Newsletter July 22, 2009

Past Events

Swami's visit to Ganges, MI and Chicago, IL - Thursday, June 25 through Tuesday, June 30
Swami and some devotees traveled to Vivekananda Monastery in Ganges, MI where Swami conducted a retreat on 'Story of Prahlada' to about fifty-five devotees. 'Yours Truly and Truly Yours' was the Sunday Service lecture, with about fifty persons in attendance. They also visited the recently built 'Universal Sri Ramakrishna Temple' in Homer Glen, Chicago, IL and they returned to Providence late night on Tuesday, June 30.

Independence Day Program in Framingham, MA - Saturday, July 4

About fifty-five devotees attended the annual 'July 4th/Independence Day' Program conducted at the Jhaveri's home in Framingham, MA. Swami spoke on aspects of:'Facing the Truth'; 'Freedom' - not clinging to any personal/national 'passing phenomena'; 'courage'; equality-principle in a capitalistic 'democracy' etc, and used 'Song of Sannyasin', 'No One but Me to Blame' and Swami Vivekananda's poem 'to the Fourth of July' as reference. Readings, music, Q/A session and a luncheon was part of the program.

Guru-Purnima - Tuesday, July 07
About forty-five devotees attended the worship, devotional singing, readings and a talk by Swami on gurus and Vyasa ('guru of gurus') from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM on Tueday, July 07.

Residential weekend retreat - Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12
Twenty-one devotees attended the weekend retreat on 'Towards the Goal Supreme', which consisted of morning meditation, chanting and reading, evening Aarti (music), readings and meditation, lectures from Swami Yogatmananda on the afore-metnioned topic, a video, guided meditation, karma-yoga, walking meditation, contemplation time, writing and reading-aloud exercise, etc.

Gathering for 'M' in West Wareham, MA - Sunday, July 12

'Time for 'M'- the chronicler of 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' was held at T.K Roy's home in West Wareham MA from 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM on Sunday, July 12 after the residential retreat concluded. About fifteen devotees and admirers gathered for a wonderful music; various readings on 'M'; comments, Q/A and meal/snacks.

UMass/Dartmouth 'Congress on Vedanta' - Wedneday, July 15

Swami Yogatmananda gave the Invocation at the 'Eighteenth International Congress on Vedanta', conducted for the first time at UMass/Dartmouth from Wedneday, July 15 through Saturday, July 18. He also attended a couple of the presentations.

Day long retreat in Shelton, CT - Saturday, July 18
Swami conducted a day-long retreat on 'Aligning the Wheels of Life' on Saturday, July 18 from 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM to about fifty devotees at Ratna & Tapas Mukherji's House in Shelton, CT.

Please click here to see the photos of some of the above events.

Synopsis of Tuesday's Classes

Tuesday - The Sufis - July 14 (Part-1)

The mysticism is the heart of religions. In Islam this became popularly known as the way of the Sufis.The word Sufi iis traced to different origins by scholars. Most believe that it is from Arabic "soof" = wool; this is because these mendicants/ascetics put on coarse woolen rags for garments. Some think that it is from Greek "Sophia" = Knowledge. Tenets of Sufism broadly include the following: The life of the Prophet Mohammad and his teachings as given in the Koran which is the book revealed by God, are to be followed as the core of life. The true meaning of the words comes through 'diving deep'. " Beneath every letter from the Book of God, The Most High, there is a treasure of understanding reserved for those who are worthy of it, to the extent allocated to them." The teacher/student relationship is to be respected. God is Love. The austerities are to be practiced for reducing & removing the force of worldly desires. In the ultimate realization, the individual merges with the God.

Tuesday - The Sufis - July 21 (Part-2)
Rabi'a al Basri (713-801 CE): Was the highly revered Sufi woman saint who, lived a life fully dedicated to God. She was from Basra in present day Iraq. The stories/anecdotes of her dedicated life, which culminated in the constant communion with the divine, are very inspiring.
Al Hallaj (858-922 CE): Born in Iran, he is known for being pronounced heretic for saying that "I am the Truth" and subsequently cruelly killed. He had a big following in various parts of the Persian empire and India.
Ibn al Arabi (1165-1240 CE): Born in present day Spain. Most influential philosopher with vast writings, which is studied by Sufis. Had many disciples. Might have influenced the Christian Mystics like Teresa of Avila and John of Cross.

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