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Special Programs:
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If you have questions regarding spiritual life, Vedanta, Hinduism etc, you can email us at answers@vedantaprov.org
Newsletter December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas! Please see Christmas Greeting Card here.
Christmas Eve Program - Thursday, December 24
From 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, there will be a mini-worship, reading, Christmas
carol-singing and food offerings. All are welcome.
Swami's lecture at Boston Vedanta - Sun. Dec 27
Swami will speak on 'JESUS: The Teacher of Renunciation' at 11:00 AM at the
Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of MA, 58 Deerfield St Boston. All are welcome.
Swami Vivekananda Birth Anniversary Celebration - Sun. January 03, 2010 - 11:00AM-7:00PM
Worship:11:00 AM-1:00 PM; Prasad-lunch: 1:00-2:00 PM; Video: 2:00-3:30 PM; Music: 4:00-5:00 PM; Symposium: 5:00-6:00 PM; Music & Meditation: 6:00-7:00 PM
Weekly Programs at Vedanta Society of Providence
| Friday, December 25 |
7:00 PM
- Aarati (devotional music) & meditation |
| Saturday, December 26 |
8:30 AM
- 10:30 AM - Karma Yoga - Cleaning |
| Sunday, December 27 |
5:00 PM
- 6:00 PM - A talk on 'JESUS: The Teacher of Renunciation' by
Swami Yogatmananda |
|
Tuesday, December 29 |
7:00 PM –
Aarati (devotional music) & meditation 7:30 – 8:30 PM - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna class, Ch. 39 Pg 747- |
Daily Programs at Vedanta Society of Providence
| 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 Vol I |
| Evening | 7:00
– 7:15 PM: Aarati (devotional music), a short reading from 'The
Spiritual Quest and the Way of Yoga' (The Goal, the Journey and
the Milestones) by Swami Adiswarananda 7:15 – 8:15 PM: Meditation |
1) Swami Yogatmananda traveled to Cherry Hill, NJ on Dec. 19th; from 12:00 -3:30 pm he conducted the worship of Holy Mother's Birthday, with about forty devotees attending in blizzard conditions. Swami then spoke on the Life of Holy Mother. He returned after midnight Sunday.
2) The birth anniversary of Swami Saradananda, direct disciple of
Sri Ramakrishna, was observed on Tuesday, December 22 in the morning
with a chant and in the evening with a song, biography reading and Prasad.
Synopsis of last week's classes
Friday, Dec. 18 - Bhagavad Gita - Ch. 5 (Verses
6-9)
Real renunciation does not necessitate giving up all works, but requires
having a detached attitude to the work one does. When we understand that
all interaction with the world around us means our organs coming in contact
with objects, then "we" are not really doing anything when we
act. There need not be a division between spiritual and secular life; instead,
all works should be done with this spirit of renunciation and detachment.
If we work selflessly for others, we shall realize that the one Reality
is pervasive in all of creation, and our minds, bodies, and sense organs
will come under our control.
Sunday, Dec. 13 - Due to New England/east coast blizzard
conditions, service was cancelled.
Tuesday, Dec. 22- The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Chapter 39)
Sri Ramakrishna's already fulfilled life had only one task: to impart his divine knowledge. He taught that while everything was different, once the names and forms are deemed unreal, all distinctions vanish. Then one sees the Sameness which is the inclusive reality beyond name and form. The food and the eater both are seen as one. Sri Ramakrishna's natural propensity was to merge with God. He would easily go into samadhi and found it difficult at times to come down from that state. The Master was acting in God's Lila or divine play. Ramakrishna was the God performing the stage as a human being. He was able to live in the world and still transcend it, reaching sublime heights of absolute bliss. He asked M if he did the right thing explaining his secrets and experiences. M was silent. Sri Ramakrishna replied "I have told these things to create faith in you all". His words generate the faith that it possible for us to reach in this very life.