Center of Greater Washington, DC

3001 Bel Pre Road · Silver Spring, MD 20906

Phone: (301) 603-1772 E-mail: [email protected] Website: vedantadc.org

JANUARY 2019 SCHEDULE

Minister: Swami Sarvadevananda Resident Monks: Swami Atmajnanananda Swami Brahmarupananda Swami Chidbrahmananda Br. Kumar

Ramakrishna Order of India

6 Swami Mahayogananda Friday Class 8:00 PM

Unleashing the Power to Choose

4 Gospel of Sri 13 Swami Atmajnanananda Swami : 11 Bhagavadgita Sri Ramakrishna’s Ganesha 18 Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 20 Swami Brahmarupananda Purity 25 Life of Holy Mother

27 Puja See Under Special Programs Wednesday Class 8:00 PM

Vivekacudamani

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Please visit our Web Site at www.vedantadc.org. Special Programs Listen to lecture recordings, see photographs of the center, and find out about upcoming events. 31 December New Year’s Eve 11 pm: Reading from Sri Ramakrishna the Great Master Social Service 11:20 pm: Meditation 12 Midnight: Arati The Vedanta Center participates in a volunteer program at Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring. Please let us know if you would like to take part. Service is 1 January Kalpataru Day & Holy Mother Puja on the third Friday of the month. 11 am: Puja 12 noon: Flower offering and bhajans : Prasad lunch Grocery Gift Cards 12:30 pm We urge all of you to take part in our gift card 27 Swami Vivekananda Puja program. Gift cards for Giant, Shopper’s, and 11 am: Introductory Program Lotte/Assi Plaza may be purchased at the Center 12 noon: Puja, Bhajans, Flower Offering following the Sunday lecture or during visiting 1 pm: Prasad hours, and are used just like a debit card when

Ram Nam purchasing groceries. This is an important part of our monthly income and a way to support the Ram Nam will be held at the Center on Saturday Center at no cost to you. January 5 at 7:30 PM, immediately after evening arati and meditation. All are invited to stay for potluck Vedanta Medical Clinic dinner following the program. The Vedanta Medical Clinic offers free medical Karma Yoga services to all, regardless of income level, insurance

We invite you to join us Saturday mornings from coverage, or immigration status. Hours of operation 9 am to 1 pm in performing various weekly chores are Wednesday morning, 9 am to 12 noon, and of the center: maintenance, gardening and land- Sunday afternoon, 2 to 5 pm. To make an scaping, cleaning, office work, etc. appointment, please call 240-516-6726.

Temple Hours

The temple will be open for morning meditation at 5 am and daily Puja at 7:45 am, and will remain open throughout the day until the close of evening meditation at 8 pm. Evening arati begins at 6:30 pm. Devotees may enter through the double doors at the main entrance to the temple or through the front door entrance to the Center. All are welcome.

Parents with small children are welcome to watch the Sunday lecture on the movie screen in the lower level of the temple while their children are free to quietly play.

Interviews

Those who would like to come to the Center for a private meeting with a resident swami or one of the visiting swamis may schedule an appointment either by phone or in person.

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Kalpataru Day

“I shall make the whole thing public before I go,” the Master has said some time before. On January 1, 1886, he felt better and came down to the garden for a little stroll. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon. Some thirty lay disciples were in the hall or sitting about under the trees. Sri Ramakrishna said to Girish (Ghosh), “Well Girish, what have you seen in me, that you proclaim me before everybody as an Incarnation of God?” Girish was not the man to be taken by surprise. He knelt before the Master and said with folded hands, “What can an insignificant person like myself say about the One whose glory even sages like Vyasa and Valmiki could not adequately measure?” The Master was profoundly moved. He said: “What more shall I say? I bless you all. Be illumined!” He fell into a spiritual mood. Hearing these words the devotees, one and all, became overwhelmed with emotion. They rushed to him and fell at his feet. He touched them all, and each received an appropriate benediction. Each of them, at the touch of the Master, experienced ineffable bliss. Some laughed, some wept, some sat down to meditate, some began to pray. Some saw light, some had visions of their Chosen Ideals, and some felt within their bodies the rush of spiritual power.

From the Introduction to:

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by Swami Nikhilananda

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