November 2001
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
Prayer and Peace		 5 6
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
"The Mahabharata" (DVD show)

 7 8
 
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 9

 

 10
 
 

 
11
 11:00 AM Service
Conquest of Fear		 12 13 14 15
 

 

 16 17
 
 

 6 PM  Special Celebration
Kali Puja
18
 (No Lecture)		 19 20

 

 21

 

 22
 12 Noon  Special Celebration
Thanksgiving
 

 

 23 24
 12 Noon  Special Celebration
Jagaddhatri Puja
25
 11:00 AM Service
God as Impersonal		 26 27
 12 Noon  Special Celebration
Swami Subodhananda

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
"The Mahabharata" (DVD show)

 28 29
 12 Noon  Special Celebration
Swami Vijnanananda

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 30

Kali Puja

The Vedanta Society of Portland will hold Kali Puja celebration, November 17, 2001, 6:00 PM.
  •     Introduction
  •     Worship
  •     Devotional Songs
  •     Homa Fire Ceremony
  •     Flower Offering
  •     Potluck Dinner
    		•

    Thanksgiving Celebration
    The Vedanta Society of Portland celebrates Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 22, 12 noon, with prayer, singing, reading, and potluck.

     

    Yoga Class


    Teacher:  Karen Green 

    Friday, November 16 at 7:30 PM 

    Please bring sticky mat and wear loose clothing. 

    For registration please call: 

    Swami Shantarupananda at 503-235-3919 

    or Karen Green at 503-239-4107.
     

     

    Personal

    Swami Shantarupananda will visit the Hollywood Vedanta Society from November 13 to 15, and Boise from November 18 to 19.

     
     
    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."