Babaji’s recent summer visit to SRV San Francisco was during the usually foggy month of July, and our first morning class began at 9:30 a.m. on July 4th. You could hear the neighbors getting ready for their afternoon barbecues, and knew much of the city was looking forward to the celebration of a night sky illumined with a boom of sparkling colorful lights. Yet on this morning, SRV students listened to Vivekananda’s teachings: Higher Knowledge, States of Consciousness, and the Attributes of Turiya. An evening puja illuminating Ishvara by candlelight, and a garland offering to Swami Vivekananda was our reminder of courage and independence from our own small self.
2009 Kids Retreat at the American River
At the SRV Summer retreat on the American River this year, we were once again blessed with a group of intelligent, perceptive kids, mostly 12 years of age. All of the classes with the children were drawn from the stories of Sri Ramakrishna, which are an endless source of inspiration, with so many ways to unwrap them for the benefit of giving our youth a sound foundation in dharma — in cosmology, philosophy, and spirituality.
Besides some very fun projects involving clay, and making a mosaic pedestal for a sundial, the kids had an opportunity to learn more about Holy Mother, Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda. As the children enter their young adult years, these great beings — the example of their lives and experiences — hold increasing interest and relevance for them.
SRV Kids Retreat
Reflection/Reviewby Marleigh Fansler I’ve been going to the kid’s retreat for two years now, and I have to tell you, it’s awesome! Not only do you get to learn about a beautiful way of life, but each day you get to go down to the American River for some nice fun in the sun. I enjoy the teachings of Vedanta …
“…Oh, for an Ounce of Practice!”
SRV Summer Retreat
by Mahesh Madhav
Swamiji asked us all to give forth one ounce of practice. We certainly partook in more than an ounce during the American River Retreat! I felt the balance of meditation, class, housework, and river play was a perfect mix to each day. We all had a chance to participate in these four activities, which I mapped onto raja, jnana, karma, and bhakti yogas. The retreat really showed us how to live a divine life by bringing these four yogas into practice each day.
Chapel Libraries Need Books
Prior to starting up Vedanta classes, most of the five Oregon prisons that Babaji and sangha volunteers visit had no books on Vedanta, except, perhaps a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Now, each prison’s chapel library has a small selection of books that SRV has donated from its own stock. But there are important books missing that are beyond our current ability to give without help from others.
Nectar of Nondual Truth: A FEAST!
Nectar #25 (Winter 2010) is underway and promises to be a feast of universality in the spirit of all-inclusive Advaita – Nonduality. Here’s a look inside:
Dharma Doorway of Nonduality, by Robert Thurman
Emptiness & Compassionate Action, by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
God Who Cares, by Swami Aseshananda
Invitation to the Path of Love, by Sheikh Muzaffer Effendi
Comprehending Nonorigination, by Babaji Bob Kindler
Rationality & God – What’s the Problem?, by Larry Herzberg, Ph.D.
Ramana Maharishi & Buddhist Nondualism, by Lex Hixon
Jainism: Part 2, by Swami Brahmeshananda
The Tao — The Way of Life, by Beverly Daggett
Ever Free, Never Bound, by Paravasta
Plus, Nectar of Advaitic Instruction, Wisdom Facets, Nectar Reviews and more…..
Thakur’s Antaranga
In the person of Swami Shivananda, one of Sri Ramakrishna’s direct disciples as well as the second President of the Ramakrishna Order, we see a towering figure of spiritual illumination and tireless service to humanity.
Born into an influential Brahmana family in Bengal, he was blessed with parents who had material means as well as a great yearning for God realization. After losing her first son, the Swami’s mother devoted herself to austerities and devotion at the Shiva Temple near Tarakswar. Soon afterward the Swami was born and named Tarak, after the temple at which she had worshipped.
As a young man, Tarak had a yearning to explore and understand the nature of samadhi, and questioned many people, but no one had sufficient knowledge of this state of spiritual absorption in which union with God is achieved. Through a friend, he learned that Sri Ramakrishna had experienced this rare state, and Tarak’s spiritual longing led him to the feet of the Master whom he immediately saw as one who had achieved God realization. He quickly felt a deep attachment to Sri Ramakrishna and felt that he had already known him a long time.
Tarak, filled with the faith and certitude of a child, surrendered himself to the Master and went to see him often, either in Dakshineswar or Calcutta.
For testing only
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Wisdom in Practice
Choice Garments by PrashantaprakashaWhen asked if I could write something for the newsletter’s ‘Wisdom in Practice’ section I thought, “ok, sure.” An attitude of optimism; such has been my response to opportunities that have come during the past few months. I’m not absolutely sure, but I think the reason for my openness is because they have all been opportunities to …
Book Review
“Days in an Indian Monastery” by Sister Devamata Although the title, “Days in an Indian Monastery,” nicely conveys the spiritual dignity of the book, it does not do justice to the expanse of treasures tucked within. As an American Ramakrishna nun, Sister Devamata had the gift of spending two years (1909 -11) in the company of Sri Ramakrishna’s direct disciples, …