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If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers ATvedantaprov.org
Newsletter May 06, 2015
Upcoming Events
Special Prayer Meeting for the Victims of Nepal Earthquake -
Wed. May 6, from 6:45-8:00 PM, at Vedanta Society of Providence
Aarranged through the joint efforts of:
India Association of RI, Vedanta Society of Providence, Nepal Association of RI
All are welcome.
Nepal Earthquake Relief
The branch of Ramakrishna Mission in Nepal has started doing the primary relief work for the hundreds of thousands of people afflicted due to the massive earthquake of April 25, 2015. The Ramakrishna Ashram in Nepal has sent out request for donation to conduct this relief work and the Vedanta Society of Providence can collect donations for it which will be tax-exempt. Please send your checks to the Vedanta Society of Providence, 227 Angell St, Providence, RI, 02906. A sum of $2,500.00 has already been sent by the Society to serve the immediate needs.
New 6-Weeks Hatha Yoga Course - May 06 - June 10
Beginning Wednesday, May 06, a six-week ‘Mindful Flow’ Hatha Yoga class will be conducted at the Vedanta Society under the teaching of Ellen Schaefer of One Yoga Center, RI. The 6-week course will be $30.00 Pre-paid; and $10.00 per class walk-in. Contact Ellen at 401-368-9647.
Bhagavad Gita class, Middletown CT – Sun. May 10, 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Swami Yogatmananda will conduct the monthly Bhagavad Gita (Ch.18 cont.) at Sri Satyanarayana Temple (10 Training Hill Rd, Middletown, CT). All are welcome.
Day-long Spiritual Retreat - Sat. June 13, 9:30AM - 7:00PM
Sub:'Crest Jewel of Discernment' (Viveka-Chudamani) of Sankaracharya
- by Swami Ishatmananda, Minister, Vedanta Society, Chicago
Reg. Fee $20.00 per person. Prior Reg. required. Register by mail or at the Vedanta Society or online.
Click here to download reg. form or to register online.
Other ongoing Classes:
1) $5.00 Walk-in Hatha Yoga with Hannah Resseger on Tuesdays from 6pm – 7pm: Contact Hannah ONLY at: key2life-AT-gmail.com
2) Bharathanatyam (South Indian) Classical Dance Classes on Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00 pm: Contact Anuradha ONLY at : 704-707-5430
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, May 08 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Swami Yogatmananda on 'Kenopanisad', a Vedanta Upanisad Text. |
| Saturday, May 09 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 7:00 PM-8PM: Aarati (singing, a short reading & continued meditation) |
| Sunday, May 10 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM:A talk on - 'SIVA and SAKTI' (Mother’s Day Special Discussion) by Swami Yogatmananda 6:00 – 7:00 PM: Soup Supper 7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation |
| Tuesday, May 12 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Swami Yogatmananda on 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna', Ch 48, pp 927 |
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. 6' 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
Fairhaven MA Unitarian students visit Vedanta - Sat. May 02
About seven senior-level students and their teacher from Unitarian Universalist Church, Fairhaven, MA, met with Swami in the library from 4:30 – 5:45pm to learn basics of Hinduism and Vedanta.
Day-long Meditation - Sat. May 02, 12noon – 8:00PM
About fifteen devotees participated in this monthly ‘long mediation session’, from 12 noon to 8pm.
About seven children attended this month’s class. A children’s book on Buddha was read by Dorothy Abram. Abhishek Goswami, a Brown University Grad student told stories from Buddha’s life.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class - 'Kenopanisad' - May 1, Friday
The disciple is asking his teacher to explain who is the "force" behind all
beings. The teacher replies, somewhat cryptically, that He is the ear of
the ear, he is the eye of the eye, he is the mind of the mind, etc.
Brahman is not behind but permeates all things. Because the Absolute- the
Brahman- has pervaded all the senses and mind as their very self, the eyes
cannot reach there, nor speech, nor mind, so the sages do not know how to
teach about it, in a way other than that which has been passed down through
the generations. To accurately express this truth, one would have to go
beyond language. After listening to what the teacher has said, the disciple
intellectually grasps that he needs to go beyond the subject-object
dichotomy, and he forms in his mind some idea of what Brahman is like. Then
the teacher informs the student that this awareness is only a minute part of
what Brahman really is.
Our intellectual understanding of Brahman will always be limited. For it is
the matter of deepest meditative experience. In order to go deeper, we need
to develop a practical understanding. Meditation is a path for this. The
sense of I and mine subsides gradually in meditation and, through it, we are
able to transcend this earthly plane and merge into awareness of God.
Impermanence of Ego - In Buddha's Teachings - May 3, Sunday
The Buddha tried to deliver us from suffering once and for all, through
practice rather than theory. The truths he discovered are called Noble
Truths, because the mind must be elevated to see these truths. He gave up
his kingdom and family because he found that renunciation frees us from
suffering. We may know intellectually that life is suffering, but we seek to
have enjoyment, and ignore the fact that it is going to bring the suffering.
The Buddha's second sermon after his enlightenment was a sermon on non-self.
He said that everything is impermanent and devoid of self. 'No-self' has
become the cornerstone of Buddhist doctrine, and is cited to distinguish it
from Vedanta. Vedanta says that the Self alone is. Anindita Balslev, in the
book The Enigma of I-Consciousness, says that in Buddhism, the body, forms,
perception, and mental formations are not self, and there is no room for a
permanent core self. Shankaracharya similarly says I am not body, mind or
ego, but he says I am existence, bliss, and knowledge absolute. When we know
everything is impermanent, we will not get attached to things, like we are
not attached to a seat on a plane. We won't worry about what will happen to
me. The Buddha corrected a misunderstanding of Vedanta that the world is
illusory but that I am permanent. The Buddha said that the I is equally
illusory, but was silent on whether the soul is the same or different from
the body, because the listener would not understand, and needed to find out
for himself by following the eight-fold path, as presented in the fourth
Noble Truth.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - May 5, Tuesday
Sri Ramakrishna was talking to devotees about his nephew Hriday. Hriday
stayed with Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineshwar during the time of his intense
spiritual practices. Master had no bodily awareness at that time on account
of the extreme yearning for the divine realization. Hriday served the Master
and took care of his physical body. Hriday was of worldly inclination and
he always tried to make use of his connection with the Master for some minor
material gains. He also became very possessive about the Master in the later
part of his association with the Master. All this dragged him down which led
to his moving away from the Master. Love of an ignorant person very easily
gets converted to possessiveness and jealousy. Master mentioned a similar
situation about Rakhal Maharaj (Swami Brahmananda). His love towards Master
was taking a turn of possessiveness. Due to this, he was removed from the
Master's company for a short while. He spent that time in spiritual
practices at Vrindavana. As a result of which his love for the Master
matured from possessiveness to true love. His limitless love for the Master
was manifested later on when he became the spiritual giant and led the whole
Ramakrishna Movement for significant number of years.
At the Master's request, devotees sang a few songs. The songs described how
yearning for God realization can bring about transformation in one's life.
Gradual purification draws the mind inward and gives a glimpse of joy which
is beyond this world. If one does not take efforts for the God realization
in Human life, then his life is almost wasted..