 |
 |
Newsletter February 03, 2016
Upcoming Events
Day-long Meditation - Sat. Feb. 06, 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.
Just Kids! : Children’s Time – Sun. Feb. 07, 4PM – 6PM
The Just Kids! Children’s program (ages 6-12 only) will meet from 4PM – 6PM, under the direction of Professor Dorothy Abram, assisted by Chet Boncek. All young children welcome.
Salutations! –Wed. Feb. 10
The birth anniversary of Swami Brahmananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, will be observed on Wed. Feb. 10 with a chant in the morning, and with a song, a biography reading and prasad in the evening.
Every Thursday, for continued time (unless cancellations due to snowstorm etc.), there will be showing of the DVD series ‘GREAT COURSES’ from 8:00PM -8:45PM, following the 7:00PM Aarati, short reading & meditation. All welcome.
Update: We have an inspiring new poem on our blog:
http://vedantaprovidence.blogspot.com/2016/01/all-in-days-drive.html
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, Feb. 05 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Swami Yogatmananda on Jnana Yoga (based on the book of Swami Vivekananda) |
| Saturday, Feb. 06 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 12 noon - 8:00 PM: Day-long Meditation; See details above. 7:00 - 8:00 PM: Aarati (singing, a short reading) & Meditation |
| Sunday, Feb. 07 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM: A talk on ‘Buying Time’ by Swami Yogatmananda
|
| Tuesday, Feb. 09 |
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 953 |
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
Swami Vivekananda Birthday Celebration – Sun. Jan.31, 11:00AM –7:00PM
About sixty-five devotees participated in the Puja/Worship to honor Swami Vivekananda.
The program began with ritual worship, followed by flower offerings by the devotees and then luncheon prasad from 11:00am –2pm. A video of Swami Vivekananda was viewed by about forty-five devotees from 2:15pm -4:15pm, followed by 5pm-6pm symposium on Swami Vivekananda (see synopsis below). There was chanting 108 names to Shiva (Shiva-nama-sankirtanam) and then Prasad-supper.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class on 'Jnana Yoga’- Jan. 29, Friday
Jnana Yoga, the Yoga of Discernment, is a series of practical techniques to bridge the gap between ourselves and our true goal. Through methodical practice, we train the faculty of discernment so that we are able to experience the truth. The Vedantic sages realized that no amount of knowledge about the external world could solve the mystery of our true nature, since knowledge of the world is limited by our sense organs and the finiteness of our minds. Boldly pushing on, the sages realized that this limited knowledge could be transcended. Observing that discernment stops working when attachments cloud judgment, the sages made attachment to truth the maximum attachment in their lives. These sages realized and boldly asserted that the world has no existence. What does this statement mean? We have to probe the question deeply. The world vanishes when we abstract the lines of time, space, and causation. That does not mean, however, that the world is unreal from the relative perspective: put in the frames, the boundaries which define existence, and the world is indeed real. Coming from the abstractions to the everyday, we find our whole life is a mixture of existence and non-existence. A contradiction in knowledge soon arises when we realize that we are moving in a circle, that the problems of life are coming day and night and yet we can’t solve them because we can’t move beyond the intellect. The subject of contradiction in knowledge and contradiction in desires will be taken up in the next class.
Symposium on Swami Vivekananda – Jan. 31, Sunday
Opening Song: Swadesh Videsh Uchali Uthiche sung by Abhijit and Arunim with Mohitosh Talukder on organ.
Arunim Roy: While thought of primarily as an intellectual, Swami Vivekananda exemplified knowledge, love and yoga. He said that God is love personified. His biological mother, Buvaneshwari Devi, inspired him to be truthful and courageous, and he never stopped caring for her. After his return from America, when he was world-famous, Swami Vivekananda humbly prostrated to the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. He traveled the length and breadth of Mother India, coming face to face with dreadful poverty. Sri Ramakrishna said religion is not for empty bellies. Swami Vivekananda’s love was universal, as he saw one Self in the universe.
Teresa Guerra: Sri Ramakrishna first had a vision of Narendra as a perfected sage. Narendra accepted Mother Kali when he, three times, asked her for devotion, and not financial help. Swami Vivekananda later said: “How I used to hate Kali! ... Ramakrishna Paramahamsa dedicated me to Her, and now I believe that She guides me in everything I do.” When he doubted Sri Ramakrishna, he kept coming to him because of Sri Ramakrishna’s unconditional love. Narendra’s questioning was for our sake.
Swami Yogatmananda: Less the selfishness more the love. The test of a monk is that love takes a universal form. Such love is spontaneous, without formalities. While the love is the same for all, it manifests differently for those with different temperaments. Love is Swami Vivekananda’s central teaching. Narendra’s doubting was in order to get to the truth. Brahman is beyond all names and forms, and yet has the power to manifest in every form. Swami Vivekananda’s message to us is: Manifest divinity in each of us, as a matter of experience. We must each become Rishis.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Feb. 02, Tuesday
Page: 953-4
Devotees can enjoy the holy company of the Master even today by reading his conversations recorded in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. This is the only book where we can find the words of a divine incarnation recorded as verbatim. The chronicler of this book is completely hidden in the book. He has achieved a great task of delivering Master's message in a very objective manner.
The current account mentions the details of Bengali new year day on April 15, 1886. It is customary to visit holy places and seek blessings on the first day of the year with a hope that the entire year will be filled with the holy thoughts. Many devotees gathered at the Kashipur Garden house to seek blessings from the Master and the Holy Mother. Some women devotees sang devotional songs.
Narendra came to visit the Master. He made a very strong comment about how women can be an obstacle in the path of God-realization. This comment is not particularly about women but is about any kind of worldly attraction which ultimately results into bondage. Woman is a symbol of the worldly attractions in this context. Narendra asked for peace. Everyone needs peace and love in his or her life. But the efforts are taken in the incorrect direction. Most of the life is spent on fulfilling worldly objectives which bring more bondage and agony. By realizing God alone one will attain peace and true love in the life. God alone is truth and the infinite knowledge.