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Newsletter April 06, 2016
Upcoming Events
Day-long Meditation - Sat. Apr. 09, 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.
Swami Yogatmananda at Concordia Church – Sun. Apr. 10
Swami Yogatmananda will deliver the ‘Celebration’ Service talk segment of their program (which goes from 9:15am – 10:30am) at Concordia Center of Spiritual Living at 292 West Shore Rd, Warwick, Afterwards, Swami will conduct a workshop on ‘Love’, in the LL (lower Level). No charge.
For more information, please contact Concordia at: (401) 732-1552
Great Courses Video – Thurs. Apr. 07
Video showings of Great Courses continues from 8PM – 9PM in the Lower Level (LL).
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. 08 |
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. 09 |
8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 7:00 - 8:00 PM: Aarati (singing, a short reading) & Meditation |
| Sunday, Apr. 10 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM: ‘May Rama Protect Me’ by Swami Yogatmananda 7:00 – 8:00PM: Meditation
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| Tuesday, Apr. 12 |
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
DAY-LONG RETREAT - Sat. Apr. 02, 9:30AM –7:00PM
About fourty five devotees attended this fifty-third day-long retreat on Sat Apr. 02. There were two discourses, which gave the illustrations from the life and teachings of Swami Turiyananda, whom Sri Ramakrishna described as ‘Yogi according to Bhagavad Gita’. Other programs in the retreat included- guided mediation by Swami Yogatmananda; hatha yoga led by Pat B; ‘Vedantic Tales’ segment with Swami Yogatmananda; music section; Q/A session with both Swamis; chanting Rama-Nama- Sankirtanam.
Just Kids! – Sun. April 03
Just Kids children's program met Sunday April 3rd 4:00 to 6:20 PM. Swami opened the session with the story of Rama and Sita as part of the upcoming Shri Rama Navami celebration. The children then built structures from construction paper, glue and yarn. Outcomes included: palm trees, towers and interesting artistic architectural designs. Other lessons included the need for paying attention to details even in simple ordinary tasks. The group adjoined after sharing soup supper.
SABAD Kirtan – Sun. Apr. 03
Immeditaely after the 5–6pm Sunday Service lecture, there was SABAD kirtan/devotional singing program with Amritpal Singh and his son (who played tabla) from 6:15 – 7:30 pm in the LL (lower Level). About twenty-seven people attended.
Synopses of Last Week's Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)
Study Class on 'Jnana Yoga’ - Apr. 01, Friday
Class #23 Ch. 4:
All religions attempt to go beyond the contradictions inherent in maya. These contradictions are not something we can understand, because understanding itself is a part of maya. Rather than something we can understand, maya is just a statement of fact. As human beings evolve, so, too, does religion and humans’ conception of God evolve. It’s important to remember that God itself doesn’t evolve; it is our concept of God that evolves. In primitive societies, gods are conceived as ones who demonstrate their strength through anger. In more evolved societies, the idea of a loving God develops, which brings about a sense of right and wrong, and the notion of sin. With the concept of a loving God also comes the idea of forbearance; if we should love each other, as our God loves us, then we must learn to forbear one another. Next, comes the evolution of the rational faculties of analysis and generalization. Religions at this stage, are based on reason and philosophical inquiry. People begin to wonder why, if God is all-merciful and all-powerful, he has made this world full of suffering.
Sunday Lecture -'The Pure in Heart' – a talk by Swami Prapannananda – Apr. 03, Sunday
The essence of Christianity (and all religions) is the saying: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Jesus also said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The strongest virtue of a saint is not knowledge, but purity. Intellectuals may awe people, but they do not leave a lasting impression. Even if all scriptures were drowned in the ocean, purity of heart would lead people to God. Purity is the state of being untainted by evil, not being led astray by desires, and not being allured by temptations. The fall of man underlies all religions, as we have forgotten our real nature and need to rediscover it. Sri Ramakrishna’s disciples were attracted by his purity and love. The pure soul elevates others, not by emphasizing their evil nature, but by pointing out the divine spark in them. Impurity means we have forgotten our divine nature. We can regain our purity by taking refuge in manifestations of God. Sri Ramakrishna recommended the disciplines of meditation, study of scriptures, and work done with detachment. Despondency is the worst enemy of spiritual life. Japa and meditation are practical means of attaining purity, whereas other austerities may not be practical. We must become as little children, whose bad samskaras have not come up yet.
Study Class - 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' - Apr. 05, Tuesday
Page 960, April 18th, 1886
Master was conversing with M and Narendra. M asked Narendra to comment upon Buddha's opinion about existence of God. One school of philosophy believes that God is the product of human mind. Buddha too, seconded this thought. Existence of anything depends upon the perceiver and his/her perception. In that case, world/existence becomes a matter of subjective opinion. Existence of this world depends upon mind of the perceiver. The world continues to exist as long as there is the perceiver (‘I’ = subject) and the perceived (object). There is no absolute reality in the world.
Buddha extends the similar concept to the existence of God as well. It is very difficult to prove the existence of God by reason or logic. Reason presupposes existence of Truth. God, whose very nature is truth, forms the basis of reasoning. Hence, it is impossible to prove or disprove God using reason.
Since it can't be proved or disproved, one has to go with the path of faith. If one has faith in the existence of God, then he/she must accept the servant-master relationship. With that attitude one can live in the world completely merging in the wishes of the God. When one leads the life with such servitude, gradually he/she realizes the kindness of God.