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If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers ATvedantaprov.org
Newsletter June 17, 2015
Upcoming 'Special' Events
Comprehensive Yoga Conference - Fri. June 19 - Sun. June 21
In celebration of the International Day of Yoga ( June 21st), the Vedanta Society of Providence in collaboration with the Center for Indic Studies at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and the India Association of Rhode Island (IARI) will offer a three-day Yoga conference on the practical aspects of Yoga including lectures, demos and workshops by experienced teachers and practicing subject-matter experts.
Friday, June 19 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, June 20 - 9:30am - 5:00pm
Sunday, June 21 - 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Click here for more information.
Summer Events 2015 -Reserve the dates (pdf file)
Notice: Beginning MONDAY morning, June 22, the Center's daily and weekly activities will be suspended until Saturday, September 12.
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, June 19 |
7:00 - 9:00 PM: Comprehensive Yoga Conference -Lectures & Chair Yoga; Open to All; No Fee. |
| Saturday, June 20 |
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM: Comprehensive Yoga Conference |
| Sunday, June 21 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM:A talk on -- ‘A Comprehensive Synthesis of Yoga’ by Swami Divyananda (Trustee, Belur Math, India) |
Daily Programs
The daily morning & evening summertime ‘meditation-only’ programs from Monday, June 22 - Fri. Sept. 11, (NO morning chanting; No evening singing) requires Swami Yogatmananda's permission, as entry will be secured.
| 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
Interfaith Meeting – Thurs. June 11
About eight interfaith clergy & congregation members participated in the ‘Attleboro-based’ Interfaith monthly meeting, this time hosted by Vedanta Society, before breaking for the summer, there was lively discussion on: ‘What do you see as the future of this group? What do you get out of being part of the group up until this point? What do you want to participate in, in the future (as a group)?
Day-long Retreat - Sat. June 13
Sixty-five devotees attended in this 50th day-long retreat from 9:30am – 7:00pm. Swami Ishatmananda, Minister, Vedanta Society of Chicago, delivered two (1&½) hour discourses on: 'Crest Jewel of Discernment' (Viveka-Chudamani) of Sankaracharya and also led morning guided meditation session. He, along with Swami Yogatmananda conducted an hour-plus Q/A session. The retreat also consisted of devotional music; Yoga/Tai-Chi session; refreshment breaks; meals; Aarati; and chanting Sankirtanam.
Classical Violin & Tabla Concert – Sun. June 14
About fifty music enthusiasts attended the classical Violin concert performed by Pt. Jagan Ramamoorthy, prominent disciple of Padmabhusan Rajam, from 6pm – 7:30pm in Lower Level, following the Sunday Lecture. Pt. Jagan was accompanied on Tabla by Amit Kavthekar.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class - 'Kenopanisad' - June 12, Friday
It is difficult for us to fathom the truth that the "I" in me is the same "I" that's in everyone and everything. It's overwhelming, and we naturally become apprehensive: what will happen to the "I-and-mine" that I've become attached to? There can be no compromise; they must be given up. Everything is the one and the same I. The assimilation of this knowledge requires a lot of practice. One can intellectually understand it quite easily, but to really assimilate it into one's practical experience requires a lot of practice, and this in turn requires the use of various symbols. Symbolism is necessary for the way we humans think. The teacher suggests several symbols. The first is lightning; another symbol that is given is the blinking of the eyes.. The last symbol is the mind: your body is fixed in one spacio-temporal location, but your mind can be anywhere. Meditate on the mind as a symbol of all-pervasiveness, that "I am not this body." For most of us on our spiritual journey, name is a very important support. The teacher gives the name Tad-vana, that which is Atman, the self in everyone. At the end of the Upanisad, after the teaching has been expounded, the student makes a request which at first might appear strange: "I want to study the Upanisad. Please teach me the Upanisad." The student is really asking, "Is that all? Is the teaching complete? Or is there anything left for me to learn?" The Upanisads are famously simple, all teaching the message that Brahman alone is real, the world is an unreal appearance that comes and goes. As students, this simple message might leave us feeling like there has to be more, since we expect that complication must be a requirement of spiritual life. But this is not so. The teacher assures him, " You have been taught the Upanisad- the Upanisad about Brahman, there is nothing left." However, the teacher leaves him with some parting words, already covered earlier in the text, but added for emphasis here. The practice of austerity, restraint, dedicated works- are essential for EVERYBODY. They form the feet upon which knowledge of Brahman will stand. Austerity and restraint bring our body under our control, so we are not controlled by it. Without these, the intellectual understanding of spiritual truths will come, but the experiential understanding will not. Dedicated works that are part of our spiritual practice keep us making steady spiritual progress. If austerity, restraint, and dedicated spiritual works are the feet of our knowledge of Brahman, scriptures form the body, and Truth is its abode. Sins come from ignorance, the sense of I and mine; thus, when the "I" sense has dissolved, sin is no longer possible. Finally, "One is established in the highest heaven." Realizing the ultimate Truth, one becomes Bliss itself.
