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Newsletter Aug 31, 2016
Notices
1) Daily and Weekly programs resume from SATURDAY September 10, 2016.
2) Next Newsletter will be on Wed. Sept 14.
3) Vedanta Blog and Facebook:
Check out Vedanta Society's upcoming and past activities on Vedanta Facebook and participate in writing your comments, thoughts, poetry, and musings on Vedanta BLOG.
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/VedantaProvidence
Blog: www.vedantaprovidence.blogspot.com
Upcoming Events
Universal Brotherhood Day – Sun. Sept 11, 5:00PM –7:30PM
Universal Brotherhood Day theme: ‘Emphasizing Spirituality’.
Interfaith symposium speakers include:
Himayat Inayati, Sufi Teacher of Inayati Order, Asheville, NC
Rev. Deidre White, Annisquam Village Church, MA
Rabbi Barry Dolinger, Beth Sholom, Providence, RI
Pravrajika Gitaprana, Vedanta nun, Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely NY.
There will also be interfaith music; a classical Indian dance performance, dinner etc. All are welcome, No entry Fee. Click here to see the flyer.
Swami to Ridgley NY– Sun. Sept. 04
Swami and a few devotees will be traveling to Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgley NY, where Swami will be part of a symposium along with Pravrajika Vivekaprana from Sarada Math, India. Swami will be speaking on Monday morning on ‘Swami Vivekananda and Western Women Disciples’ and will return to Providence Monday evening.
Attleboro Interfaith Group – Thurs. Sept. 08
Attleboro Interfaith-based group will meet at Vedanta Society at 11AM (Please note: NOT the usual 11:45am) to discuss:” What is the role of music in your religious tradition?’
SUFI Retreat at Vedanta Society – Sat. Sept 10
‘Inayati Order of RI' and 'Vedanta Society of Providence' are sponsoring a Sufi retreat on Saturday, September 10 at Vedanta Society from 9:30am –4:00pm on: ‘Life on the Path of the Heart: Sufi Musings’ with Himayat Inayati, MS; ThD, who will be speaking on teachings of Master Hazrat Inayat Khan and from his many years as international head of the Sufi Order.
Registration is $20/per person—
Please mail your RETREAT PAYMENT TO:
INAYATI ORDER OF RI; 33 WOODBINE ST Cranston RI 02910
(DO NOT mail this retreat payment to Vedanta Society)
Click here to see the flyer.
For more information, contact: NAB518-AT-cox.net
Vedanta Classes Resume – Tuesdays & Fridays
Vedanta study class on ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’ will resume beginning Tuesday Sept 13 from 7:30pm – 8:30pm. The Friday study class on ‘Jnana Yoga’ will resume beginning Sept 16 from 7:30pm – 8:30pm,. All are welcome.
Live streaming availabel here: http://vedantaprov.org/livestream.html
Day-long Meditation - Sat. Sept 17 from 12:00Noon – 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.
CT Vedanta Monthly Satsang – Sat. Sept. 17
The Vedanta Society of CT, 100 Cherry Brook Rd, Canton CT 06019, will be resuming monthly satsang (discussion, worship, music) with Swami Yogatmananda from 3:00pm – 5:30pm.
This month the topic is: Bhagavad Gita Musings #1 -- ‘Be Strong & Courageous’. All are welcome.
VEENA Concert : Sun. Sept 18
There will be a classical Veena musical performanace by Durga Krishnan, accompanied with musicians playing mridangam, tabla and violin, from 6:15pm – 7:30pm, in the Lower Level (LL), immediately following the Sunday Service Lecture and Aarati from 5pm – 6:15pm. All Welcome. Donations Accepted.
Wednesdays Hatha Yoga Resumes – Wed. Sept. 14, 5PM –6:30PM
Six-week series of Hatha Yoga classes, on Wednesdays from 5pm –6:30pm, taught by Ellen Schaefer of One Yoga Center, Foster RI will be conducted at the Vedanta Society. Cost is $30/for 6-week session or $10.00 walk in per class. Please contact Ellen only at: 401-368-9642
Childern's monthly Program – Sun. Sept 18, 4PM – 6PM
The Just Kids! Children’s program (ages 6-12 only) will meet from 4PM – 6PM. All young children welcome.
