Serving Schools for Struggling Souls

There is a growing recognition in our Portland Community and elsewhere that we all must step up to the plate to help inmates prepare themselves for re-entering our communities as the valuable beings they really are.  Spiritual teachings, mentoring, camaraderie, and live social networking play a crucial role in this process along with the inmate’s own resolve.

SRV Associations currently puts most of its resources in this endeavor toward inmates still in prison, driving 1000’s of miles a year and incurring other travel costs as we visit the distant facilities. Books, Nectar, and postage are other costs. Vedanta libraries need building up and qualified volunteers are also needed.

A Fundraiser is planned in 2010, possibly October. The potential of this event, both for funding and also as an educational and networking opportunity, is substantial. We are not the only ones doing this work, and each organization’s story and emphasis is fascinating and inspiring. But we need volunteers to bring this potential into manifestation. See below for a description of this event as currently envisioned.

Update and Pre-publication Sale

A Quintessential Yoga Vasishtha
By Babaji Bob Kindler
254 pages, hard cover, illustrated
$30  Pre-publication sale: $24 (20% discount)

Babaji’s long-awaited book, the first to include his charts (over 20!) will be available this Winter or early Spring, 2010.  This is also SRV’s first book to be printed and distributed in India. Help us get the word out!  Early sales help us with promotional expenses.  Click here to purchase your copy.

Dear students, disciples, and friends:

It is a very interesting and beneficial time at present, as we approach our annual Navaratri celebrations in September and October.  The second full sized issue of Nectar of Nondual Truth is presently being finalized.  The newest book from SRV Associations, A Quintessential Yoga Vasishtha, is also about concluded, and even has a new cover which renders it ready for publication.  Both of these works will be sent to India within a month, and a dozen or so traveling pilgrims from SRV will pick them up in India in December when they arrive for sacred pilgrimage there.  In the interim, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, and Jagaddhatri Pujas will be celebrated in Portland and San Francisco at our ashramas, begging that sweet participation and devout worship which will bring subtle benefits to the attending devotee throughout the coming year, and to humanity in general.  For all of this and more, we say “Jai!” three times, and “Shanti” three times as well.

Reflections on Swami Vivekananda’s “God in Everything,” from Jnana Yoga.
by Paravasta

Starting from his 4th paragraph, Swamiji states:

“Most of the religions understand this fact [the need to combine reason and feeling], but the error into which they all seem to fall is the same: they are carried away by the heart, the feelings.  There is evil in the world; give up the world – that is the great teaching, and the only teaching, no doubt.  Give up the world.  There cannot be two opinions: to understand the truth every one of us has to give up error.  There cannot be two opinions: every one of us, in order to be good, must give up evil.  There cannot be two opinions: everyone of us, to have life, must give up what is death.  And yet, what remains to us if this theory involves giving up the life of the senses, life as we know it?  And what else do we mean by life?  If we give this up, what remains?