Society of Toronto ( Mission) 120 Emmett Ave. Toronto ON M6M 2E6 CANADA Tel: 416-240-7262; Email: [email protected] Website: www.vedantatoronto.ca

Newsletter September 2012 Words to Inspire Just surrender yourself to Him; you will then feel His grace. -Teachings of Sri Sarada , the Holy Mother

God Lived With Them The Life of by His Eastern & Western Disciples

Sri Ramakrishna had a vision before That magic touch roused the sage from Narendra was born: One day I found that my his super-conscious state, and he fixed his mind was soaring high in Samadhi along a half-open eyes upon the wonderful child. luminous path. As it ascended higher and higher, I found on both sides of the way In great joy the strange child spoke to ideal forms of gods and goddesses. The him: “I am going down. You too must go mind then reached the outer limits of that with me. “The sage remained mute, but his religion, where a luminous barrier separated tender look expressed his assent. No sooner the sphere of relative existence from that of had I seen Narendra than I recognized him the Absolute. to be that sage.

Crossing that barrier, the mind entered Later Sri Ramakrishna disclosed the the transcendental realm, where no corporeal fact that the divine child was none other than being was visible. But the next moment I himself. To introduce the life of Swami saw seven venerable sages seated there in Vivekananda is to introduce the subject of Samadhi. It occurred to me that these sages spiritual life itself. The entire intellectual must have surpassed not only men but even struggle, all the doubts, all the burning the gods in knowledge and holiness, in faiths, all the unfolding process of spiritual renunciation and love. Lost in admiration, I illumination was revealed in him. As a man was reflecting on their greatness, when I saw and as a Vedantist he manifested the a portion of that undifferentiated luminous manliness; he manifested patriotism that region condense into the form of a divine proceeds from the vision of the and child. the universality that comes when God is seen in everything; and through the true The child came to one of the sages, insight of divine wisdom, he lived a life of tenderly clasped his neck with his lovely both intense activity and Supreme arms, and, addressing him in a sweet voice, Realization. Indeed, his life revealed tried to drag his mind down from the state of throughout, the glory of the super sensuous Samadhi. life.

Practical Vedanta Lecture delivered by Swami Vidyanathananda at Vedanta Society of Toronto on June 23, 2012

Vedanta covers a wide range of themes and we pause to think, we can see that no set-up topics. If we want to understand the essence of emotional or physical lasts for more than its Vedanta, three basic tenets stand out – usual duration of longevity. Certain situation in One basic tenet deals with the definition or in our life causes great exaltation or sorrow, but one sense non-definition of the Atman– ‘Sa they do not last forever. This gives us a Esha neti neti Atma’– It is Not this, Not this- capacity to deal with such situations in future tells us about My real nature. Next tenet- by withdrawing ourselves emotionally from ‘Sarvam Khalu Idam ’– Everything that external set-up, making our mind placid and we see around us is or God- tells us not inert or dull as in our sleep, whereby we the real nature of the world around us. The may not react to some situations going on. One third tenet-‘Aham Brahmasmi’– My real nature becomes aware of the situation, but also is is Brahman or God- tells us about the relation aware that this situation is going to pass and is between my nature and the nature of the world. not permanent. When we withdraw from the These are Siddhanta vakyas–final resolutions to effects of the situation psychologically, we questions asked about the nature of Atman. The automatically start becoming aware of above enquiries are universal, and do not something that is more permanent. We then require you to subscribe to any religious or instinctively start becoming aware that my real intellectual philosophies. These are very natural nature is not identification with the situation questions, which come up when we become and does not change with the situation and aware of our real nature. It is pursuing these hence is permanent. enquiries to the deepest possible extent that Swami Vivekananda said, “In the midst of constitutes the practice of Vedanta. intense work, this placidity or calmness of mind When we think about the above questions, we which allows oneself to be working without perceive that the word that is common between getting carried away by the stream of work is these questions is ‘Real’. So what is ‘Real’? If the secret of ”. Most of the time, we stop at only the physical things that we see our emotions, feelings or thoughts are swayed around us like the podium, microphone, then it by the work that we are doing. The more we are will lead us to mindless existence. To derive a able to remain detached, the more we come working definition of ‘Reality’, we have to closer to our real nature which does not get enquire deeply into reality behind the affected by the situation. The process of individual subject, behind the objective enquiring into the real ‘I’ is not something that universe, and behind the subject and the we can do exclusively during meditation but it objective universe. In our sleep we may dream is something to be done at our moment of our that we are flying. When we wake up we existence and intense work. Experts say that it recollect that it was only a dream. Why do we is something that can be practiced even during regard our experience in our dream as unreal? sleep, but that is extreme. The first enquiry– The reason is that the experience in our dreams Neti, Neti– Not this, Not this– we will not does not last. Permanence is the criteria by allow ourselves to be completely swayed by the which we can determine that something is real situation around us. Next we will enquire about or unreal. the real nature of the world-the means of interacting with the world involves a)Activity Sometime we may go through a deep crisis and and b)People around us. Activity includes our we may feel that there is no way out of it. But if meditation, our service and anything that we do

