Evening Classes

Tuesday and Thurday evenings Swami Shantarupananda conducts scriptural classes at 7:30 in the Foyer.

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Tuesdays

Translated and with a biographical introduction by Swami Nikhilananda, this book describes the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna in his own words, faithfully recorded by Mahendranath Gupta ("M.") The following link from an on-line bookstore quotes many Eastern and Western scholars describing the Gospel:

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Amazon.com also lists the Gospel, including reader comments worth seeing:

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Deb Platt, a liberal Christian who has created the Mysticism in World Religions website, has the following page describing the Gospel including an index of quotes from the book.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Vedanta Sara of Sadananda, Thursdays

From the introduction by the translator, Swami Nikhilananda:

"The growing interest in Vedanta, even amoung people outside the pale of Indian thought is, in a very large measure, due to its freedom from all narrowness. While it does not discard faith, whatever religion or philosophy may inculcate it, it rests ultimately on the light of Reason (Buddhi), a fact which naturally appeals to all rationally inclined minds, in every part of the world. This is the secret of its strength as well as its attraction. Further, its special value lies in the fact that it seeks the fruit of the knowledge of Truth in this life, not in any world to come after death. It is the effect of Vedantic knowledge on man's life here below, that is of the highest consequence to the Vedantist. The teachings therefore lay great emphasis on moral discipline as a sine qua non of even understanding Vedantic truths."

Special Programs

This month the Society celebrates Shiva Ratri, the "Night of Siva," and the birthday anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna.

Sri Ramakrishna

The actual birthday of Sri Ramakrishna this year falls on Thursday, February 18, when there will be a special worship in the Shrine at noon. The full worship (puja) of Sri Ramakrishna takes place Saturday, February 20, in the evening at 6 PM.

Many sites on the World Wide Web, including the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in India, offer descriptions of the life of Sri Ramakrishna. We invite interested in learning more of this extraordinary life to use the following links. (For returning here to the Vedanta Society of Portland calendar, be sure to use your browser's "Back" button.)

Life Sketch of Sri Ramakrishna by the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Sri Ramakrishna by the Vedanta Society of Southern California.

Siva Ratri

Sri Ramakrishna as Siva, by R.S. Ramabadran, on the website of the Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA).

Article describing role of Siva in the life of Sri Ramakrisna.

A Hymn to Siva, by Swami Vivekananda, also at the KOA website.

Sunday School - 11:00 AM

Due to irregular and inadequate attendance of Sunday School children, the Vedanta Society of Portland has discontinued the Sunday School program as of January this year. If this concerns you, please contact Swami Shantarupananda.

Retreat

There will be no services at the Retreat Temple near Scappoose. However, the services will resume in the Spring.