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If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers ATvedantaprov.org
Newsletter December 02, 2015
Upcoming Events
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.
Saxophone & Tabla Concert –Sun. Dec. 06, 6:00-7:30PM
Immediately following the 5pm -6:15 pm Sunday Lecture & Aarati on Sun. Dec 06, there will be a Saxophone & Tabla concert (Indian Classical Melodies:Raagas) in the Lower Level (LL) with Phil Scarff on Sax and Amit Kavthekar on Tabla. All Welcome; No entry Fee; Donations accepted.
Just Kids! Children’s Time – Sun. Dec. 06, 4:00 - 6:00PM
The monthly children’s program will meet this Sunday, Dec. 06, from 4pm -6pm, with Prof Dorothy Abram, assisted by Peter T and Chet B. All children up to age 12 welcome..
Hatha Yoga class:
1) ‘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
2) Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16, there will be a six-week yoga series of classes from 5:00 - 6:30PM, under yoga teacher Ellen Schaeffer, (Yoga One, Foster). It is $30.00 for 6 weeks; or $10.00 walk-in.
Contact Ellen Only at: 401-368-9642
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, Dec. 04 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class #10 by Swami Yogatmananda on 'Jnana Yoga’, a book by Swami Vivekananda |
| Saturday, Dec. 05 |
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM: Spiritual Retreat |
| Sunday, Dec. 06 |
5:00 – 6:00PM: A talk - ‘Inner Sacrifice & Outer Prayer’ by Swami Chidbrahmananda (Vedanta Center, Wahington DC) All welcome; NO entry Fee; Donations Accepted
|
| Tuesday, Dec. 08 |
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 945 |
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 |
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class - 'Jnana Yoga’ (a book by Swami Vivekananda) - Nov. 27, Friday
Class #9:
In the previous class we saw that there exists behind the gross and subtle bodies, the Atman, or soul, which is beyond form, pervasive, infinite, and is the real cause of the universe. Therefore, the “real man,” or the true self, is one without a second; he is free from the trappings of time, space, and causation. When an individual comes to recognize that the body as limited, he is ready to accept the higher ideal: that there is no coming or going, rising or falling, past, present, or future for the Self. This giving up of the little self is terribly frightening; for we have become, so to speak, addicted to our ignorance. We fear that dissociating from the body will mean that the “I” will be gone forever. However, we forget that it is only upon ridding ourselves of the attachment to the finite body that we will experience the bliss that is our true nature! It is one thing to acknowledge and intellectually accept these truths, but we must have courage to follow this path to its goal.
Remembering the Gopis (based on Bhagavatam) – Nov. 29, Sunday
God, or Truth, can be experienced through love, and not through reason. The gopis represent souls who want to experience God; nothing else matters for them. God is the only source of attraction, whether we realize it or not, as well as the source of all happiness, peace and life. Krishna means that which attracts. The opening verse of the Bhagavatam says: we meditate on the Truth supreme, which is immutable. When the search for God becomes intense, and the soul cannot survive without it, the soul is called a gopi. On the full moon night in question, the gopis were all at home, busy doing chores. Only the gopis heard Krishna starting to play his flute, as only devotees can hear God’s message. Each gopi thought of Krishna and forgot what the other gopis were doing, because devotees give their full attention to God. They dropped their chores and hurried to Krishna, because God is the only Reality. Krishna tested their devotion by asking them to go back home, but they didn’t budge. Then the gopis became puffed up with pride, thinking how they alone got to be with Krishna, whereupon He vanished. When they feared Krishna might be hurt by thorns, and their own pain and pride vanished, He reappeared. When the gopis thought that Lord Krishna might be mean, He told them that when He stays away from devotees, so that their love will grow.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Dec. 01, Tuesday
Sri Ramakrishna was very eager and in a hurry to distribute the spiritual bliss to one and all as he saw the end of the play is approaching. Narendranath commented about importance of renunciation to realize the highest spiritual experience. Sri Ramakrishna seconded that thought. Generally renunciation is considered as giving up our near and dear ones, and everything that is seen as "mine" in this world. Hence the idea appears to be scary. Human mind tries to compromise on that by believing that God and the world both can be achieved. It is not necessary to give up the world for the sake of God. But as one must give up ignorance to obtain knowledge or give up untruth to attain truth, similarly, one has to give up the world to realize God. There is a slight difference in that giving up though. After experiencing God, the world is seen as an illusory appearance. The moment one realizes the illusory nature of the world, the attraction and attachment goes away. Renunciation does not mean running away from the work or problems in the world. The idea of renunciation is very well explained in Bhagavadgeeta. True renunciation lies in doing the work that comes our way with full concentration and complete detachment to the fruits of the actions and not in taking the external garb of a monk. This technique of work without attachment can be learned through spiritual practice and change in the awareness about I and the world. Sri Ramakrishna mentioned that everyone, householder or a monk, who wants to realize God must renounce. The renunciation can be mental or external depending upon the path they have chosen. None of them can avoid the work. Everyone must work to feel the presence of God in and through while doing the activity. That is the real spiritual practice which leads to the realization of God.