 2014 (Video and Audio) available here: http://vedantaprov.org/lectures.html
Upcoming Events
Half-day Special WORK-SHOP - Sat. Sept. 27, 9:30AM - 1:00PM
Sub: 'WORSHIP: MEANING & PRACTICE' by Swami Yogatmananda
Prior Reg. Required. NO WALK-INS.
Reg Fee $10.00 per person + $1.00 for online registration
Click here to register online.
You can also register by mail OR at our office.
Tentative Schedule:
9:30 - 11:00 AM - General Philosophy and description of Puja Ritual
11:00 - 11:30 AM - Tea/Coffee Break
11:30 - 1:00 PM - Some Demonstrations & QA
Spiritual Retreat - Sat. Oct. 11, 9:30AM - 7:00PM
Sub: 'Patanjali's Way (Indian Psychology)' by Pravrajika Gitaprana, Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, NY
Prior Reg. Required. Reg Fee $15.00 per person + $1.00 for online registration
More information will be provided soon.
Salutations ! - Wed. Sept. 24
The birth anniversary of Swami Akhandananda, direct disciple of Ramakrishna, will be observed in the morning with a chant, and in the evening with a song, a biography reading and prasad.
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, Sept. 26 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Class #9 on ‘Bhakti Yoga’ (based on the book by Swami Vivekananda) |
| Saturday, Sept. 27 |
9:30 – 1:00 PM: Half-day Special WORK-SHOP on 'Worship'; Open to registrants only; NO WALK-INS. see details above. |
| Sunday, Sept. 28 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM: A talk - 'Open Sesame' by Swami Yogatmananda |
| Tuesday, Sept. 30 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class on 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna', Ch 47 pg 902 |
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
- Long Meditation Session – Sat. Sept. 20, 11:00AM - 8:00PM
This began with about twenty devotees participating in the 11:00 AM – 12 noon ‘guided meditation/music hour'. About ten/eleven devotees continued thru the day.
Swami also participated in the annual interfaith ‘PeaceWalk’ downtown at 3PM.
- Bhagavad Gita class, Middletown CT – Sun. Sept. 21, 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Swami Yogatmananda conducted the monthly Bhagavad Gita (Ch.15 cont.) at Sri Satyanarayana Temple, Middletown, CT.
- Children’s Sunday ‘Spiritual-Arts & Storytelling’ Class – Sun. Sept. 21, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
The monthly ‘Just Children!’ program re-convened under the guidance of Prof Dorothy Abram. - Santoor Concert – Sun. Sept. 21
Following the 5PM – 6PM Sunday lecture, about fifty music enthusiasts listened to Pt. Satish Vyas perform classical music on santoor(hammered dulcimer) accompanied by Amit Kavthekar on Tabla, from 6:15 – 8PM.Dinner followed.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class 'Bhakti-Yoga' - #8 - (based on the book by Swami Vivekananda) - Sep. 19, Friday
The practice of bhakti yoga involves the turning of our emotions towards God and engaging in a determined search after our Beloved. When we love someone or something, we find ourselves willing to overcome any obstacle to be united with that person or thing. A genuine desire for God will inevitably lead us to be absorbed in the source of all love. When we identify feelings of love for the objects of the world, it is really but the reflection of love. The true source of all love is God, and when we try to connect to this source, we experience real love. As this real love starts growing, our attachments to the things of the world start to diminish. We begin to let go unreal, because we have become connected to what is Real.
There are ways we can prepare for and begin to cultivate this love for God within ourselves. In this current chapter of Bhakti Yoga, Swami Vivekananda explains the need for a spiritual teacher, or guru. According to Swamiji, we are all journeying in the direction of perfection- in the end, everyone will attain God realization. So, we may wonder, why should I bother with a guru and spiritual practice? Our ego makes us resist seeking help from a spiritual guide Yet, outside help is necessary in the vast majority of cases, so let us tell ourselves, “I need help,” and seek it out. There are some topics which we can learn about in books, but, in spiritual matters, books are inadequate when it comes to bringing about spiritual growth. That quickening impulse has to pass from one soul to another. When the disciple feels an intense desire to receive wisdom from the guru, then the knowledge starts to flow. This connection may even exist even between a disciple and a guru who has passed away and, because of this strong, tangible bond, the disciple can continue to receive guidance from that guru.
'Overcoming Boredom' – Sep. 21, Sunday
Boredom is a universal problem. The Upanishads even say that God created the world because He was bored from being alone. We have a conflict between an urge for intense mental activity, and the fact that what we want is not being provided by the environment. Boredom is a serious psychological, pedagogical, and social issue. Psychologically, we have ‘affluenza’, where we get everything we want, but we do not get enjoyment from any of it and thus get bored. Pedagogically, students need to be able to concentrate for a long time to learn. Crimes are committed out of boredom. We see increasing addictions in society. Sensitivity is lost and we cannot feel the problems of others. It can be difficult to continue spiritual practice due to boredom. Sri Chaitanya said: “O Lord! You have given us many names of Yours to chant, and one can recite them at any time. Such is Your mercy, O Lord, but I am so unfortunate that I am not feeling any loving engagement for this chanting.” Gradually, more and more joy will come as the grip of the external world slackens. After a while, boredom will reduce in frequency and intensity, and eventually, it will vanish completely. Nothing outside has the ability to satisfy us, so everything one tries becomes boring after a while. In prisons, boredom is a big problem. As we all do, prisoners need something meaningful to do. We need a strong resolve and determination to overcome boredom. We must educate ourselves that there is no happiness outside, and train ourselves to restrain ourselves from going out to grab things. Gradually, dependence on the environment to provide excitement will go away. The Self is bliss itself. It is the inexhaustible, infinite, source of true, permanent happiness inside. We can train ourselves to go inside through prayer and meditation. Initially, this training is boring too. When the goal is reached, one becomes bliss and there is no possibility of boredom.
Study Class 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Sept. 23, Tuesday
Shyam, who was a person of intellectual inclination, asked Sri Ramakrishna the difference between the gross and the subtle body. The physical framework made up of five elements is the gross body. The internal mechanism - the mind, ego and the discriminating faculty - which makes the gross body function is the subtle body. Sri Ramakrishna also explained one step further about the causal body which can't be quantified or specified. Even at this level there remains a distinction between the absolute and the relative. These three states are well- connected though the awareness of gross body is not there in dream-state or deep-sleep state. The best example of this can be cited as waking state - the gross body, dream state - the subtle body and state of deep sleep - the causal body. The gross body can function only if it is connected to subtle & causal. The subtle body will function only with the power of causal body. As one travels from gross to subtle to causal body, the specification reduces but versatility increases and increasingly more possibilities open up. Behind all these three , there is THE ABSOLUTE cause called Maha-karan. This Absolute Cause does not undergo any change while ‘producing the multiplicity. The variation is the product of ignorance. As soon as the ignorance is removed, there remains nothing but the Absolute.