Announcements and reminders:

  • Vedanta Society accepts online donations. All donations are tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
    Also you can donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Your donations will be remitted directly into our bank a/c.
    Please visit our website: https://vedantaprov.org/ to donate via PayPal or Amazonsmile.
  • Join & Contribute with the following if You Wish:
    Blog: Everyone is free to contribute their thoughts on spiritual/religious classes or books or experiences.  http://vedantaprovidence.blogspot.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vedanta.Providence/
    Vedanta Library and Bookstore
    : Open 30 minutes before every class/program.
  • The Swahananda Prizes for Short Story
    ‘American Vedantist’ – An e-journal on Vedanta has announced a ‘Spiritual Story Competition’. The announcement says:
    American Vedantist is a not-for-profit online journal. We are working to develop Vedanta in the West, and to create a sense of connection among all of us who are on a path toward self-realization. To those ends, we are exploring ways in which Western forms of art express this spiritual quest. Entries must be received no later than Saturday, October 27, 2018.
    For detailed information and entry form:
    http://americanvedantist.org/the-swahananda-prizes-for-short-story/

Upcoming Events

Day-long Meditation – Sat. Sept. 15, 12:00noon – 7:00pm
Participants must be IN bldg. by 12noon (entries will be locked). Complete silence must be observed. One can meditate as short or long a time-frame as wishes; however, once you have left building, you cannot re-enter until front entry re-opens at 6:30pm for evening Aarati at 7:00pm. Simple vegetarian food will be provided.

Just Kids! Time  – Sun. Sept. 16, 4PM – 6PM
Children’s program (ages 6-12 only) will meet. All young children welcome.

Classical Vocal Concert – Sun. Sept. 16, 6:15PM – 7:30PM
Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya will perform classical Indian vocal (ragas), accompanied by Ashis Sengupta on Tabla and Durba Bhattacharyya on Harmonium, in the Lower Level (LL) from 6:15 pm – 7:30pm, – immediately following the 5pm-6pm Sunday lecture & aarati.
All  are welcome.  $20/person donation suggested.

Hatha Yoga Classes – Every Friday, beginning Sept. 14, 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

Daylong Retreat – Sat. Oct. 13, 10:00am – 5:00pm
– by Swami Chetanananda, Vedanta Society of St. Louis MO
Topic: ‘Stories of Vedanta Monks’
Fee: $30.00; Discounted fee $20 if paid  by Oct. 03 (Fees are non-refundable)
Prior Registration Required; Can be done online or at the Society’s office, or by mail.  For detailed information and online registration:
https://vedantaprov.org/schedule/

Weekly Schedule (in addition to Daily Schedule given below)

Fri. Sept. 14 7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation.  
7:30 – 8:30 PM: Study Class by Swami Yogatmananda, beginning class #1 ‘Svetasvatara Upanishad’ (transl./notes by Swami Tyagisananda)
Sat. Sept. 15 8:30 – 10:30am: Karma Yoga (Cleaning & Work-service)
11:00am – 12:00 noon: Guided Meditation & singing
12noon – 7pm: DAY LONG SILENT MEDITATION
(use of cellphones/electronics not allowed; vegetarian foods/snacks provided)
7:00pm – 8:00pm – Aarati (devotional singing & a short reading) & continued meditation
Sun. Sept. 16 4PM – 6PM: Just Kids! Session
5:00 – 6:00 PM:  Special Lecture on: ‘Swami Vivekananda in Gujarat’ by Swami  Sarvasthanda, Ramakrishna Vedanta Center, UK
6:15 – 7:30PM – Indian Classical Vocal Concert in Lower Level. (See details above.)
Tue. Sept. 17 7:00 PM: Aarati (devotional music) & meditation
7:30 – 8:30 PM:  Study Class – Swami Saradananda’s book – ‘SRI RAMAKRISHNA & HIS DIVINE PLAY’: Sri Ramakrishna As Guru (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 ‘BOOK OF DAILY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS’ by Swami Paramananda 
7:15 – 8:00 PM: Meditation. Open to all.

Past Events

Universal Brotherhood Day Interfaith Program – Sun.  Sept. 09,   5:00PM – 7:30PM
See below detailed report of the program & synopses of talks. Photos of this event will be uploaded soon.

Synopses of Past Classes

Universal Brotherhood Day – Exploring the Spiritual Dimension – Sept. 09
Welcome: The program began with chanting of Shanti-mantras. Swami Yogatmananda explained the occasion of this event by saying that all faiths affirm that we are all brothers and sisters. Swami Vivekananda, at the first World Parliament of Religions, stated that no religion is superior to another religion. To experience God is the purpose of religion.

