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If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers ATvedantaprov.org
Newsletter November 04, 2015
Upcoming Events
Swami to New Jersey – Wed. Nov. 11
Swami will travel to the Voorhees Vedanta group in New Jersey to perform a Kali puja and deliver some talks to local areas. He will return Thursday around 6 pm.
Day-long Meditation - Sat. Nov. 07, 12noon – 8:00PM
This is a continual long meditation session, starting with guided meditation at 11:00 AM. Must be IN bldg by 12 noon, when entry will be locked; Can leave any time, but cannot re-enter until 6:30PM. Simple Veg. lunch-food will be provided. Doors open at 6:30pm for the 7:00pm singing Aarati, then meditation resumes.
Connecticut Kali Puja Program – Sat. Nov. 07
Swami and devotees will meet from 3pm – 6pm at newly formed Vedanta Society of CT, 100 Cherry Brook Rd, Canton CT, to perform Kali puja, sing devotional music and partake prasad.
All are welcome.
Bhagavad Gita class, Middletown CT – Sun. Nov. 08, 10:30 - 11:30AM
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 RETREAT - Sat. Dec. 05, 10:00AM –7:00PPM
Topic: ‘The CAVE of the HEART’ by Swami Chidbrahmananda, Vedanta Center of Greater Washington DC.
Prior registration required Fee: $20/person.
Click here for more info & online registration.
Hatha Yoga class:
‘Walk-in’ ($5.00) Hatha Yoga class on Tues. evenings from 6:00pm – 7:00pm with Hannah Resseger.
Contact Hannah only AT: key2life-AT-gmail.com
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, Nov. 06 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class #6 by Swami Yogatmananda on 'Jnana Yoga’, a book by Swami Vivekananda |
| Saturday, Nov. 07 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 12noon – 8:00 PM - LONG MEDITATION SESSION |
| Sunday, Nov. 08 |
5:00 – 6:00PM: A talk - ‘Mother of the Universe’ (based on songs on Divine Mother) by Swami Yogatmananda 6:00 – 6:15 PM: Aarati (devotional music) |
| Tuesday, Nov. 10 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Swami Yogatmananda on 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna', Ch 49, pp 942 |
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
Meerabai Bhajan Concert - Wed. Oct. 28
About twenty-two music enthusiasts listened to a devotional Music Concert of Meerabai Bhajans, set to soulful melodies by the great Indian musician Dilip Kumar Roy, which was performed by Priya Chopra and Neeta Saraf along with the instrumental accompanists.
Click here to see photos.
Interfaith Meetings on Thursday, Oct 29:
Swami Yogatmananda participated in the annual ‘Heroes of Faith’ breakfast meeting at ‘Rhodes on the Pawtuxet’ from 7:30 to 11:00 am and then at the Interfaith Peace Meeting against violence at Burnside Park in downtown Providence at 1:00 pm.
Just Kids! : Children’s Time - Sun. Nov. 01, 4PM – 6PM
The Just Kids! once-a-month children’s program met from 4PM – 6PM on Nov. 01, with 3 children: simple yoga positions; readings/discussions from ‘Flashes from Ramakrishna’; singing with Peter T. & Chet B.; discussion on the sun & elements composition; simple intro to integral calculus; and watching Aarati & partaking of Aarati cleansing-fire-ritual from the candle brought to all devotees by Pam D.
Next class-session is in Dec.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class - 'Jnana Yoga’ (a book by Swami Vivekananda) - Oct. 30, Friday
Class #5:
Swami Vivekananda is articulating how religion is the greatest of all the sciences, the highest plane of human interest, for it seeks the infinite. Religion is the study of that inner-most part of each of us which cannot be observed through the senses. Because this study does not depend on the sense-organs, as all other sciences do, it is the most objective. Religion makes only one assumption— that "I am." All other sciences make this same assumption, and multitudes more. The great sages of all religions have shared their direct personal insights into the true nature of realty, but religion is not just a matter of blind faith in what others have said. No, indeed; the practice of religion is dependent on the personal verification of these truths. We have no need for any other laboratory, our body-mind is the only instrument we need! In these ways, religion is more scientific than any other science.
Religion is the pursuit of the infinite. We are not satisfied with what is limited. In the infinite, there is happiness; in the finite, there is no happiness. We exist on several different levels: the physical, the mental, the emotional, and, finally, the spiritual plane, which is the highest of these. The pursuit of religion will bring us satisfaction at the spiritual level, and this will provide satisfaction at all of these other levels as well. All other pursuits will just provide satisfaction at the lower levels of the physical, mental, and emotion, and these feelings of satisfaction will be temporary and fleeting. Swamiji argues that religion is the, "great motive power for realizing that infinite energy that is the birthright of everyone.” The squabbles over religion are because of the bigotry .
The Problem of 'Incapacitation' – Nov. 1, Sunday
Often, we cannot make the right decision and this means we are incapacitated to do the right thing. University campuses face situations of abusive behavior and assaults, and work on preventing them, bringing perpetrator to justice, and bringing consolation to the victim. The victim often says he or she was incapacitated due to alcohol or other substances, as does the perpetrator. It is, unfortunately seen as great fun to imbibe these substances and ‘get incapacitated’. The real fun is when we have become stronger and our mental faculties are working better. Swami Vivekananda said that whatever weakens us should be rejected as poison. Why do we fall prey to temptations and then later repent? Only when we are weak do we get bullied by desires that force us to do things we wouldn’t do in our right mind, and then we put the blame on others. We need to take responsibility on our own shoulders, as it serves no purpose to blame others. When we take responsibility, there is the possibility of positive change. The way we can change is to discern what is right and not right, and not what we like and don’t like, which is only temporary. Jesus prayed to God to deliver us from temptation. When we succumb to desire, a vicious cycle is created, leaving a groove in the brain or a samskara. First we think of pleasure, then we meditate on it, then the pleasure vibe becomes stronger, then we get angry if someone tries to stop us, then we take action on our desire, then we get frustrated by the horrible results, and this ultimately leads to forgetfulness about who we are and what is the true purpose of life, according to the Bhagavad Gita. We need to stop the glorification of what makes us incapacitated. For our mental and spiritual life, we need to select the right inputs and spend time in meditation. Swami Vivekananda said that strength comes from within, through realizing that “I am Divine”. We need to make this thought stronger. Swamiji said that weakness is the cause of suffering, and that we lie, kill, and steal because of weakness. We are miserable through delusion, but all succors come from our true nature that reminds us of what we are not doing right.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Nov. 3, Tuesday
In Sri Ramakrishna's personality, one can witness the manhood and the Godhood both, congealed in one. This is to demonstrate that every human being can achieve the Godhood. This human birth is not a limitation but a scope given for that advancement. One must change the self-awareness from constantly changing physical form to its true changeless nature.
Sri Ramakrishna was conversing with his close devotees. He was in extreme pain because of the disease. But stil,l his mind was absorbed in the divine bliss. He mentioned that he gets visions of many deities and amongst them, his own form too. He could refer to himself as a third person as he was completely devoid of attachment to the physical form. Name, form and awareness are tied together. Strong identification with the changing name and form is the primary cause of suffering. If one shifts the awareness to the changeless innate nature then there will be all happiness. Master could see the very essence behind the various names and forms.
Master's interactions with his disciples were full of tremendous love. That love was coming from the plane of oneness where Master was seeing only ONE. That is the real love. Love that we experience in the world is temporary and transactional in nature. Master's disciples experienced that pure love which was beyond comparison to any other love experienced in the world.