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Newsletter March 23, 2016
Upcoming Events
Visiting Swami delivers talk – Friday, Mar. 25
Swami Ishtananda, Vedanta Society of St Petersburg FL, will deliver a talk on ‘Good Friday’ from 7:30pm – 8:30pm, in place of the Jnana Yoga class. All are invited to attend. No fee.
Vedanta Society of Connecticut Program– Sat. Mar. 26
Swami and devotees will travel to Vedanta Society of CT at 100 Cherry Brook Rd, Canton CT.
(immediately after Saturday guided meditation & music hour) for a worship puja/program for Sri Ramakrishna, beginning at 3:00PM until 5:00PM.
DAY-LONG RETREAT - Sat. Apr. 02, 9:30AM –7:00PM
Topic: 'Yogi and Bhagavad Gita' by Swami Prapannananda, Vedanta Society of Sacramento, CA
Prior registration required; can register at the Vedanta Society or online.
Fee: $30.00/person ($20.00 if registered and paid by March 21, 2016)
Click here for more info & online registration.
Great Courses Video – Thurs. March 24
Video showings of Great Courses continues from 8PM – 9PM in the Lower Level (LL),
Restarting Tuesday Hatha Yoga Classes beginning Mar. 08
‘Walk-in’ ($5.00) Tues. evenings from 6:15pm – 7:00pm with Hannah Resseger.
Hatha Yoga 6-week Course - Wednesdays Apr. 06- May 25
Beginning Wednesday, Apr. 06, a six-week ‘Mindful Flow’ Hatha Yoga class will be conducted at the Vedanta Society on every Wednesday by Ellen Schaefer of One Yoga Center, RI, from 5:00 - 6:30PM. The 6-week course will be $30.00 Pre-paid; and $10.00 per class walk-in. Contact Ellen at 401-368-9642
Please note: No class on April 20 & May 4.
Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)
| Friday, Mar. 25 |
7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: SPECIAL LECTURE: ‘Good Friday’ by Swami Ishtananda, Vedanta Society of St Petersburg, FL |
| Saturday, Mar. 26 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 7:00 - 8:00 PM: Aarati (singing, a short reading) & Meditation |
| Sunday, Mar. 27 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM: ‘Resurrection into Spirit’, by Swami Yogatmananda 6:15-7:00PM: Soup Supper
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| Tuesday, Mar. 29 |
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 959 |
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 to Vorhees, NJ and Philadelphia, PA– Sat. March 19
Swami Yogatmananda conducted Ramakrishna worship/puja and delivered talk to over seventy devotees to the Vedanta group in Vorhees, NJ, and to about thirty-five devotees in the Philadelphia, PA Vedanta group. He returned to Providence Sunday evening.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class on 'Jnana Yoga’- Mar. 18, Friday
Class #22 Ch. 4: In our study of the 4th chapter, “Maya and the Evolution of the Conception of God,” we have been seeing that the conception of God that each of us holds is different depending on our understanding of ourselves in relation to the world. God is not “creator,” but rather “created,” by us; Swami Vivekananda says that man created God after his own image, not the other way around. Thus, since our concept of God is tied to our understanding, as we progress spiritually, our concept of God also progresses. Though we think of God as eternal and changeless, this is actually the changeless nature of the Self, which we are attributing to God.
We can find throughout history examples of conceptions of God which fit the needs of a given society at a given time. For example, in ancient literature of various cultures, we find anthropomorphic gods who are angry and vengeful. Later, religions evolved to include a consideration of the problem of evil, the question of why evil exists in the universe. This question does not appear in more “primitive” religious societies. With this evolution came an emphasis on controlling the natural impulses, listening to the voice of God (conscience), and turning away from sin. Humans began to believe that what they liked best was not always what was right or best for them, and they began to exercise control over the various impulses and fancies of mind. Eventually, the conception of God went from one who was to be feared to one who was to be loved, the idea of God as the beloved. In a community that is ruled by love, the social fabric of the community is based on restraint over our impulses, forbearance, and loving others. This growth of love within ourselves, brings about the growth of love in our concept of God. As we become loving, our God also becomes loving.
Sunday Lecture -'Insight into Sri Ramakrishna Aarati' – a talk by Patricia Blake - Mar. 20, Sunday
Swami Bhajanananda says: “When the sun sinks behind the western skyline . . . a simple ritual is performed in scores of ashramas and in thousands of homes in adoration of a being known to the world as Sri Ramakrishna. . . . Often there is group singing of songs and hymns of praise and supplication.” Each place of worship becomes Sri Ramakrishna’s room at Dakshineswar. Faith works through religious rituals. Swami Vivekananda wrote the song Khandana Bhava–Bandhana,or, in English, Breaker of our Worldly Bondage. This song, sung at aarati around the world, makes love manifest. By using the word ‘we’ in the song, Swami Vivekananda includes us in the adoration of Sri Ramakrishna, and he wrote it to free us as well. John Schlenk, an American Vedantist, said that people think ritual leads to conformity, but it is really our thoughts expressed in action. It allows devotees to have ‘darshan’. There are five items in the aarati worship, which represent the five subtle elements in the universe. The candle represents fire, the conch shell (with water in it) water, the cloth (which covers us) space, the flower represents earth, and the yak tail fan represents air. The bell that is rung represents OM. The one who performs the aarati waves the items in a circular motion one after another until the first song comes to a close, and then sits down to join the congregation in the hymn to Sri Ramakrishna and Divine Mother. This sublime ritual and singing gradually leads one to the experience of One-ness and fulfilment.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Mar. 22, Tuesday
Date: 17th April 1886, Page 959:
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna acts as a means to achieve immortality. Everyone desires to be immortal, but death is inevitable. The only way one can attain immortality is by non-identification with the body. When one removes the oneness of "I" and "the body", he or she becomes immortal. Due to intense attachment with the body, even the idea of existence other that body is difficult to understand. In the beginning, one must try to understand this concept intellectually, then try to bring the same into practice which will lead to the realization of this highest Truth. Sri Ramakrishna's life is a vivid demonstration of this highest principle put into practice. Study of his life and message is helpful to those who want to tread the same path. One can witness that he never identified himself with the body. Even when his body was suffering from the cancer, He was always in a blissful state.
Sri Ramakrishna's disciples were taking turns in attending him. At the same time, they all were doing intense spiritual practices. Narendra commented looking at the meditating devotees that they were busy in shedding their 'upadhis'. Upadhi is an external quality attached to the true self. It is not permanent in nature. The essential purpose of meditation is to remove identification with external adjuncts and let the true self shine forth.
Even in that state Sri Ramakrishna was keenly interested in the spiritual well-being of his disciples. Master suggested M to bring his grief stricken wife to Kashipur. He thought her stay at Kashipur will help her forget the grief on account of loss of her son and develop love for God.