Sabbath for Man, not Man for Sabbath - June 14, Sunday
[Before the lecture, the sad news of passing away of Swami Shantarupananda,
the head of the Vedanta Society of Portland, Oregon, was given to the
audience. He passed away on Wed, Jun 10 at 10:25 pm EST. After observing
silence for two minutes, a Powerpoint presentation of his visits to
Providence and a clip of his talk was shown.]
Jesus said: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." The
Sabbath is a wonderful custom, considered to be obligatory. It is good if it
takes us toward our goal. Swami Vivekananda said: "We must also remember
that in every little village-god and every little superstitious custom is
that which we are accustomed to call our religious faith. But local customs
are infinite and contradictory." Sruti are revealed teachings and smriti are
how they are applied. Customs come and go, but the principle on which they
are based, remains. Observing the Sabbath is no favor to God, but it allows
our life to be disciplined. Once an attendant woke up a sleeping Swami to
give him a sleeping pill that he was scheduled to take. Hindus used to eat
beef, but in the agrarian revolution, cows were too useful to eat, so they
were given 'religious protection'. In fasting, we have more time to think of
God because we don't take time out to cook, but we may spend our time
thinking of food, which defeats the purpose. Breaking a custom takes
courage, such as when Swami Vivekananda went against custom and crossed the
seas. Temple doors, even the one at Dakshineswar, were closed to him when he
came back. The custom of not eating food in the evening that was cooked in
the morning, was due to the tropical climate before there was refrigeration.
In sacrificing a custom, we must not compromise the principle on which it is
based. Great prophets come to break customs, and put the essence in new
customs. Sri Ramakrishna insisted on taking alms from a lower-caste woman
after his thread ceremony, as he had promised her he would, even though it
went against custom, and the wishes of his family and priest. God doesn't
need our ovations, which are there to express our love.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - June 16, Tuesday
The gift of spiritual wisdom is the greatest gift and giver of that wisdom
is the greatest giver. Sri Ramakrishna was imparting spiritual wisdom to all
his devotees in spite of his tremendously failing health. By studying
Master's blissful life one may realize that the source of true joy lies
inside and not outside. Master had the vision about all the devotees coming
to him. He could very clearly see not only their faces but even their inner
nature. When devotees started coming to him he could verify each one of
them. Master has also described elsewhere his visions about Ramlala - the
idol of child Rama. He felt the presence of child Rama everywhere. Master
could talk, play and even scold him. As water takes the form of the pot,
divinity takes the form of the various worldly objects. When we look at the
world we see the material objects. Due to the intense spiritual practices
and purity of the mind, Master could see the divinity everywhere.
These accounts which are very vividly mentioned in the Gospel, paint a true
picture of Sri Ramakrishna. The picture which goes beyond the form and
qualities. This picture can be very helpful for meditation. One can focus on
the key message given by him and try to understand his real nature through
these words.