Newsletter July 31, 2013

 

Newsletter Archives

Notice

 

1. Concluding Function of the Celebration of Swamiji's 150th Birth Anniversary at Belur Math in January 2014
The Concluding Function at Belur Math will consist of the following:
Devotees’ Convention on 25 and 26 January 2014
International Seminar on 27 and 28 January 2014
Youth Convention on 29 and 30 January 2014

Delegates to these meetings will be registered through our centres. All delegates from countries outside India will be treated as resident delegates. The fee, inclusive of lodging, food and transportation to & from the Celebration venue is $300 (from 24 to 31 January 2014.)
The last date for sending the names and completed registration forms is August 31, 2013.
Please contact the Minister if you wish to go, either by phone 401-421-3960 or by email infoATvedantaprov.org.

 

2. Vedanta Society of Providence will close for summer break from June 23 to September 07. The Sunday Service and regular weekly classes will resume from September 08 onwards. A few special programs will be conducted during this hiatus – please click here for summer schedule.

 

3. Please return all library books and journals by this Sunday,  June 23, the last Sunday Service before the sumer break. Thank you. The library will be open only on Tuesdays July 09 – August 20.

 

4. Next Newsletters will be posted on August 28.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Vedanta Study class -Tuesdays - July 09 thru Aug 20, 7:00 – 8:30PM

Prayer, Meditation, Study and Discussion on ‘Book of Splendor’ (a Kabbala Text). Open to All.
Class will be conducted in the  Lower-level /Basement room.

 

Residential Vedanta Retreat at Rochester– Wed July 31 - Sun. Aug. 04
Swami Yogatmananda will conduct the annual ‘camp-style’ residential retreat at the Hindu Heritage Summer Camp Monroe New York (near Rochester) from Wed. July 31 thru Sun. Aug. 04.

Theme is: ‘Katho-upanishad’. 

For registration visit www.omhhsc.org or contact Vedanta Society.

Click here to download the flyer.

 

 Fri. Aug 9, 6:00 PM - Sun. Aug 11, 1:00 PM: RESIDENTIAL RETREAT FOR YOUNG ADULTS
(about 17-29 years age)
TOPIC : WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM VIVEKANANDA
- Readings, meditation, discussion, yoga; Limited Accommodation
Contact by email at infoATvedantaprov.org or by phone at 401-421-3960
Click here to download flyer.

Mon. Aug 12  through Fri. Aug. 16, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM: CHILDREN’S DAYCAMP
THEME: MAGIC BIRDS…
Contact by phone or email for registration.

 

Fri. Aug. 23, 6:00 PM  through  Sun. Aug 25, 1:00 PM: Meditate-a-thon (Meditation Retreat)
Limited Accommodation; Prior Approval from Swami Yogatmananda Absolutely Required. NO WALK-INS!

Sat. Aug. 17, 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Retreat with Swami Yogatmananda on RAJA YOGA
At Mukherji Residence, 7 Hawley Rd, Shelton, CT 06484 Ph: 203-218-7560
RSVP to Vedanta or Mukherjis.

 

Sun. Aug 25, 5:00-7:00 PM: KRISHNA FESTIVAL
Worship, Music, Dance & Discussions followed by Prasad-supper.  Open to Everyone.

 

Past Events

1) Swami Yogatmananda to Ganges MI & Homer Glen IL– June 27 - July 02
Swami Yogatmananda and devotees travelled to Ganges MI, where Swami conducted a week-end retreat on ‘Purusha-Suktam’. On Sunday evening, at the Lemont Hindu Temple, IL, he  delivered a talk. They  returned late Monday, July 01.
2) 'Independence Day' Program - Thurs. July 04
From 11:00 AM. – 2:00 PM, about fifty devotees attended the annual Independence Day/Swami Vivekananda Freedom Day observance at the home at Raj & Dhiraj Jhaveri in  Framingham MA, with a short talk music and luncheon.

3) Swami Yogatmananda participated in the annual 'International Congress of Vedanta' organized by Center for Indic Studies, UMass Dartmouth, July 11-14.

4) Guru Poornima – Sunday, July 21
From 11:00AM – 1:30PM, at Vedanta Society Chapel, Guru Poornima (observed to honor all gurus) was observed with short worship/puja, flower offering, devotional singing, various selected readings, a short talk by Swami Yogatmananda and Prasad. About seventy devotees attended/participated.
5) Get-Together of Devotees – Sat. July 20, 11:00AM – 2:00PM
The annual  ‘get-together to honor ‘M’ (Mahendra Nath Gupta, the chronicler of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna) at the home of T K Roy, West Wareham MA, with readings on ‘M’, reflections and music; was attended by about forty devotees.

6) Special Service at Annisquam Village Church - Sun. July 28, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
As part of the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Swami Vivekananda, Vedanta Societies in Providence and Boston in collaboration with the Annisquam Village Church arranged a Special Service at the Annisquam Village Church on Sunday July 28. About two hundred twenty devotees, congregation members and well-wishers attended the program. The event began with  sitar recital. There were short talks by Swami Yogatmananda, Swami Tyagananda, and Minister Rev. Deirdre White. The Annisquam Village Church choir & Vedanta devotees presented few songs. Among other programs were: ‘Vivekananda in Annisquam' - a skit performed by the Annisquam students of Schola Cantorum and a poem on Vivekananda. A plaque honoring the visit of Swami Vivekananda in Annisquam was installed in the front lobby of the Church. In the basement/dining area, a short video was shown and dinner served  for all.

 

Click here to see photos of above events.

 

Synopses - Summer Classes

Vedanta Summer Study class on ‘Book of Splendor’ (a Kabbala Text)
Summery: Classes 1-3 on July 09, 16, 23
Zohar, The Book of Splendor, is the most important book of Kabbalah in Jewish mysticism. It is a huge book originating during 1st Century AD in Safed, Israel, and ‘rediscovered’ in the 13th Century, with further contributions in the 16th Century.
 
The story of Creation appears in the Zohar, as Ein Sof (or the Absolute One) manifesting through the Ten Siferots, or creative forces. Ein Sof appears as all creation without any participation or change.
 
The top-most Siferot, "Keter" (CROWN), is nothingness with only a proneness to create. It corresponds to Ishvara in Vedanta.
 
From Keter emanates "Binnah" (UNDERSTANDING) and "Chochmah" (WISDOM).
 
The inteaction of Understanding and Wisdom gives rise to the 3 Siferots: "Chesed" (free flowing LOVE), the left limb; "Geburah" (JUSTICE or Judgement), the right limb; and "Ti'pereth" (BEAUTY or Compassion) which is the balance between Love and Justice, forms the trunk of the Divine Creation.
 
"Nedexah" (which gives ENDURANCE to changing forms), and "Hod" (MAJESTY or Splendor, which makes the forms shine in consciousness), form the right and left legs of the Creation; "Yesod" (or FOUNDATION for the gross creation) forms the reproductive organ.
 
"Malkhut" (the GROSS-UNIVERSE of subject-object experience), is the final Siferot. The Goal is to merge it back to Ti'pereth.