Newsletter May 22 , 2013

 

Newsletter Archives

 

Upcoming Events

Bhagavad Gita class at Middletown, CT – Sunday, May 26
Swami Yogatmananda will conduct the monthly Bhagavad Gita class (Ch.13 continued) at Sri Satyanarayana Temple (10 Training Hill Rd,Middletown, CT) from 10:30-11:30 AM. All are welcome.

 

Spiritual Retreat on Saturday, Jun. 01, 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Speaker: Swami Atmajnanananda, Resident Minister, Vedanta Center of Gr Washington DC

Subject: VIVEKANANDA’S Song on Samadhi

Prior registration required. Registration fee: $20.00 per person. (For online registration: $21 per person)

For more information and Online Registration:

http://www.vedantaprov.org/spiritualretreat.html

 

Updates: 1) Please vist the Vedanta Society of Providence blog for the latest post on "Spiritual Musings." All are welcome to submit posts for our blog; you can find info on how to do so on our blog page: http://vedantaprovidence.blogspot.com/

2) Check out some Sunday Lectures (from March & April 2013) uploaded here.

 

Weekly Programs (in addition to Daily Programs given below)

Friday, May 24	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: study class on Bhagavad-Gita Ch 18 cont.
Saturday, May 25	8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma yoga/cleaning 11:00am – 12 noon: Guided meditation and singing 7:00PM – 8:00 PM: Aarati (devotional singing, a reading and meditation)
Sunday, May 26	5:00–6:00 PM: 'Prajna-Paramita: The Intelligence Supreme' by Swami Yogatmananda 6:00 PM–7:00 PM: Soup Supper 7:00 PM – 8:00PM: Aarati (devotional singing), a short reading and meditation
Tuesday, May 28	7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study class on The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Ch. 45, p. 860

 

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. 3
Evening :	7:00 – 7:15 PM: Aarti (devotional music), with a short reading from Swami Chetanananda's book: ‘Mahendra Nath Gupta ‘M’' 7:15 – 8:00 PM: Meditation

 

Past Events

Swami to NY – Sat. May 18
Swami Yogatmananda participated in a panel discussion on ‘Unity in Diversity’ at Vedanta Society, New York, on Saturday afternoon with several other Swamis and speakers. He returned Sunday morning. 
Natraj East-West Fusion Concert – Sun. May 19
Following the 5-6PM Sunday lecture, Natraj, the East-West fusion jazz band, performed from 6:15PM – 7:30PM, with Phil Scarff, on soprano and sopranino saxophones; Rohan Gregory on violin/ viola; Mike Rivard on string bass; Jerry Lake on tabla/multipercussion; and Bertram Lehmann on drums/percussion. About forty music enthusiasts attended.

Click here to see photos.

 

Synopses of Last Week's Classes

(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated.)

 

Bhagavad Gita class -May 17, Friday

Ch. 18, Verses 29-35: After describing the three types of knowledge, actions and doers according to the three Gunas, Lord is now telling the similar divisions in the understanding (buddhi – could be translated as intellect too) and tenacity. Life depends on how one prioritizes various things that come to a person. A Sattvica understanding correctly discerns between ‘right and wrong’, ‘to be done and not to be done’, ‘what is bondage and what is freedom’. Thus a sattvica person goes on the best available path. A raajasica person’s judgments on these points are muddled up and for a taamasica understanding, they are totally opposite of truth, i.e. the wrong, unrighteous is seen as right and righteous. The three corresponding differences in the dhriti = tenacity/commitment/perseverance (dhriti) is also important to note. Sattivica tenacity proceeds on to the goal by patiently but diligently applying the mind, life-force, organs and body, in a harmonious way and persevering in the ‘Yoga-sadhana’. A rajasica tenacity is glued to getting the pleasures of the world. The tamasica tenacity makes one hold on to the grief, depressing mood, illusions, paranoia and snobbish attitude.
The idea in describing these in details is to learn to give up the tamasica and rajasica characteristic and to develop the sattvica characteristics.    

 

Sankara’s Presentation of Superimposition – May 19, Sunday
Sankaracharya presented the essence of the Vedas and taught the harmony of religions. His commentery on Vyasa’s Brahma Sutras (aphorisms on Brahman) is very highly respected by the scholars and is considered as a must-study book for understanding of the non-dual VEDANTA. The world that we perceive is not true as it appears. One without a second reality is appearing as this world, and this appearance is full of contradictions. The world cannot be fixed, because the concept of pleasure depends on the concept of pain, etc. Superimposition is one thing appearing as another such as a rope appearing as a snake. Superimposition is the basis of all our actions and the source of all bondage. It is not a theory, not any explanation;  is a matter of fact. Our attachments lead to doubts about superimposition because we seek our pleasures in the world and are not ready for the truth. The superimposed does not undergo change, as the rope does not change when perceived as a snake. Removing the superimposition is the goal of life, as shown by the sages. Sri Ramakrishna repeated over and over again that God-realization is the goal of life. We may make sacrifices or go to temples all over the world, but these are only good if they help us attain the knowledge that leads to liberation.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Class - May 21, Tuesday

Sri Ramakrishna is explaining God's real nature to the devotees. Master says , He is with form as well as without form. Initially it is difficult to perceive God with form as well as formless. As one’s awareness shifts from the body to our true nature through meditation and continuous thinking about God, one can perceive God in all infinite dimensions - without confining Him to a specific form. Master explains that devotee’s love makes God appear with the form and aspirant’s knowledge makes him formless Brahman. As an aspirant goes closer to God, ego merges into God. Then who is there to describe?  God can't be perceived by the mind and intelligence but can be experienced in the inmost consciousness.
Dr. Sarkar commented that on the path of bhakti, aspirant meets with obstacle. Master answered that such obstacles are harmless for the bhakta. Generally aspirants like to follow the path of  knowledge, but in reality, our lives are governed greatly by emotions and hence the path of devotion is more suitable for most of us. Being identified with our body, it is difficult to conceive the idea of formless God. In this state it is easier to connect with God with form. But to confine God only to one particular form will be an error in understanding Him. Important fact is to connect to God in any form or manner. This connection develops true love for God and eventually through this love the  focus shifts completely from the world to God. This is a graded course of spiritual evolution.