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If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers ATvedantaprov.org
Newsletter February 04, 2015
Upcoming Events
Day-long Meditation - Sat. Feb. 07, 2015, 12noon – 8:00PM
The monthly 'Day-long Meditation Session' begins at 12noon, immediately after the 11am – 12noon ‘guided meditation & singing hour’. Please be IN the building before 12 noon, as entries will be closed. Doors open again at 6:30 for 7pm – 8pm Aarati. All welcome to participate.
Simple Vegetarian lunch will be provided.
Maha-Shivaratri – Tues. Feb. 17
On Tues. Feb. 17, Aarati will begin at 6:45PM, followed by the chanting of Shivanaam Sankirtanam (108 names to Shiva) and a special talk by Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana. All are welcome.
NOTICES:
1) Swami Yogatmananda is away, traveling in India from Jan. 14 - Feb. 23.
Click here to see his travel itinerary in India.
During this period, Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana, a nun from the Vedanta Society of So. California is conducting weekly classes.
2) Bharathanatyam Dance Classes – Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM; Contact Anuradha: 704-707-5430
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, Feb. 06 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana on the book 'For the Seekers of God' (Teachings of Swami Shivananda), |
| Saturday, Feb. 07 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 6:30PM: front entry opens for Aarati 7:00PM - 8:00PM |
| Sunday, Feb. 08 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM: A talk ‘Holy Mother’s Life – as an Ideal for the Modern World’ by Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana 6:00PM – 7:00 PM: Soup Supper 7:00PM - 8:00PM : Aarati (devotional singing, a reading and meditation) |
| Tuesday, Feb. 10 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana on the book 'Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play' |
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. 5' 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
Click here to see photos of Guest speakers in last couple of weeks.
Children’s Sunday 'Spiritual-Arts & Storytelling' Class – Sun. Feb. 1, 4:00 – 6:00PM
The monthly ‘Just Children!’ program met from 4PM – 6PM in the children’s room.
Salutations! – Tue. Feb. 03
The birth anniversary of Swami Adbhutananda, direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, was observed on Tue. Feb. 03, in the morning with a chant and in the evening with a song & biography reading, and prasad.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class - 'For Seekers of God' - Jan. 30, Friday
A monk had just returned from a pilgrimage to many holy places. As the conversation turned towards monasticism, the young monk asked Mahapurushji about the rules of conduct a monk should follow. Since the monks of the Ramakrishna Order are engaged in service work, it is not always practical for them to follow all of the orthodox monastic rules stated in the Upanishads. Therefore, Mahapurushji told the monk that if one follows the essentials of spiritual life, such as renunciation of lust and greed, resigning oneself entirely to the will of the Lord, and desiring the realization of God alone, the rest will take care of itself.
In the course of discussion, the spiritual advantages of dying in Varanasi were brought up. According to tradition, whoever departs this life in Varanasi is liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth. Mahapurushiji emphatically told those present that, “Where and under what condition [the Lords] devotees give up their bodies is immaterial…The heart of a devotee in which the Lord of the Universe is enshrined is as good as holy Varansi.” By realizing God in one’s heart the devotee attains liberation.
While addressing a monk, Mahapurushji advised him to meditate early in the morning since with little effort the mind becomes absorbed in the object of meditation. Another monk told Mahapurushji that Swami Brahmandaji had instructed him to repeat his mantra ten thousand times a day. Mahapurushji told the swamiji that such rigid adherence to spiritual practice, particularly japa and meditation, is very good and will surely lead to progress in the spiritual life.
'Enlightenment - Historical and Mystical' – a talk by Charles Feldman - Feb. 1, Sunday
We seek meaning in life. Religions emphasize either their historical founding or communion with the Divine, and either justice or renunciation. Holy Mother said that to see guilt in someone, you must first make your own mind guilty. Swami Vivekananda said that the thief that robs and the yogi who meditates both seek love, but only the yogi is successful. Swami Baneshananda told a story about two children who argued over whose mother was the best. One of their mothers intervened and told them that each mother was the best for her child. This can be applied to religion. The industrial and scientific revolutions brought about the ideas of liberty, equality, and solidarity, which end up emphasizing respectively greed, anger, and pride, which are the three poisons mentioned in Buddhism. At first, it seems we have to settle for a flawed ideal or no ideal at all. The existentialist philosopher Soren Kierkegaard advocated a religious commitment, saying that the intellect leads to endless doubt. He said that a second-hand relationship with God is like falling in love at second hand. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, a child of devotees, embraced postmodernism. Her mentor, Paul de Man said we all have blind spots that may lead us into the very problem we are trying to resolve. It could be said that Maya is a big blind spot. All religions have their bridge builders and their sectarians. What counts is a personal connection with God. Political activists have reshuffled the world while the point is to transcend it. Swami Chetanananda said we should worship the illiterate with education, the hungry with food, the sick with medicine and a proper diet, and the rich with spirituality. Meditation may make us more unselfish, while political activism may make us more selfish. Swami Tyagananda said that if we are unselfish, it does not matter how we identify our religion or lack of religion. He said results matter, and labels don’t. Sri Ramakrishna said his head ached when people calculated too much. He prayed: “I am bereft of knowledge. I am without discipline. I have no devotion. I know nothing. Thou (Mother) must be gracious and reveal Thyself to me.”
Study Class - 'Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play' - Feb. 3, Tuesday
Master had intense yearning to realize God. It is said that his agony can be compared with the agony of a mother who has recently lost her child. Due to the pangs of separation, Master has immersed himself into various spiritual disciplines in the earlier part of his life. He practiced various devotional moods to realize God. He never dwelt at the realm of the world - of which we all are aware of. He used to be in the constant remembrance of the Lord. Either he was in Nirvikalpa Samadhi – which means in complete oneness with God or in Bhava – which means a peculiar devotional mood. Master saw the same God in everything and in everyone. He always interacted with everyone with the same divine consciousness. Master’s life is exemplary to show how one can practice the spiritual disciplines in any of the Bhava and still reach the same Goal. He practiced the attitude of a calm, peaceful saint, the attitude of a servant like Hanumaan, the attitude of a friend, the attitude of a loving parent and the attitude of a lover towards the divine beloved.
He advised the devotees to give ¾ of the mind to God and ¼ to the world. This can be done by adopting a spiritual mood to establish connection with the divine. One may choose a spiritual mood which is closer to his/her inner nature. One must maintain that mood throughout the life. This will help to effectively channelize the natural tendencies in spiritual practices.
When Master was at Dakshineshwar, he was visited by a monk named Jatadhari. He initiated the Master in the worship of Child Rama. Jatadhari used to worship the image of child Rama (Ramlala) and used to feel the living presence of that Child Rama constantly. He used to bathe the image of Ramlala, cook food for him etc. After he initiated the Master, even Master could see that child Rama around him all the time. Not only this but the child Rama used to demand various things, pester Sri Ramakrishna for various reasons, and even get scolded for doing some notorious things. It has been described that Ramlala became so fond of the Master that he used to leave Jatadhari and come to the Master. Master’s experiences with Ramlala are beyond understanding of an ordinary human being. One may contemplate on those and try to establish a similar relationship with God which will be helpful in spiritual advancement.