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Newsletter March 30, 2016
Upcoming Events
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.
SABAD Kirtan – Sun. Apr. 03
Immeditaely after the 5–6pm Sunday Service lecture, there will be a SABAD kirtan/devotional singing program with Amritpal Singh from 6:15 – 7:30 pm in the LL (lower Level). All welcome. No entry fee. Donations Accepted.
Great Courses Video – Thurs. Mar. 31
Video showings of Great Courses continues from 8PM – 9PM in the Lower Level (LL).
Just Kids! – Sun. April 03, 4PM – 6PM
The Just Kids! Children’s program (ages 6-12 only) will meet from 4PM – 6PM. All young children welcome.
Tuesday Hatha Yoga Classes
‘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, Apr. 01 |
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, Apr. 02 |
9:30AM –7:00PM: Day-Long Spiritual Retreat Prior registration required; See more information above. |
| Sunday, Apr. 03 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM: : ‘The Pure in Heart’, by Swami Prapanananda(Vedanta Soc. Sacramento, CA) 6:15-7:45PM : 'SABAD' Devotional Bhajans, by Amritpal Singh |
| Tuesday, Apr. 05 |
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 960 |
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
Visiting Swami delivers talk – Fri. Mar. 25
Swami Ishtananda, Vedanta Society of St Petersburg FL, delivered a talk on ‘Good Friday’ from 7:30pm – 8:30pm, in place of the Jnana Yoga class to about thirty devotees.
Vedanta Society of Connecticut Program– Sat. Mar. 26
Swami and devotees traveled 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. About forty-five devotees attended/participated.
Salute! – Sun. Mar. 27
The birthday anniversary of Swami Yogananda, direct disciple of Ramakrishna, was observed in the morning with a chant and in the evening with a song, and biography reading.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Guest Lecture: 'Good Friday' - Mar. 25, Friday
In place of the regular Friday lecture on Jnana Yoga, Swami Ishtananda, the minister and spiritual head of the Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered a lecture on the topic of Good Friday. There are three central events which comprise the Easter narrative: the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. While there is no reason to doubt that the events of the Easter narrative actually took place, Easter has its roots in pagan European spring festivals. Christian theology holds that the resurrection of Jesus is proof that he is an incarnation of God; the Vedantic perspective, however, asserts that many yogis have resurrected themselves who were not incarnations of God. According to Swami Ishtananda, the most important message of the Easter narrative occurs on Good Friday. During Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus prays for those who are crucifying him: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Showing no anxiety about his imminent death, Jesus revealed the compassionate, merciful, and other-worldly face of God by praying for his persecutors’ forgiveness. Only an incarnation of God could demonstrate such love for others in that terrible situation. How do we know what love is? We try to compare it with something, such as the mother’s love for the child. However, when we look at all ordinary human loves we see that behind them lies some wordily weaknesses. The crucifixion incident, and Jesus’ revelation of mercy on these creatures who were unwittingly inflicting so much suffering on themselves, proves that Jesus was the son of God. When Jesus implores us to, “Take up (our) cross and follow (him),” he emphasizes that only we can save ourselves; others cannot. The incidents which took place on Good Friday bring to us the real hope that if we truly accept the responsibility for ourselves and follow him, believing in him and following his teachings, then we can successfully resurrect ourselves from the material bodily existence and reach the higher spiritual level.
Sunday Lecture -'Resurrection into Spirit – EASTER' – Mar. 27, Sunday
Easter is a day of maximum importance in the religious life of most Christians. Jesus showed people their immortal nature and their existence in spirit. There are two types of experience: the changing and the Unchanging. The Bhagavad Gita talks about the material field and the knower of the field. The senses and the mind are programmed to see change. Eternal life and happiness lie in the Unchanging. We chase the changing and come to grief and suffering. The chase in the world is never-ending. Jesus says we cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon is a symbol of all we covet, from which we get no peace at all. The way to knowledge is to hold on to our conscience. When we adhere to the conscience, it becomes stronger and stronger. Oneness is the source of love, while multiplicity is the source of competition. We can love those who are tormenting us as Jesus did, when we see that we and our enemy are one in the spirit. The purpose of Jesus’s life was to show us that all happiness is in the spirit. We ask why we, and not others get bad things in life; but we don’t ask why we get good things in life and not others. Jesus said, “I am the goal and I am the way,” which is a practical path. Meister Eckhart said that there are two types of certainty of eternal life: God reveals it to us (uncommon), and we have love for God and trust Him (common). Addicts in recovery get the muscle of conscience strengthened from someone else until they can build it for themselves.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Mar. 29, Tuesday
Date: 18th April 1886, Page 959-60:
Sri Ramakrishna’s life and teachings are highly spiritual and intensely practical at the same time. In fact, there is no distinction between spiritual and secular life. God is the only reality. Hence, to pursue God and to renounce everything else is immensely practical. M’s grown up son had recently died and he and his wife were visiting Sri Ramakrishna. M being a devotee was not as impacted. But, his wife was very grief stricken. Being a “devotee” doesn’t mean someone practicing certain rituals but someone in whom the love of God is percolated in and through. A devotee believes God as the only reality. When love is directed towards God, then there is no disenchantment as God is real and permanent. All else is transitory and any attraction towards these things can only lead to grief. Even though a devotee may not remember God, God does not forget a devotee and takes care of the devotee at all times – especially in the times of distress.
Sri Ramakrishna worshipped His own body by placing flowers and sandal paste on it. He could do this as there was a complete absence of ego in Him. He was completely identified with God – God and “I” were identical for Him. We tend to identify our “I” with our name and body but there is an “I” that transcends our body and ego. This “I” cannot be limited and pervades everything. When a person with no ego and complete identification with the infinite “I” worships God in himself, there is no contradiction.