Bhakti Yoga at Vedanta Center of Atlanta

9/25/2020 10:30 PM

Dear Devotees and Friends,

Due to our still being in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, your Center is currently closed to visitors except for the Chapel (the building closest to the parking lot) for evening Arati, private meditation, and to visit the self-serve bookstore. We respectfully ask that you not drop by unannounced in person at this time, other than to visit the Chapel. If you would like to speak with Br. Shankara, you are welcome to contact him at shankara@vedantaatlanta.org. Help us in making every effort to keep our congregation, friends and residents of the Center safe and healthy. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Sunday's Online Talk & Discussion
September 27, 11am to 12noon
Baal Shem Tov and the Practice of Love
w/ Br. Shankara

Join us online via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/y7veshzt

September is a month for study of Bhakti Yoga. A bhakti yogi (bhakta) has a devotional relationship with God . This is developed over time by study, prayer, ritual, and worship. As a bhakta, you practice giving every action, thought, emotion, perception and tendency “a Godward turn.” Everything you are, both positive and negative, is offered to the Divine Presence. Your prayer is for the carefree self-surrender of a child in its Mother or Father’s arms and, ultimately, union with your Belovèd.

Baal Shem Tov “Neither thinking about the day of one's death nor the fear of punishment in hell will arouse a person's heart to serve God. But yearning to cling to the source of life and goodness will do so. And neither fasting nor afflicting oneself will be of any help. But forgetting oneself out of the depth of one's yearning will do so.” — the Baal Shem Tov

This Jewish saint’s mystical wisdom is familiar to us. Sri Ramakrishna also taught that yearning can draw you into an intimate relationship with the Personal God, or Goddess.

Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), which means “master of the good name,” was founder of the 18th century chassidic movement in Eastern Europe. He helped revolutionize Jewish thought, and gave new hope to an embattled people.

The transformative power of the Baal Shem Tov’s teachings are still felt today — by his followers, the chassidim, and by other rabbis and observant Jews, who experience the uplifting effects of the saint’s legacy.

This Sunday morning we will hear and discuss more of the Baal Shem Tov’s principles, relating his wisdom to what we study as Bhakti Yoga.

September Activities

Sunday Talks - 11am to 12noon EDT
- Join us online via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/y7veshzt

9/6 - A Little Improvement w/Br. Shankara

9/13 - Where There Is Love w/Br. Shankara

9/20 - Open Forum on Bhakti Yoga

9/27 - Baal Shem Tov and the Practice of Love w/Br. Shankara

Saturday Chandi Readings

9/5, 9-10am - Chandi reading in Sanskrit
- Join us online via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/511355102
pw: Jai Ma

9/12, 10-10:30am - Chandi reading in English
- Join us online via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/y9lftqvd

Special Activities
9/7, Labor Day readings from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (to be done on your own; this will not be an online or zoom activity).

Ongoing Activities

Reading & Discussion Group

Mondays, 8-9pm - Love Poems from God
- Join us online via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/y653onro

Classes

Tuesdays, 8-9pm - Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play
- Join us online via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/ybe4ytz3

Wednesdays, 8-9pm - The Song of God (Bhagavad Gita)
- Join us online via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/ybq6r89p

Saturdays, 11am-12noon - Swami Prabhavananda's Realizing God
- Join us online via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/ydebaoog

Evening Arati
Daily except Sunday, at sundown

Other

Nisargadatta and Jnana Yoga Online Group
Sundays at 5pm Eastern, via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/yb2p6lp6

Contact ryanneuc@gmail.com to have chapters sent to you.