June 2000
Vedanta Society of Portland
The following are the Society's services and special events for this month.
Except where noted, all lectures are given by Swami Shantarupananda.
All are welcome.


Sunday Mon.  Tuesday Wed. Thursday Fri. Sat.
  1
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 2
 

 

 3
 
 
 

 
4
 11:00 AM Service
What is Freedom?		 5 6
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 7 8
 
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani 

 9

 

 10
 
 

 
11
 11:00 AM Service
Hinduism, its Theories and Practices		 12 13
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 14 15
 
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 16 17
 Retreat:
 12 Noon
 Lecture:
Conquest of Fear
18
 11:00 AM Service
Divine Love

 

 19 20 21

 

 22
 

 

 23

 

 24
25
 11:00 AM Service
The Goal and the Way
Swami Aseshananda (video)		 26 27
 
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 28 29
 
 
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 30  

 
Retreat: 12 Noon
June 17 Worship, Meditation  
  Lecture: Conquest of Fear  
  Potluck and Slide Show  

 
Personal
Swami Shantarupananda will visit the Vedanta Society of Western Washington, Seattle, from June 22 to 26.

 

New Booklet

The Last Disciple of Holy Mother: Reminiscences of Swami Aseshananda,
by Swami Shantarupananda.

It is a short booklet on the life of Swami Aseshananda written with depth of feeling and insight. Those who knew Swami Aseshananda will be reminded of his dedicated life, and those who never met him will be charmed by reading about his simple life permeated with depth of spirituality.

Price $2.95. Postage extra.
 

You and your friends are cordially welcome to attend the services.


New Publication

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Vedanta Society of Portland.

Chronology of Swami Vivekananda in The West

A graphic presentation of the history of Swami Vivekananda's visits to the West,
Based on: Swami Vivekananda in the West: New Discoveries, by Marie Louise Burke,
complied by Terrance D. Hohner and Carolyn B. Kenny (Amala)

Price $19.95, plus postage and handling of $4.00.

 

What is Vedanta?

Vedanta is a sanskrit word which literally means 'the end of the Vedas' - the Vedas being the scriptures of the Hindus.  The Vedas are divided into two main portions: the work-portion, which describes how one should work and do worship, and the knowledge-portion.  Included in the knowledge-portion are those books which deal with spirituality and philosophy.  These books are called the Upanishads, or the Vedanta.  Veda means 'knowledge'; therefore, Vedanta also means 'the end of knowledge,' or 'the highest knowledge.'  It is claimed that at least six thousand years ago this body of spiritual knowledge was experienced and discovered in India by its sages and seers.

The principles of Vedanta are impersonal, universal and eternal.  They are about God, soul, and the world.  Vedanta teaches that each soul is potentially divine - the infinite ocean of Existence, Knowledge and Bliss.  The goal of human life is to manifest this innate divinity through meditation (Raja yoga), devotion (Bhakti yoga), selfless action (Karma yoga), and discrimination (Jnana yoga).  Vedanta preaches the unity of the Godhead and accepts every faith as a valid means to realize God.  As the Rig Veda, the oldest scripture of the Hindus, declares, "Truth is One; sages call it by various names."  Vedanta is a religion, a philosophy, and a way of life.

In modern times the eternal vedic truths were re-experienced and re-discovered by Sri Ramakrishna (1836 - 1886).  He also practiced other religions and came to the same conclusion as is mentioned in the Rig Veda, that "As many faiths, so many paths."