to be a part of this world. For most people the , where due to acute focus or object of attention that we take to be famine, the people were suffering from lack of real are the people around us. This becomes the food. In this situation, if Swami Akhandananda, cause of all joys and sorrows. Question is-what who had acquired immense spiritual powers is the reality about the work we do? Or What is through his austerities, had started giving them real about the people we interact with? Most of exalted spiritual lectures, it would not have the time, the work we do is to earn our really sufficed to the people. During this livelihood. But enquiring deeper we can realize situation food was the necessity or ‘Real’ need that work or activity, just as a means of and the Swami provided the same, instead of livelihood is something impermanent. We say- spiritual advice which, in this case was ‘unreal’ ‘Brahmarpanam Brahmahavir, Brahmagnau for the people. So we have to feel and Brahmanahutam– means if one sees Brahman understand the pain and requirement of the in every action, one achieves Brahman or God. people around us and provide accordingly. In a This means that whatever activity we do, we class there are different types of students. The have to see the permanence behind that role of a teacher is to impart knowledge. He activity. Someone is a professor, somebody is a can impart knowledge to in various ways – One telephone operator–if we start seeing every way is-‘I have this knowledge and I am giving moment of our action as part and parcel of the it to you’. Here the student has come to learn larger human life, then the meaning of the and gets the knowledge, there is no collective activity becomes more permanent and deeper participation. Another way–the knowledge was than just the means for earning our livelihood. already in existence eternally and the student So ‘Work’ in its ‘real’ nature is part of and teacher are collectively involved in universal life, having eternal existence. understanding this knowledge. The second way Let us discuss the other means of interacting through participation is in a way more with the world – living with people around us. effective, since here both the student and the Sometimes they cause us great joy, other times teacher feel the eternality of knowledge and they cause us anguish. We expect something relate to each other in a larger human existence from somebody, if we get more than that we to be a part of this eternal knowledge. Here the get overjoyed, if we get less than that we feel reality behind the teacher and the student is the anguished. If we start enquiring about the real same and when this universal relationship is nature of the individual that I am interacting understood, it helps in serving better. with, the permanent component of his nature, The solidarity and oneness of the universe is we start enquiring about the relationship the final goal that Vedanta talks about and that between the subject and the world. The is the Truth. Studying any one of the tenet of perspective of true friendship will be to identify Vedanta and realizing the oneness through at a fundamental level about the likes and practice is the goal of human life. dislikes of another person and behave accordingly. The logo of Ramakrishna mission mentions- ‘Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitayacha’–The first part relates to realizing Atman through contemplation and second part relates to Service. You cannot provide proper service, unless you know the needs of the people whom you want to serve. During the first relief operation at Mohana, provided by the

120 EMMETT AVENUE, TORONTO, ON M6M 2E6 Tel: 416-240-7262 | Website: www.vedanatatoronto.ca

Celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

Please join us on Saturday, September 8th, 2012 at 5:30PM to honour the life of Swami Vivekananda for:

‘Man Among Men’, a play in English by the Red Curtain Theatre Company directed by Tirthankar Mahalanobis ** Vocal recital by Narendra Datar ** ‘The friend of All’, a play in English by the AMMA Group directed by Divakar Rudrapatna ** Classical dance performance by Malini Guha ** And many more ** We request you to be seated by 5:00PM Seats are not reserved Refreshments will be served

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SUMMARY OF PAST EVENTS

Guru Purnima was held on Tuesday 3rd July Sri Janmashtami was celebrated on 2012 at 6:30 pm. The programme included Thursday 9th Aug 2012 at 6:30 pm. The , reading, , flower offering and programme included bhajans, reading, puja, prasad distribution. More than 175 devotees flower offering and prasad distribution. More attended. than 180 devotees attended.

