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.
For instance, each of these libraries need copies of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play (Sri Ramakrishna the Great Master), and a full set of the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. Most need a set of Upanisads, copies of Vivekachudamani, spiritual biographies, and other general readings on Vedanta and Yoga. Inmates would benefit from old copies and current subscriptions to Prabuddha Bharata, Vedanta Kesari, and American Vedantist given to their libraries. Naturally, they are receiving Nectar.
There are two ways you can help:
- Donate used Vedanta books and magazines (published through the Ramakrishna Order or lineage affiliates) to your nearest SRV center. These will be distributed to the prison libraries.
- Donate money for the prison program. This will support building up chapel libraries, covering expenses like postage and the cost of personal study books and audios to indigent inmates, supplying printed handouts to inmates prepared by SRV staff, and the cost of travel to the prisons. Donate here
“It is only by doing good to others that one attains his own good, and it is by leading others to Bhakti and Mukti that one attains them himself.” –Swami Vivekananda