Newsletter November 25, 2009

Past Events

1) Swami and some devotees attended the annual interfaith 'Thanksgiving Observance' at Holy Family Church, Woonsocket, RI on Sunday Nov. 22nd, at 3:00 PM. Swami Yogatmananda offered a Vedic chant and its translation followed by a reading and singing of 'Nirvanashatakam' and singing of 'Namaste' to the one-hundred fifty plus congregation and interfaith attendees.

2) On Sunday, Nov. 22nd, Swami spoke on 'Over The Rainbow' at 11:00 AM at the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of MA, 58 Deerfield St Boston.

3) Swami was interviewed on Cox Cable for a broadcasting information-show on interconnect channel about Vedanta early Monday evening November 23.

4) On Monday evening, Nov. 23, Swami met with students of the Brown University Hindu Student group on the Brown campus to discuss current concerns.

Synopsis of last week's classes

Friday, Nov. 20 - Bhagavad Gita - CH-4 Verses 41-42
We are used to living in order to satisfy our desires and looking outside ourselves for satisfaction. However, we need a directional shift; we must go inwards, towards the self, which is the source of joy and immortality. Because these instructions are coming directly from Lord Krishna, there is no possibility of mistake. We must be adventurous and test these truths out for ourselves. The doubting nature is a big obstacle that has to overcome. It is one thing to have doubt and to get it clarified; but to maintain doubts at all the times is detrimental to progress - secular or spiritual. In fact these doubts come because we do not actually want to progress.
The aspirant who works without attachment, has conquered all doubts by the, and is self-possessed, will not be bound by actions. In the final verse of the chapter, Lord Krishna encourages us to stand up with determination and destroy our doubts with the sword of knowledge. Our human lives are short, so let us use our lives for the great purpose: realizing the Truth.

Sunday, Nov. 22 - Over the Rainbow - Swami Yogatmananda
'…Over the Rainbow' is a song from the classic American Movie 'The Wizard of Oz'. The song depicts the spiritual aspirant's firm conviction that the ultimate freedom or bliss cannot be obtained in this world 'under the rainbow' which is based on subject-object relationships; one has to transcend this plane of senses and go "somewhere over the rainbow". Swami Vivekananda mentions in Jnana Yoga (Ch. 1 'Necessity of Religion' ) that this urge is the basis of all religions. He further says that 'Man is man so long as he is struggling to rise above nature and this nature is both internal and external.' Although we seek freedom, as Eric Fromm says, 'freedom from…' is equally important as 'freedom to..'; otherwise only the name of the bondage will change. As the song says, "The dreams that you dare to dream really do come true" only in the infinity ('the blue skies'). Again in Jnana yoga we read, 'To manifest the Infinite through the finite is impossible… So, man has to give up the plane of matter and rise to other spheres to seek a deeper expression of that Infinite.'
"Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me…" To reach there we need to follow the teachings of sages who have perceived the ultimate Truth without the mediacy of senses and mind. The knowledge obtained through the senses is always fraught with doubts.
"If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why can't I?" This line shows the tremendous self-confidence of the spiritual aspirant that the path s/he has chosen will certainly lead to the Ultimate. This search for the Ultimate comes to an end when one discovers that all the time 'It' was within oneself. The Sufi poet Rumi writes - '…Finally, I looked into my own heart and there I saw Him; He was nowhere else.' We all are potentially divine. Let us turn our vision inside and manifest that divinity.

Tuesday, Nov. 24 - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Chapter 39)

Why should the God in human form (Incarnation) do spiritual practices if already perfected? It is to show us the way. By practicing sadhana, one becomes transformed and ultimately, like the Master, will see the Nitya - the permanent appearing in all the different forms. We all have different temperaments and Sri Ramakrishna explains the three basic personalities; 1. Sattvic- the type has an urge for knowledge, doesn't hanker after material things, and seeks peace. 2. Rajasic-likes to be active, likes to root out evil, hankers for name and fame. 3 Tamasic - Basically lazy, idle, doesn't move until compelled externally. They also like to quarrel.
Sri Ramakrishna explained about the opening of the six lotuses during his practice. His explanation jives with the teaching of the scriptures. When we read about it we should ask: is it rational, practical? And one should have the firm conviction that since it has been done, I too can accomplish this task.

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