UPCOMING EVENTS Puja Maha Ashtami will be held on Vijaya Dashami will be observed on Wednesday Monday, October 22, 2012 at 6:30 pm. The October 24 at 6:30 pm with Puja, bhajans, Shanti Jal programme will include bhajans, reading, puja, (sprinkling of Peace Water) and prasad distribution. , flower offering and prasad distribution.

REGULAR PROGRAMMES SCRIPTURE CLASS: Friday Scripture pm to 8:00 pm.DAILY BREAD FOOD Classes begin at 7:30 pm, following the regular BANK: Many less fortunate families are evening prayer at 6:00 pm. The class, held at dependent on the food bank for their daily the centre, is open to all interested persons. nutrition. Please help us by contributing non- VIGIL: On Saturday, September 15, 2012, a perishable food items that we may pass along vigil consisting of and meditation will be to the Daily Bread Food Bank. observed, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. To participate, please call the centre at 416-240- SOUP KITCHEN: The Soup is cooked at the 7262. Vedanta Society and offered 9 days in RAM NAM: Sunday September 16, 2012 at September (4, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 25 & 29) 5:00 pm. serving 450 meals at Syme Woolner INTERVIEWS/INSTRUCTION: Neighbourhood & Family Centre, 2468 Swami Kripamayananda will be happy to give Eglinton Ave W, Unit 3, Toronto, ON, M6M interviews to those interested in knowing more 5E2. Please contact the Centre, if you are about Vedanta and meditation. Individual interested in participating. Donations for the interviews are also given for spiritual Soup Kitchen will be highly appreciated. instruction. Appointments for interviews should be made in advance with the Swami at BOOK STORE: The Book Store is open after 416-240-7262. Sunday Services and special programmes, and DAILY MEDITATION: Meditation is arrangements can be made by phone for observed at the Centre every morning from weekday and Saturday visits. We carry selected 6:00 am to 7:00 am. Devotional singing and titles from the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda meditation is held in the evenings from 6:00 literature, as well as other Vedantic materials. Service Soup Kitchen is looking for volunteers, for short term for the months of June & July to enable us to continue the soup kitchen in summer. Volunteers are required for 2 hours to prepare soup & salad. Please drop in on Tuesdays at 9:30 am & 10 am on Saturdays.

Vedanta Vidya Mandir is looking for volunteers to help in the instructor led classes and also in kids snack arrangements. If you are interested, please contact the society at 416-2407262 or [email protected]

Vedanta Society of Toronto Minister and Teacher - Swami Kripamayananda, Ramakrishna Order of India CALENDAR OF EVENTS September 2012 Sunday Mon Tuesday Wed Thursday Friday Saturday 1

2 11am 3 4 5 6 7:30pm 7 7:30pm 8 5:30 pm 9:30am ‘Prashnottara ‘Prashnottara Swami Soup Ratna Malika’ Ratna Malika’ Vivekananda’s Kitchen by Swami by Swami 150th Birth Yuktatmananda Yuktatmananda Anniversary Celebration at 1515 Bathurst St, Toronto 9 11am Guest 10 11 12 13 9:30am 14 7:30pm 15 9:30am Lecture: ‘Swami 9:30am Soup Kitchen Scripture class: Soup Kitchen Vivekananda on Soup ‘Gospel of Sri ’ Kitchen Ramakrishna’ 6 am to 6 pm by Swami VIGIL Yuktatmananda 16 11am Lecture: 17 18 19 20 21 7:30pm 22 9:30am ‘Swamiji's Vesper 9:30am Scripture class: Soup Kitchen Song on Sri Soup ‘’ Ramakrishna’ Kitchen

VVM 1:30 pm

5:00PM Ram Nam 23 11am Lecture: 24 25 26 27 28 7:30pm 29 9:30am 'The Source of 9:30am Scripture class: Soup Kitchen Happiness' Soup ‘Gospel of Sri Kitchen Ramakrishna’ VVM 1:30 pm

30 11am Lecture: ‘ Environment conducive for Meditation’

VVM 1:30 pm