October 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
 
 
 

 

 2

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

 3 4
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 5 6
7
 11:00 AM Service
Unity in Diversity
Guest Speaker:
Charles Jordan		 8 9
 

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

 10 11
 
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 12

 

 13
 
 

 
14
 11:00 AM Service
God as Mother		 15 16 17 18
 
 

 7:30 PM Scripture Class
Viveka Chudamani

 19 20
 
 

 6 PM  Special Celebration
Durga Puja
21
 (No Lecture)		 22 23
 

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

 24

 

 25
 
 

 

 26 27
28
 11:00 AM Service
Life After Death		 29 30
 
 

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

 31

Special Sunday Service
The Vedanta Society of Portland presents a lecture on "Unity in Diversity" by Charles Jordan, Director, Portland Parks and Recreation, on Sunday, October 7, at 11 AM.

Durga Puja

The Vedanta Society of Portland will hold Durga Puja celebration, October 20, 2001, 6:00 PM.
  •     Introduction
  •     Worship
  •     Devotional Songs
  •     Homa Fire Ceremony
  •     Flower Offering
  •     Potluck Dinner
    		•

     

    Yoga Class


    Teacher:  Karen Green 

    Friday, October 26 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.
     

    Annual Meeting

     

    Thursday, October 25,  7:30 PM.

    All members are requested to

    attend the Annual Meeting of the

    Vedanta Society of Portland.

     
     
    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."