For women devotees wishing to live a more guided spiritual life, two houses were purchased: Holy Mother's House at 7207 S.E. Salmon Street on September 29, 1981, and Sri Sarada House at 7514 S.E. Market Street on May 10, 1983. Some women devotees live in the two houses. Although they have not taken formal vows, they lead a dedicated life and attend all of the various activities of the Society, including meditation, worship, vespers, services and other celebrations. Their lives have long since taken on the steady rhythms of work and worship.
(Sri Sarada House was discontinued in 1996.)

Glimpses of a Great Soul--A Portrait of Swami Saradananda, by Swami Aseshananda, was published in 1982.

Since 1925 this Centre has been spreading the eternal, life-giving message of Vedanta, the message of the unity of existence and the divinity of man, preached by Swami Vivekananda. Evidently during this long period, its life-current has not flowed in a uniformly even stream; there has been the ebb and flow. The present activities of the Society, in addition to the Sunday services, evening classes on scriptures, daily worship and meditation and evening vespers, include celebrating the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Lord Buddha, Jesus, and a few religious festivals like Durga Puja, library and bookstore and the Retreat Programme once a month.

In June, 1990, Swami Aseshananda, who is now ninety-five, became ill. Swami Shantarupananda came from India in July, 1991 to assist him. Through the grace of the Divine Mother, Swami's health has noticeably improved and still he is performing daily worship and evening vespers, taking keen interest in all the activities of the Society.
(Swami Asheshananda passed away October 16, 1996.)

By the Will O' Providence the work that was set in motion by Swami Vivekananda 100 years ago is still on the march. He burst forth on the World Stage in 1893 and now he is working as a spirit--'as a voice without a form.' At present there are twelve Vedanta Centres in America with fifteen sub-Centres and Retreats. All these Centres accept three cardinal principles: "First, that man's real nature is divine; second, that the aim of human life is to realize this Divine nature; third, that all religions are essentially in agreement."¹⁸

On this memorable occasion of the Centenary of Swami Vivekananda's visit to America let us remember his inspiring message: "Arise, awake, and stop not till the Goal is reached!"

May He who taught such grand ideas help us to get strength to carry on the service of the Lord!

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Originally published in Prabuddha Bharata, January 1994.
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