!!! Happy Diwali !!!

Announcements:

• The Tuesday & Friday online live-streaming of classes will now be from our YouTube channel (instead of Twitter). Please follow the link:
  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFof5116HcBYIpUFvKet1Uw
• Volunteer Work: Cleaning, Maintenance, webcasting of lectures, etc.
• Vedanta Library and Bookstore: Open 30 minutes before every class/program.

Upcoming Events

Swami Yogatmananda visits India and Europe – Nov. 07 – Nov. 30
Swami Yogatmananda will be travelling and delivering lectures in India, Germany, Ireland, England.
Click here to see his itinerary.  Swami will resume classes from Fri. Nov. 30.
During his absence, all classes, Saturday guided meditation-hour; karma yoga/work-service; daily morning/evening meditation programs, Sun soup supper etc will continue as usual.
Many distinguished guest-speakers, including Bishop Paul (Orthodox Celtic Church VA), Swami Sarvapriyananda, Prof Sukalyan Sengupta, (U/MA Dartmouth) and Chet Boncek will be covering the Sunday, Tuesday and Friday classes.  Please check the monthly flyer and weekly newsletter. Live webcast of all classes will  continue as usual.

Guest Lectures This Week:
Fri. Nov. 09, 7:30 – 8:30 pm: ‘Spiritual Unfoldment and The Pantanjali Yoga Sutras’ – Part 1 by Chet Boncek
Sun. Nov. 11, 5 – 6 pm: ‘St. Francis of Assisi’  by Bishop Paul, Celtic Orthodox Church, VA
Tue. Nov. 13, 7:30 – 8:30 pm: ‘Visions of Sri Ramakrishna’ by Bishop Paul, Celtic Orthodox Church, VA
All are welcome. No fee.

Daylong Retreat – Sat. Dec. 08, 9:30am – 5:00pm
– by Swami Yogatmananda
Topic: ‘Kingdom of God is Within You’
Fee: $30.00; Discounted fee $20 if paid  by Nov 30 (Fees are non-refundable)
Prior Registration Required; Can be done online or in person at the Society’s office, or by mail.  For detailed information and online registration:
https://vedantaprov.org/schedule/

Hatha Yoga Classes – Every Tuesday, beginning Oct 02, 5:30-6:30 PM
Fee: $40 — PREPAID For 2 Month Course, $10/Per Class
Contact Vedanta Society by phone or email or contact Roshni Darnal at 401-226-5421

Weekly Schedule (in addition to Daily Schedule given below)

Past Events

Day- long meditation – Sat. Nov. 03
About fifteen people participated.

Vedanta CT Monthly Gathering – Sun. Nov. 04, 10:00am– 12:00pm 
Swami Yogatmananda spoke on: ’Musings on Bhagavad Gita: Creator & Creation’ at Vedanta Society of CT, located at  100 Cherry Brook Rd Canton CT to twelve devotees. Program also included short worship; devotional singing and prasad.

Just Kids! Time – Sun. Nov. 04 , 4pm – 6pm
Three children attended. A bread cornucopia was made and added to the soup supper  table in recognition of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and as appreciation of the gifts we received daily from the Lord.

Synopses of Past Classes
(All classes given by Swami Yogatmananda, unless otherwise stated)

Friday Study Class: Svetasvatara Upanisad – Nov. 02
Class 7: Verses Ch 1 -7,8
A perceived separation between “I” and “the world” is the cause of our suffering. We cannot reconcile the problem of evil if this separation exists.  There is no way to answer the question of why some suffer so terribly; the world is designed to be ridden with suffering and conflicts so that we will see that the world is unreal. There is no such thing as “universal justice,” since justice for some necessitates a disadvantage for others. When we believe that “I am separate from the world and from God,” we are confused and scared.  But if we know ourselves to be one with the world and with God, we will become immortal and ever-free. There is no way to end our suffering and problems EXCEPT realizing that we are one with them. The process to experience this oneness must be followed. We cannot just say, “Okay, I know I am one,” and then expect to achieve relief.  This truth has to be REALIZED. We must first cut ourselves off from anything that establishes within our consciousness the division between “I” and “the world,” including enjoyments. We are addicted to the enjoyments of life, but we must train ourselves to give up our attachment to them. When we realize God, all fetters fall away. We must try to keep seeing that which does not change.  Thus we come to a higher reality which connects that which does not change, the conscious principle (purusha), and that which changes, the unconscious principle (prakriti). We have to create a “land of the free” by becoming free. We have to bravely stand up against the myth of multiplicity; by knowing the truth, we will be liberated.

