Newsletter December 16, 2015

Newsletter Archives

 

Upcoming Events

Christmas Eve Program – Thurs. Dec. 24
From 7:00 to 8:30 PM, Christmas Eve will be celebrated with worship of Jesus followed by readings, music, contemplation and prasad offerings. All are Welcome.
On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, morning meditation and evening Aarati programs continue as usual. There will be no Jnana Yoga class on that evening.

Hatha Yoga class:

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. 18	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class #12 by Swami Yogatmananda on 'Jnana Yoga’, a book by Swami Vivekananda
Saturday, Dec. 19	8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 11:00 AM – 12 noon: Guided meditation and chanting/singing 7:00 - 8:00 PM:  Aarati (singing, a short reading) & Meditation
Sunday, Dec. 20	5:00 – 6:00PM: A talk - ‘Be You Perfect’ , by Swami Yogatmananda 6:00 – 6:15 PM: Aarati (devotional music) 6:15 – 7:00 PM: Soup Supper 7:00 – 8:00PM: Meditation
Tuesday, Dec. 22	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Swami Yogatmananda on 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna', Ch 50, pp 948

 

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

Interfaith Monthly – Thurs. Dec. 10
A devotee participated in the monthly ‘Attleboro-based’ monthly interfaith group, this month at First Church of Christ (Christian Science), Attleboro, to discuss: “Tell a story of how your view on a certain subject Differs from your religion- and, Do you think that is okay?’

Trinity Dance Academy visits – Fri. Dec. 11
About nine students and their teacher from Trinity Dance Academy in Providence visited Vedanta where Swami explained a bit about Vedanta/Hinduism. Then, since they are currently studying Indian-style dance, they individually and as a group, performed short dance movements.

Day-long Meditation - Sat. Dec. 12, 12noon – 8:00PM
 About five- six devotees participated in the monthly 'Day-long Meditation Session'.

Connecticut Vedanta Society  Program – Sat. Dec. 12, 3PM – 5PM
Swami Yogatmananda and about thirty devotees met at newly formed Vedanta Society of CT, 100 Cherry Brook Rd, Canton CT to observe Sri Sarada Devi, with short puja, music and prasad. Connecticut Vedanta group will NOT meet in January or February 2016. Check in Feb. 2016 newsletters for beginning March schedule.

Bhagavad Gita class, Middletown CT – Sun. Dec. 13, 10:30 - 11:30AM
Swami Yogatmananda conducted  the last monthly Bhagavad Gita (Ch.18-COMPLETED!!) at Sri Satyanarayana Temple, with about a dozen devotees attending.
There are no Middletown Temple Classes planned for future.

 

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)

 

Study Class - 'Jnana Yoga’ (a book by Swami Vivekananda) - Dec. 11, Friday 
Class #11: 

While our bodies are very useful machines for us in this life, the scriptures and sages teach that the “I” within each of us is not our body.  The true “I,” or Self, has an unlimited, unchanging existence.  Our true nature is infinite.  We must practice “shraddha”-- faith in the truths described by scriptures and sages and the conviction to orient our lives accordingly.  There is no use of this knowledge that we are infinite, if we make no changes in how we practically live our lives.  We often judge something’s utility (usefulness) based on whether it can increase our personal wealth.  But in reality, knowing this truth, that the Self is infinite and unlimited, is THE most useful thing in life!  Why?  Realizing this truth brings us true and lasting happiness, which can only be found in the spirit.  Though we may look for it, true happiness can never be found in the pursuits of the senses.  After trying again and again to get pleasure from the world, and examining our repeated failure to do so, we human beings all turn toward something that is more permanent.  Ignorance is the mother of all misery; the fundamental ignorance is to think that we are finite. Therefore, if we know that we are really unlimited, our ignorance falls away.  

 

Three in One and One in Three – Sun. Dec. 13 
All of our perceptions include three: the perceiver, the perceived and the process of perception. Or it can be seen as I, the world, and the connection between them. All three actually have the same reality. The Trinity explains why and how God incarnates as a human being. God appears as names and forms without undergoing any change. The Brahma Sutras, which are a logical presentation of Vedanta teachings, tell in the second aphorism that the birth, sustenance and dissolution of the universe is God. It is comparable to a stand being a podium and wood at the same time. Time, space and causation comprise Maya or nescience. God is all that really is. To attain liberation, God has to be at my level and I have to be connected to God. The Son of God has the capacity to lift me from where I am to God. The Father is God as the Ideal, the Son is helping me, and the Holy Spirit is the guide. Meister Eckhart saw the Son in everyone. He said that all things we see as different are really the same. The Holy Spirit connects God and His power to liberate us. M agreed that Sri Ramakrishna was like a window in a wall, allowing us to see more of the infinite sky as we get closer and closer to it. The Cloud of Unknowing says we need to cultivate love for Jesus because he is God and then we can see God. It says to love Jesus and then everything he has will be ours. 

 

Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Dec. 15, Tuesday

Sri Ramakrishna’s life is a vehicle to convert our belief in oneness of existence into realization. With this realization, the fictitious “I” goes away. Sri Ramakrishna’s human appearance enables us to make a connection with the Divine through human interaction, language etc. but takes us beyond the human limitations and bondage. That’s why we study His life.
Sri Ramakrishna speaks about Buddha and says that to become Buddha means to become one with Bodha, i.e. pure Intelligence. Bodha means absolute Awareness – one who gets identified with no temporary attributes, i.e. names, forms etc. When the names and forms are dropped, what remains is pure Substance, pure Consciousness. This state transcends worldly contradictions and eliminates them. When asked questions, Buddha often  remained silent, as it is not possible to express transcendental experiences into words. Many interpreted His silence as atheism. Buddha was not an atheist, but was immensely practical. He therefore asked people to become compassionate and loving – which are readily accepted attributes of God – rather than attempting to pursue and worship abstract ideas of God. His immense practicality translated into tremendous selfless action - Swami Vivekananda called Him a perfect Karma Yogi. Buddha, therefore, provides  inspiration for all spiritual aspirants.