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Vedanta Society of Northern California VEDANTA SOCIETY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 2323 Vallejo Street (at Fillmore) San Francisco, CA 94123 Swami Tattwamayananda, Minister and Spiritual Teacher Swami Asutoshananda, Assistant Minister Ramakrishna Order of India APRIL 2016 Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m. — Scripture Class: “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras” Vivekananda Hall Swami Tattwamayananda SUNDAY, April 3, 11 a.m. — “CLIMATE CHANGE: A VEDANTIC PERSPECTIVE” Swami Tattwamayananda Wednesday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. — Vespers and Meditation Friday, April 8, 7:30 p.m. — NO SCRIPTURE CLASS SUNDAY, April 10, 11 a.m. — “WHAT SHOULD WE ACCOMPLISH HERE?” Swami Vedananda Wednesday, April 13, 7:30 p.m. — Vespers and Meditation Friday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. — Scripture Class: “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras” Vivekananda Hall Swami Tattwamayananda SUNDAY, April 17, 11 a.m. — “A SPIRITUAL IDEAL FOR AMERICA” Swami Tattwamayananda Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. — Vespers and Meditation Friday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. — Scripture Class: “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras” Vivekananda Hall Swami Tattwamayananda SUNDAY, April 24, 11 a.m. — “THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF HOLY COMPANY” Pravrajika Virajaprana Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 p.m. — Vespers and Meditation Friday, April 29, 7:30 p.m. — NO SCRIPTURE CLASS Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m. — SHANTI ASHRAMA PILGRIMAGE Phone: 415-922-2323 Fax: 415-922-1476 Website: www.sfvedanta.org E-mail: [email protected] Swami Tattwamayananda’s E-mail: [email protected] inspire reverence for the great religious teachers of the world. Parents wishing to enroll their children are invited to speak to the secretary of the Society. THE SRI SARADA LIBRARY is open on Sundays, following the lecture, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and at other times by appointment. SHANTI ASHRAMA PILGRIMAGE BOOKSHOP HOURS Saturday, April 30, 2016 Mondays: 10 a.m. ‒ 5 p.m. New Temple Tuesdays: CLOSED — P R O G R A M — Wednesdays ‒ Saturdays: 10 a.m. ‒ 5 p.m. Wednesday evenings: Vespers & Meditation Sundays: 1 ‒ 4 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 7:30 – 8:15 p.m. Song Worship, Devotional Singing, and Meditation The bookshop carries translations of principal Vedantic scriptures, books on Vedanta and Meditation and Worship other world religions, and children’s books. A A CLASS on Vedantic scriptures is conducted Flower Offerings by Devotees on Fridays by Swami Tattwamayananda at large selection of books, incense, photos, etc., 7:30 p.m. in Vivekananda Hall. The topic for may be ordered online at sfvedanta.org. At 12:30 p.m. study is: “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.” No class present, more than 1400 titles are available. on April 8 and 29. Orders may also be placed by phone or fax. E- Lunch mail: [email protected]. The class may also be viewed live & archived Tour of the Ashrama at: http://new.livestream.com/sfvedanta. Vedanta 2:30 p.m. The temple is open daily for Devotional Singing TEMPLE HOURS. meditation from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Retreat Marin County “Swamis Turiyananda and Tuesdays the temple is closed. Trigunatitananda at Shanti Ashrama” The Society’s Swami Chandrashekharananda INTERVIEWS with Swami Tattwamayananda Swami Aparananda may be scheduled by those who wish to know retreat provides an opportunity to Swami Prapannananda more about Vedanta. Specific instruction and Swami Asutoshananda guidance are given by the swami to anyone spiritual seekers of all faiths to Swami Prasannatmananda who earnestly desires to undertake spiritual Swami Tattwamayananda practice. Those wishing to make appointments meditate and Chanting with the swami may do so by speaking with study in a him after the services, by phoning 415-922- secluded area of Discussion: 2323, or by e-mailing: [email protected]. meadows and Swamis and Devotees forests away from Meditation the disturbances SUNDAY SCHOOL. Classes are held on of urban life. Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon for children 5:00 p.m. The retreat is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 in first grade through high school to give them Refreshments a general knowledge of the universal truths of p.m. For more information, please visit our website www.sfvedanta.org or call 415-922- Vedanta, to acquaint them with the basic teachings of the major living religions, and to 2323. A LETTER: Can the Lord keep from accepting a person who prays like “THE GATE TO LIBERATION IS OPEN” this? Now the question is: Who is truly praying and thinking in this way? Lord Chaitanya said: So vast is thy mercy, O Lord! Almora How huge, then, is my wretchedness 4 July 1915 Who finds, in this empty life and heart, Dear D—, No devotion to thy name. [Shikshashtakam, 2] . One gets a human body as a result of great merit in past One needs love and longing, then only will one get the results lives. Once one is born as a human being, the gate to of spiritual life. Pray: ‘Master, give me longing for you; give liberation is open. Having a human body, if one fails to strive me devotion.’ The Master answers the sincere prayer. Pray for liberation, who knows when such an opportunity will sincerely and wholeheartedly, then the Master will be come again? Therefore, one must make every effort to attain pleased. When he is pleased, you will attain everything, your illumination in this very life. So it is mentioned in the heart will be filled with love and devotion, and your life will scriptures: ‘As a result of many acts of virtue you received be blessed. this body as a boat to cross the ocean of misery. Make proper use of it while yet it is not destroyed. .’ With best wishes, Turiyananda God is extremely compassionate. If one takes one step towards God, he comes a hundred steps, nay a thousand steps, toward him. It is absolutely true. It is a matter of doing and not talking. If someone could say wholeheartedly, with mind and speech united, ‘Lord, I take refuge in you; I have – Spiritual Treasures: Letters of Swami Turiyananda none else,’ the Lord will definitely accept him. It cannot be otherwise. One must say and feel: (About Swami Turiyananda: A direct disciple of Sri Thou art my mother and father; Ramakrishna and brother monk of Swami Vivekananda, Thou art my friend and companion; Swami Turiyananda was in charge of our Society from 1900 Thou art my wealth and wisdom; until 1902. He was responsible for initially developing Shanti Thou art my all in all, O Lord. [Prapanna Gita] Ashrama.) (continued) .
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