Upcoming Events

Swami visits Vedanta Society, NJ – Sat. Nov.18, 2:30-5:30 pm
Swami Yogatmananda will conduct a half day retreat at Vedanta Society of NJ, Voorhees, NJ

Vedanta Society of CT – Sun Nov. 19, 10:30am – 12:30 pm
Swami Yogatmananda will deliver a talk on: ‘Divine-Incarnation’ at at Vedanta Society CT, 100 Cherry Brook RD Canton CT. Program includes a short puja, music, and refreshments. All are welcome.

Sitar Concert – Sun. Nov. 19, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Srinivas Reddy will perform Classical Sitar, with Ajit Acharya accompanying on Tabla, in  in the Lower Level. All are welcome. No entry Fee. Donations appreciated.

Day-long Retreat – Sat. Dec. 02
A day-long retreat from 10:00AM –7:00PM, conducted by Swami Yogatmananda on the topic:  ‘Learning to Breathe’. Registration fee is $30.00/per person.  $20.00/per person, if registered by Fri. Nov. 24. Registration available in the bookstore before classes.  Click here for more information and online registration.

Hath Yoga Classes with Roshni Darnal– Tuesdays, 5:30 – 6:30pm
 No class on Nov. 21. Next class will be on Nov. 28
Appropriate for all levels.
$10.00 per Class; $40.00 for a two-month session
Click here to see the flyer.

Weekly Schedule (in addition to Daily Schedule given below)

Friday, Nov. 17 7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation
7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Swami Yogatmananda on Jnana Yoga (based on the book of Swami Vivekananda)
Saturday, Nov. 18 8:30 – 10:30 AM: Karma Yoga/Cleaning
11:00 AM – 12 noon: Guided meditation and chanting/singing
7:00 – 8:30 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & Meditation
Sunday, Nov. 19 5:00 – 6:00 PM:  Lecture – ‘Meaning of Raasa Leela’ by Swami Yogatmananda
6:00 – 6:15 PM: Aarati
6:15 – 7:30 PM: Soup Supper
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Meditation
Tuesday, Nov. 21 7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation
7:30 – 8:30 PM:  Study Class – Swami Saradananda’s book – ‘SRI RAMAKRISHNA & HIS DIVINE PLAY’ (Tr. Swami Chetanananda) 

Daily Schedule

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
7:00 – 7:25 AM: A short ritual worship/Puja. Open to all.
Evening 7:00 – 7:15 PM: Aarti (devotional music), with a short reading from ‘THE STORY OF AN EPOCH: Swami Virajananda and his Times’, by Swami Shraddhananda
7:15 – 8:00 PM: Meditation. Open to all.

Past Events

Guest Lectures
On Sunday, Nov. 12,  Prof. Donna Maurer  spoke on: ‘Facing Final Moments’
Click here to see photo.

Swami Returned – Mon. Nov. 13
Swami Yogatmananda returned to Providence Mon. Nov. 13 at 11pm from a month long  lecture tour  to various places throughout India. He gave, in all 42 lectures.

Synopses of Past Classes

Fri. Nov. 10 – VIDEO  shown– ‘The Life and Teachings of  Ramana Maharshi – Sage of Arunchala’

Guest Lecture – ‘Facing Final Moments” by Prof. Donna Maurer  –  Sun. Nov. 12
Death is a source of primordial fear. Behavioral scientists have identified negative outcomes arising from fear of death, such as clinging to cultural beliefs and heightening social divisions. For spiritual seekers, fear of death is a key issue to address, with the awareness that death can come at any moment, so that the life can be fulfilled through Oneness with God. Renunciation, reconciliation, and hope can help individuals prepare for the end of mortal life. Renunciation is a key means of reducing wants and developing an attitude of service to others. Sri Sarada Devi exemplified how one can cope with grief and loss while caring for others and maintaining nonattachment. Sri Ramakrishna’s parable of “Not till the illusion breaks” conveys how the web of social relationships can bind us and expresses the freedom that comes from renunciation.  Reconciliation is a means of harmonizing our lives so that we are not left with any regrets or with loose ends of things left unfinished. Rather than thinking of hope as “wishful thinking,” we can re-conceptualize it as an intention or as a prayer that will enable us to become stronger, to replace fears and doubts, and to become more open to possibilities at the end of life.

Study Class – Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play – Tue. Nov. 14
Chapter: Hinduism and Sri Ramakrishna Pg 382
This book – the authoritative biography of Sri Ramakrishna- was written by Swami Saradananda and is translated by Swami Chetanananda. The book includes an article (Hinduism and Sri Ramakrishna) written by the foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, who very clearly understood the personality and the principles of the Master.
Truth is of two kinds – 1. Truth which can be perceived by the sense organs and 2. Truth which is beyond senses and can be obtained by subtle yogic powers. The knowledge obtained from the sense organs is called science and is based upon certain experiments, observations and deductions. This knowledge is limited in nature. The knowledge which is beyond the sense perception called Vedas is permanent and changeless. The Vedas are divided into two parts – ritual portion and the knowledge portion. Understanding the Truth intellectually is different from experiencing it. Yoga, which is a science to bridge the gap between the intellectual understanding and the experience. The true meaning of the Vedas gets revealed only after the experience.
Hinduism follows a three tier system of scriptures. Shruti- Vedanta (the last part of the Vedas) have the highest knowledge and form the first tier. Smriti gives the set of instructions to lead the life based on these principles and form the second tier. Puranas explain the principles of the Vedanta in the form of stories of the divine incarnations which can be understood by the society. They are the third tier. The Smritis and Puranas are subject to change, depending upon the need of the time and place. Whenever the very basis of these Vedic principles is challenged, God incarnates to re-establish those principles for the welfare of the human race.