Opening Song – The Mission: This song about Swami Vivekananda’s journey to the west was performed by a group of devotees connected with the Providence Center.

Kainat Felicia Norton of the Sufi Inayati Order: Hazrat Inayat Khan, the founder of this order, said that he had come to the west to tune souls to God. His message was universal Sufism that honors all of the world’s traditions. Everyone wants a direct experience of the Divine, which takes inner cultivation. We need to remove the covers, and have a heart full of love. Fourfold Renunciation is important on the path.

Rev. Raymond Mills: The spiritual dimension includes knowing oneself. We connect with God through the Holy Spirit. It helps to look at our struggles in a spiritual way. We may not understand a problem physically, but we can process it spiritually. The Holy Spirit points us to Christ and to forgiveness, and shows us how we can become like Christ.

Hannah Resseger, known as B-Mor7, sang a Vedanta rap song, called Vivekananda.

Rev. Linda Forsberg, minister at the First Lutheran Church in East Greenwich, and the Church Beyond the Walls in Burnside Park: As a child, she would climb up on a tree and pour her heart out to God. Her experience of the spirit comes through nature. The Hebrew word ruach means spirit, wind, and breath. Jesus told us to become as little children, because young children feel a connection to God. We can experience the spirit through music and art. Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh said that deep suffering, and deep love, unite us all. The spiritual dimension comes through sacred texts. Rage can become peace, and brokenness can become whole.

Shamya Namer Bhelay was performed by Taposh Talukder, with Abhijit Adak on tabla.

That Man God Loves was performed by Peter Travisano, Taposh Talukder, Sarah Phat, and Swapna and Rahul Ray.

Rev. Ian Taylor, of the Concordia Center for Spiritual Living: Swami Vivekananda brought us the ideas of tolerance, or putting up with something of which we disapprove, and more than that, acceptance of all religions. We must have creative and innovative responses, such as a mystic who, when confronted by backbiting, said we are here to find a compassionate, loving, spirit. The world outside us is a reflection of the world inside us. Unification, in Science of Mind, means that each of us is an individual being within the whole, and recognition that the spiritual realm is absolute, and infinite. Each individual has access to the whole. The only cause of our problems is our disconnect with God. The solution is not changing the world, but changing ourselves. We are all crackpots, like the damaged pot that watered flowers.

Swami Yogatmananda:  Swami Vivekananda taught to respect and accept all different paths, which all lead to the same Source. In Vedanta, we try to find the source of joy in us. We experience joy only by connecting to our inner Self. Happiness, love and peace are required for no further goal, but for themselves. The infinite spirit is our true identity. Freedom is a human urge. As the body, we are bound by matter, so we can never be free. As the spirit alone, we can be free. Namaste was performed by the same singers and musicians who performed The Mission.

Swami Yogatmananda thanked all the speakers, the musicians, everyone who came, and the India Museum and Heritage Society, for providing a delicious meal.
Auspicious Mother Divine was sung by the congregation, and Grace was said before the meal.
Everyone enjoyed sumptuous dinner prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Patel & friends.
About one-hundred-five (105) people attended.

Tuesday Study Class: Sri Ramakrishna & His Divine Play – Sept. 11
Study of Sri Ramakrishna’s biography which is written by His direct disciple, is very unique. This book focuses on understanding the life of Sri Ramakrishna at physical as well as mental plane. This book is a masterpiece which has recorded all the life events with factual correctness and with deep understanding of His mental awareness. To comprehend His personality, one must have some familiarity with such lofty mental state. Sri Ramakrishna’s young and educated disciples put Him to test multiple times and in many different circumstances to resolve their own doubts and also to address the doubts and questions of the future generations.
Sri Ramakrishna is the divinity personified. It is difficult for an ordinary human being to grasp His physical actions without getting a glimpse of His mental state. One cannot draw conclusions based merely upon the actions of Sri Ramakrishna. His actions were not driven by any motive. They were driven by compassion for the human beings. It requires special awareness to understand His actions. Study of this biography develops that awareness amongst the readers and helps them understand the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna.
Sri Ramakrishna is divinity personified. As an actor plays his/her part in a play, Sri Ramakrishna played the role of  a human being to awaken the spiritual quest in mankind. His life inspires ordinary human beings to pursue their true nature. Human life is full of contradictions – pleasure and pain, hope and despair, life and death etc. The life dwells upon the biggest assumption that the world is real. But the world is not real hence it can never satisfy us. Everyone is constantly searching for the lasting happiness in vain. When we look at the life of Sri Ramakrishna, which was full of unconditional bliss that kindles a desire and gives us hope that there is a way to attain that ultimate happiness.