Newsletter August 22, 2012

Newsletter Archives

 

Announcements

1) Center's regular activities will start on Sat. Sept. 08

2) Sept. 09 - ‘Universal Brotherhood Day Program'. See details below.

3) Newsletter will resume weekly postings every Wednesday beginning Sept 12th.

4) Check out some new lectures uploaded here & here.

 

Upcoming Events

Swami Yogatmananda Travles -

1) Swami will deliver talks in Livingston and Berlin New Jersey on Sat. Aug. 25 and in Philadelphia, PA on Sun. Aug. 26.

2) Swami will visit the Dallas, Texas Vedanta group from Tues. Aug. 28 through Friday Aug. 31st.

3) Swami will conduct a retreat on ‘Brahma Sutra’ at Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgeley NY on Sat. Sept. 01 and Sun. Sept. 02. He will return late Mon Sept 03.

 

Universal Brotherhood Day - Sat. Sept. 09 (5:00 - 7:00 PM)

Interfaith Symposium on Science and Religion: Conflict and Resolution

Participants:

Father Edward St Godard (Holy Family Church, Woonsocket, RI),

Imam Farid Ansari (Muslim American Dawa Center, RI),

Prof Kenneth Miller (Brown University, Providence, RI),

Rabbi Amy Levin (Temple Torat Yisrael, East Greenwich, RI),

Prof Bal Ram Singh (UMass, Dartmouth, MA),

Swami Tyagananda (Ramakrishna Vedanta Society, Boston, MA)

The program includes Interfaith Music & Dinner. All are invited (Free Admission)

 

Spiritual Retreat - Sat. Sept. 15 & Sun. Sept. 16

Sat. Sept. 15: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sun. Sept. 16: 10:00 am-12:00 noon

Main Speaker: Swami Dayatmananda, Ramakrishna Vedanta Center, UK

Subj.: DAKSHINAMURTI HYMN (Hymn to Lord Shiva as Guru by Sri Sankaracharya)

Prior registration required. Registration Fee $30 per person (For online registration: $31 per person)

For more information and to download registration form OR Online registration: http://www.vedantaprov.org/spiritualretreat.html

 

Sitar Concert - Sun. Sept. 16 (6:00-7:30 PM)

Anupama Bhagwat from India will perform this Indian Classical music Concert. Tabla by Amit Kavthekar.

 

Weekly Programs - BEGINNING SAT. SEPT. 08

Saturday, Sept. 08	8:30-10:30 AM: Karma Yoga (cleaning & other works) 11:00 a.m.- 12.00 noon: Guided Meditation and Prayer-music 7:00 – 8:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music), a short reading and meditation.
Sunday, Sept. 09	5:00PM – 7:30PM - Universal Brotherhood Day Program. See details above.
Tuesday,Sept. 11	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna class, Ch. 44 (Pg 846)
Friday, Sept. 14	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class on Bhagavad Gita, Ch. 15

 

Daily Programs - BEGINNING SAT. SEPT. 08

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
Evening :	7:00 – 7:15 PM: Aarti (devotional music), with a short reading from Swami Chetanananda's book: ‘Mahendra Nath Gupta ‘M’ 7:15 – 8:15 PM: Meditation

 

Past Events

1) SUMMER Classes on ‘TAO’ - Tue. July 10 - Aug 21

Tuesday Summer classes on ‘Tao’ began on Tuesday July 10 and concluded on Aug 21. Classes were conducted in newly constructed basement area. About thirty-five people regularly tended classes. The first class was introductory, with references/comparisons and similarities between Vedanta and Taoism. Second and third classes focused on readings/explanations of Tao-Te-Ching verses. Readings of Chuang Tzu and explanations of them and relation to similar concepts in Vedanta covered the fourth class. Discussion on Tao ‘truth’, ‘realness’, ‘light-footed and light-speaking’ behaviors and essential nature of nothingness/everything-ness filled with spaciousness was in the fifth class. The sixth class described proper /moral/efficient governing through non-governance. In the last class, more recent Taoism was discussed, using ‘Understanding Reality’ by Chang Po Tuong as a guide to learn about yin/yang; tiger/dragon; gold/mercury; about ‘compressed living, psychological cramping and one requiring relentless, dogged perseverance (sadhanas) to attain state of ‘Tao’, ‘Purity’, ‘’Samadhi’.

 

2) Residential Retreat on ‘PRAYER’ - Fri., July 27, 6 p.m. - Sun., July 29, 2PM.

About Twenty five devotees participated in the weekend retreat, which consisted of 5:45AM – 7:15AM meditation and puja, karma yoga works, talks, readings, reflections/Q & A sessions, walking meditation, group discussions, individual presentations, a video, evening Aarti/meditation, and meals.

 

3) Residential Retreat in Rochester, NY - Wed., Aug. 1 to Sun., Aug. 5

About thirty devotees attended this residential retreat, organized by Hindu Heritage Summer Camp, Rochester, NY. Selected topics from Chandogya Upanisad were explained by  Swami Yogatmananda. Swami Kripamayananda (Toronto Canada) spoke about Vedanta & Lives of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi & Swami Vivekananda.

 

4) Krishna Festival – Sun. Aug 12

In observance of Sri Krishna Janmashtami, about fifty-five devotees attended an outdoor gathering at the Abram’s home in Barrington RI. The program consisted of devotional music, short talks by devotees and Swami Yogatmananda, an offering to Krishna and Prasad luncheon.

 

5) Children/Pre-Teen Day Camp - August 13-17 (Mon. through Fri.): 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.

About sixteen youngsters participated daily in this pre-teen day-camp, conducted in the basement of the new building. The theme was ‘Hanuman’. There were stories; a ‘Hanuman-rap’ sing-along was taught, arts and crafts, including cooking class and art of toy-making related to Hanuman, videos on Hanuman, exercise-outdoor walk/play periods; luncheons & snacks.

 

6) Day long retreat in Trumbull, CT - Sat., Aug. 18, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Swami Yogatmananada conducted a retreat on: 'Vedanta: It’s Application to Life' at the Gupta's Home, Trumbull, CT to about forty-five devotees, neighbors and friends. The day consisted of lectures/Q &A; devotional singing, and luncheon.

 

Click here to see photos.