Past Events
Swami to NJ – Sat. July 30 - Sun. July 31
Swami Yogatmananda some devotees traveled to NJ (Livingston, Edison, Voorhees) where Swami conducted a retreat in Voorhees NJ to about forty-five devotees; a two-hour talk in Livingston to about fifty attendees and a talk in Aadya Hindu Temple in Edison NJ to about forty devotees. They returned late Sunday evening, July 31.
Rochester Vedanta Retreat – Wed. Aug. 03 - Sun. Aug.07
Main Topic MANDUKYA UPANISHAD
Teachers: Swamis Yogatmananda & Kripamayananda
About 25 devotees from USA & Canada attended.
Children’s Day Camp – Tue. Aug. 09 - Sat. Aug. 13
About fifteen children attended the day-long (8:30am – 4:00pm) Vedanta camp, conducted under the guidance of Prof. Dorothy Abram and assisted by two primary school teachers- Chris & Emily Sparks from PA.
Theme of the camp: ‘Krishna’s Childhood’. There was creative arts, storytelling, yoga and ‘moon-catchers’ class and craft (taught by Chet Boncek), drama arts, readings /writings, etc. Vegetarian luncheon & snacks were provided. There was a final performance with a play, songs and presentations on Saturday, attended by the family members of the kids and others.
CT Vedanta Retreat – Sun. Aug. 14
About forty-five devotees participated in the ANNUAL day-long CT-Vedanta retreat conducted by Swami Yogatmananda. Topic: 'Imitation of Christ’. Besides discourses, the day included worship, singing/music, lunch etc.
Swami Tathagatananda Memorial Service in New York City– Sat. Aug 20
Swami Yogatmananda and local devotees attended the (death) memorial service for Swami Tathagatananda, who served Vedanta Society of New York (West) since 1977. More than twelve swamis and nuns of the Ramakrishna Order, and about two hundred devotees came from afar for the ceremony.
Music Concert : Sun. Aug. 21, 8:30 - 10:30AM
Forty-five music enthusiasts attended the morning raaga concert performed by Dattatreya Velankar, the most famous disciple of Hindustani classical music maestro Pt. Vinayak Torvi since 1993. Meghashyam Keshav played Tabla and Ravi Torvi played Harmonium.
Satsang with two visiting Swamis – Sun. Aug. 21
About twenty five devotees met with Swami Chandrashekharananda, head of the Vedanta Society of Portland, Oregon and Swami Atmajayananda of SeattleWA, from 7:30 - 8:45PM on Sun Aug 21. The Swamis spoke of their backgrounds and of service in the Ramakrishna Order. Supper followed.
Krishna Festival – Sat. Aug. 27, 11:00 AM – 4:30PM
About fifty devotees attended the Lord Krishna's birthday Puja celebration, with talks by Prof Dorothy Abram and Chester Boncek and Swami Yogatmananda; devotional singing; a short puja worship and prasad luncheon followed.
From 2:00PM - 4:30PM Chinmaya Swaranjali group from Boston performed kirtan to about forty-five music enthusiasts. Refreshments followed.
Click here to see photos of above events.
Swami on Podcast – Tues. Aug. 30
Swami delivered a talk on Vedanta on Tues Aug 30 from 1pm -2pm for a weekly podcast program called ‘Mulling it Over’ produced by Bob Houghtaling of East Greenwich Academic Foundation. It will be available sometime after next week on the ‘Mulling It Over’ site by Bob Houghtaling at: www.egacademyfoundation.org
Synopses of Past Classes
Summer Study Class on ‘Cloud of Unknowing’ (Parts 12-13-14-15)
Tues. AUG 02 – 09 – 16 - 23 : Classes given by Swami Yogatmananda
In these four classes on the contemplative book there was a discussion on imperfect meekness and perfect meekness. While the imperfect meekness is important in the beginning, it later gives way to perfect meekness, which leads to complete surrender. The book then elaborates on two types of aspirants Active and Contemplative, and the sub-classes in them and their overlaps with each other. The two were exemplified by Martha (active) and Mary (contemplative).
While one should confidently practice the path of renouncing the worldly desires and aspiring to be one with God, others who do not follow this path should never be condemned/judged. For, by the grace of God, which does not have any laws, anyone can reach the ultimate goal.