 |
 |
Newsletter January 13, 2016
Notice:
1) Thursday, Jan. 14, 8:00-8:45 ‘GREAT COURSES’ video on Bhagavad Gita. Aarati and meditation
will proceed as usual. All welcome.
2) Regular Jnana Yoga class will resume from coming Friday, Jan. 15.
Upcoming Events
Salutations! – Fri. Jan. 15
The birth anniversary of Swami Saradananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, will be observed on Fri. Jan. 15 with a chant in the morning, and with a song, a biography reading and prasad in the evening.
Infusion Evolution Concert – Sun. Jan. 17
Immediately following the 5pm -6pm Sunday lecture, there will be a concert in the LL (lower Level) from 6:15- 7:30pm with Infusion Evolution, who play Latin/Afro/Cuban music wih a flamenco flair. All welcome; NO entry fee, but donations accepted.
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, Jan. 15 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Jnana Yoga Class |
| Saturday, Jan. 16 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 7:00 - 8:00 PM: Aarati (singing, a short reading) & Meditation |
| Sunday, Jan. 17 |
5:00 – 6:00PM: A talk - 'Three Body Package' -1, by Swami Yogatmananda
|
| Tuesday, Jan. 19 |
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 950 |
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
One Voice Interfaith Vigil – Wed. Jan. 06
Interfaith vigil at the State House to remove poverty: Swami Joined the other faith leaders for the Annual Vigil at the State House on the 1st working day of the New Year, to remind the rulers (Governor, Congress Members, etc) that they should govern with compassion.
Swami Yogatmananda returned after a 4-day tour of Puerto Rico and Florida. He delivered 8 lectures to devotee-groups and gave several personal interviews.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class on 'Jnana Yoga’- Jan. 08, Friday was NOT conducted; instead a ‘Great Courses’ video on
Bhagavad-Gita was presented. 10 attended.
Sunday Talk - 'Philanthropy – The Vedanta Way' – a talk by Charles Feldman – Jan. 10, Sunday
We have a need to serve each other, like a mother serving her child or a devotee
serving God. Some religious myths propose that serving God will bring about a perfect world and heaven. Modern political movements aim to bring about a utopia or a
perfect society by serving people. Vedanta believes in transcending the world, to find a perfect state of divinity. Swami Vivekananda, combined service with transcendence,
by exhorting us to serve Shiva in jiva, or God in humanity. We can serve to make
ourselves purer and to transcend the world. Vivekananda reconciled work and
knowledge in the modern age. Sri Ramakrishna once said that service, recognizing
man to be the manifestation of God, was more apt than compassion, as we are too
lowly to show compassion. Vivekananda based his philosophy of service on this
conversation. The twentieth century social psychologist Erich Fromm felt that we try to
escape from freedom due to our insecurity, which was not there in pre-modern
societies. Formerly, societies had salvation as their goal, whereas modern societies
have prosperity as their goal. Fromm feels that love reqires a faculty within us rather than the right object. Meister Eckhart says that: "As long as you love another person
less than you love yourself, you will not really succeed in loving yourself." Charity
is embraced in all religions as a way of doing away with the ego, fostering
compassion, and leading to a spiritual awakening.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Jan. 12, Tuesday
What are the five types of Samadhis? The Great Energy (Mahavayu) stays in the dormant form at the bottom of the spinal column. At that level the awareness is focused only around preservation. With spiritual practices or with the grace of the Guru the energy starts to move in the upward direction. At the next level, the focus is shifted to procreation and physical enjoyments. The third stage, allegorically shown at navel level, the awareness focuses on finer objects of enjoyment like music, art etc. At the fourth stage, which is at heart's level, one becomes aware about his/her identity separate from the gross or subtle matter. At that point, the enquiry about the true nature of existence truly begins. At the fifth stage - the throat level, one is convinced of the divine nature of self, but still there is some. At the sixth stage- at the eyebrow level, this enquiry is over. One completely understands the true nature. Still, a transparent, thin screen remains as a separation. This screen is broken at the seventh stage. One merges completely in the Supreme Consciousness. This upward movement of the great energy can happen broadly in five ways. These ways are - like an ant, monkey, fish, snake or a bird. These five ways characterizes the various types and pace by which the energy moves. Only Isvarkotis and God-incarnations can have experience of Samadhi in many different ways. This can be done only through self control and austerity. All these five types were manifested in Sri Ramakrishna.
Sri Ramakrishna was discussing about the Prarabdha karma which means effects of the actions which
are done in the past. As per the law of Karma, one can't escape from the fruits of his/her actions. But
the effect of these actions can be diluted by spiritual practices or by grace. Similarly it does not hold
true in case of Ishwarkotis, who are born not because of the effects of past Karma but out of their free will to do good to the humanity. The karma can't bind them as their awareness is not tied to the body
and mind but it always dwells in the Supreme Consciousness.