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Past Events

 

Swami spoke at Rhode Island College - Thursday, September 24

Swami delivered a power-point presentation and explanation of Hinduism and Vedanta from 4:30 - 6:30 PM to a Religion class at Rhode Island College in Providence on Thursday, September 24 to about twenty-eight students, several of whom asked keen questions.

 

Durga Puja at Brown University - Saturday, September 26
Swami conducted a short Durga Puja for the Brown University Hindu Group on Saturday, September 26 from 12:15 - 1:00 PM. About a dozen students participated, along with some devotees from Vedanta Society.

 

Durga Puja (Worship) - Sunday, September 27
Sri Durga Puja (Worship) was conducted by Swami Yogatmananda from 11:00 AM - 1:00PM, which was followed by flower offering by devotees, then prasad luncheon for the approximately seventy attendees. From 2:30 - 3:30 PM, sections from Durga Puja at Belur Math, India (Ramakrishna Missiona and Math headquarters) were shown, with synopsis explanations provided by Sravani Bhattacharji. The 4:00 - 5:00 PM music hour to honor Sri Durga (Universal Mother) with songs rendered by various devotees concluded with the chanting of Sri Sarada Nama Sankirtanam (chanting of names of Sri Sarada Devi). The Sunday lecture on 'Various Forms of Mother Durga' from 5:00 - 6:00 PM was followed by Aarti, singing of hymn to Mahishasura-Mardini stotram (a famous hymn to Durga) and Prasad (food) offering. About forty to sixty devotees attended the various events during the whole Puja.

 

Brown University Hindu Student Group - Monday, September 28
Swami met with students from the Brown Hindu student group in the evening to discuss topics of concern for the students.

 

Brown University Religious Affiliates & Chaplains - Tuesday, September 29
Swami attended the meeting of Religious affiliates at Brown University that included over 20 leaders of representing several faiths and scholars from the Dept of Religious Studies.

Please click here for photos of the some of the above events.

 

Synopsis of last week's classes

 

Friday, September 25 - Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 4, verses: 22-25)

The person of controlled mind, who gives up all longing for sense-enjoyments and gives up idea of ownership to anything keeps on working but does not get any blemish or attachment due to it. S/he is satisfied by whatever comes by the wish of the Providence, has absolutely no conflict regarding the purpose and path of life, and does not envy anyone. In worldly hankerings, the supply is limited and the seekers are too many; so if one gets, another does not. But the ultimate spiritual attainment is possible for everyone and so there is no possibility of envy or jealousy there. Remaining balanced in success or failure, knowing that it all is the will of the God, this person does not get bound by his/her actions. This is the principle of Yajna: To keep on performing the actions as offering, not as seeking. These actions do not 'leave back the seeds'.
The consciousness of this person is that of the Supreme One-ness pervading all objects and actions. All components of Yajna (=action) are for him/her Brahman manifested in various forms.

 

Sunday, September 27 - Various Forms of Mother Durga-The Divine Mother - Swami Yogatmananda
Humans have an automatic, innate 'God-concept' in some word or imagery, even in refutation of God. This connectedness with Divine/Universe becomes a feeling of togetherness or oneness, as in family, neighborhood, state, nation, etc. Many cultures view God as 'Mother'. This connection to one's mother evolves from conception, and is manifest by a mother being nurturing; protective; admonishing; indulging, indifferent, etc. Devi Mahatmayam (Seven hundred verses to Divine Mother) displays the Divine Motherhood in its several aspects. Spiritual wisdom alone unveils the dark ignorance of groping through life's desires. The three prominent aspects are: Maha-kali, that works at the causal level of primordial ignorance; Maha-lakshmi is at the subtle, mental level; and Maha-sarasvati at the gross physical level. The angelic and demonic forces within every person that they alone must contend with, and that those angelic and demonic forces are not merely contained within, but are the actual make-up of Mother Divine, who creates, preserves and destroys all. Vedanta teaches that divinity cannot be 'imported' from outside - it must be experienced within, for we are That. The Maha-kali as it ware, wakes up the sleeping being to this Truth. The principle of efficient and strong organization, harmonization, and unification of one's own complexities and faculties into spiritual attunement was the next aspect - the Maha-lakshmi. Vedanta does not allow for 'looking for help outside' or 'blaming others'. The last, Maha-saraswati teaches us that all our desires for beauty and possession are to be dissolved in the most beautiful Divine Mother. Each of these aspects is sub-divided into three and thus the Mother Durga is called Nine-fold Durga (Nava-Durga).

Tuesday, September 29 - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Chapter 38)

Sri Ramakrishna often came to Calcutta to give his disciples, specially the young students, who would find it very difficult to come to Dakshineswar, a chance to be near him. He enquired to M, about some such who were students of his. The name of Purna came up and Ramakrishna beamed with joy. The Master had a strong affinity for this youngster who seemed so blissful, serene, and pure. In fact, Sri Ramakrishna considered him second only to Narendranath in purity. Purna was considered to be an Isvarakoti (Godlike), or a perfected from birth. He was born with the Knowledge of divinity, although he took up a householder's life. All the knowledge was acquired by him in the past births.
We really don't know how long we have in this incarnation, so we should make the best use of our time and put God realization as our top priority. No progress that is made in this life is lost. We take it with us and move up a rung should we born again in a new garment.

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