Sunday Talk – Mother Kali: A Musical Worship– Nov. 04
Swapna and Rahul Ray performed the following eight well-known songs on Mother Kali with Abhijit Adak on tabla, with the commentary given by Swami Yogatmananda. The songs were translated and transliterated by Rahul.
1. Ami sawb chhere maa dhorbo tomar
This song is saying: Now I take a vow to give up everything and take refuge in You. What I have received through my life has failed to satisfy me. Please give me what is everlasting.
2. Ami mayer naam aar korbo naa ray
The devotee shows mock anger and anguish, saying that his devotion leads people to take him to be mad or insane. He says: Why should I utter your name?
3. Mown ray krishi kaaj jaano naa
This song was written by Ramprasad, a saint, many of whose songs were sung by Sri Ramakrishna. The mind is compared to fertile soil. The Guru gives the seed, but we have to cultivate the plants so that they will grow. Each of us has land to get a huge crop of joy.
4. Khyapar haat-bajaar ma tor khyapar haat-bajaar
In this song, also by Ramprasad, the Divine Mother is depicted as quarreling with another woman, the river Ganges, over Lord Shiva. Mother Kali has human skulls for ornaments, meaning that all heads work under her guidance. The songwriter says: You may not care for me, but you won’t escape my pursuit.
5. Shyama naamer laglo agun
This song was written by Kazi Nazrul Islam, a Muslim saint and poet, who wrote songs to the Divine Mother. He says to let his body be an incense stick in the fire of Her name. Her fragrance spreads everywhere. He asks: When will the limited ego get burned?
6. Dowsh karo noi go maa
This song, by Dasorothi, was one of Sri Ramakrishna’s most beloved songs. We should not blame others, because our own karma makes us suffer. We have the power to rectify the situation, and not others. The songwriter feels that Mother Kali will still redeem him despite his past mistakes in running after worldly pleasures.
7. Amaar aar kono goon nei maa
This song is also by Kazi Nazrul Islam. He says that he has no other qualities but to take Mother Kali’s name perpetually. He hasn’t learned the division to separate him from Her.
8. Shyama ma ki amaar kalo re
Sri Ramakrishna loved this song, by the saint Kamalkanto. Mother Kali’s image may be seen as black, but it illumines the heart like a candle. Mother Kali is not limited to any hue or form, and may be formless. The songwriter feels as if he has become mad trying to fathom Her identity.

Tuesday Study Class: Sri Ramakrishna & His Divine Play – Nov. 06
Page # 431-433: Sri Ramakrishna narrates that He once asked the Divine Mother to help Him eat a little because he was unable to eat due to pain in His throat.  The Divine mother pointed to all and said that He is eating with all these hands and mouths. This is an example of how much He lacked body consciousness and was established in non-duality. It is the ignorant idea of me and mine that limits our awareness. When we think of a small me and mine, we lose everything. Because even that little thing is eventually taken away from us. King Janaka said “My wealth is infinite, because nothing belongs to me.”
This is the secret, spiritual aspirants must give up this idea of mine. If we have even a little bit, then that little bit will kill us. One may say that it is difficult to give up. But it is difficult because of the addiction to this idea of me and mine. Being old habit, it dies hard. We need to reduce our desires. Reducing desires, reduces our pain. Happiness is our nature, we don’t need to import happiness, all we need to do is remove addiction to external things that cause pain to us. Practical religion is in putting these ideas into day to day practice.  It requires strong determination to break away from the old habits. If we make excuses we are the only ones who will lose.
One of the outcomes of Sri Ramakrishna’s non-dual awareness was that whatever he thought or wished used to come true in external world.