Vedanta Center of Atlanta: May events

5/29/2016 7:00 PM

Vedanta Center of Atlanta: May events

Vedanta Center of Atlanta: May events

Time: There is silent meditation in the Chapel from 10:30-11am, before each Sunday’s talk. After the talk, devotees and friends meet in the Monastery from noon to 1:30pm, for tea, coffee, snacks and a continuation of our spiritual fellowship. Please join us! PS: Please be on time. The service starts promptly at 11AM. 

Venue: 2331 Brockett Rd, Tucker, GA 30084 
Contact: (770) 938-6673 ; http://vedantaatlanta.org, http://vedantaatlanta.org/calendar-of-activities-events/ 

See Calendar for details about any particular Sunday. 

Swami Shantatmanandaji, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, will be with us on the evening of May 8. Since that is Mother’s Day the Swami will speak with us about Holy Mother, at 7pm in the Chapel. This will be followed by a light supper in the monastery. Swamiji will stay with us overnight and leave by car on Monday morning.

Swami Sarvapriyanandaji, the new Assistant Minister in Hollywood, will be with us on Thursday evening, May 26, for a potluck supper at 7:30PM, followed by an informal gathering with us in the Monastery Library. He will also speak in the Chapel on Sunday evening, May 29, from 7-8PM on "Living in the Light of Sri Ramakrishna." He will fly back to Los Angeles on Monday morning.

NEW MONDAY NIGHT CLASS BEGINS May 9th, 8pm
The Monday night class has finished the Narada Bhakti Sutras and will begin studying Swami Prabhavananda's Bhagavad Gita from 8-9pm in the Monastery Library. Class will be led by Br. Shankara. Books available in the Bookshop. Please join us!

Bhagavad Gita class in Athens, GA

Br. Shankara is leading a class on the Gita in Athens on Saturday afternoons. The class meets weekly from 3 to 4:30pm at Body, Mind & Spirit of Athens, located at 3701 Atlanta Highway. Phone (706) 351-6024 for more information. Google Map Link.

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 SUNDAY'S TALK, MAY 1st, 11am
Speaker: Br. Shankara
"The Bhakta’s Method of Meditation"

Sri RamakrishnaBhakti yoga is the devotional path to God—or Self-Realization. One who follows this path is a lover of God — a bhakta, or devotee.

Sri Ramakrishna said, “…You should remember that the heart of the devotee is the abode of God. He dwells, no doubt, in all beings, but He especially manifests Himself in the heart of the devotee. … The heart of the devotee is the ‘drawing-room’ of God.

“… Bhaktas accept all the states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, and dreamless sleep). … They say that the universe is a manifestation of God’s power and glory. … He is within us, in our hearts. Again, He is outside.

“Do you know how a lover of God feels? His attitude is: ‘O God, Thou are the Master, and I am Thy servant. Thou art the Mother, and I am Thy child.’ Or again: ‘Thou art my Father and Mother. Thou art the Whole, and I am a part.’” —from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Ch. 5

Typically, a bhakta’s method of meditation will center on one of these relationships to God.

On Sunday, we will explore how this heartfelt relationship begins, and how — through meditation and other spiritual practices — it matures into a deeply God-centered way of life.

Note: There is silent meditation in the Chapel from 10:30-11am, before each Sunday’s talk. After the talk, devotees and friends meet in the Monastery from noon to 1:30pm, for tea, coffee, snacks and a continuation of our spiritual fellowship. Please join us!

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 Sunday morning, May 8th, 11am
"Centering Prayer"  - Br. Shankara

May is a month for study of Bhakti Yoga—the devotional or heart-centered path to a relationship with God. Those who follow this path becomes lovers of God—bhaktas, or devotees. One of the ways this love of God takes root in their hearts is prayer.

Centering prayer is a method of contemplative prayer or Christian meditation, which places a strong emphasis on interior silence.

Scholars see its beginnings in the spiritual practices of early Christian monastics — the Desert Fathers and Mothers. It’s also found in the Lectio Divina tradition of Benedictine monasticism, in books like The Cloud of Unknowing, and the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.

Centering Prayer as it is practiced today began with books published in the 1970s by three Trappist monks of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts: Fr. William Meninger, Fr. M. Basil Pennington, and Abbot Thomas Keating.

We will focus on the teachings of Father Thomas Keating, who has become the most widely recognized spokesperson for centering prayer.Fr. Thomas Keating

 Sunday evening, May 8th, 7-8pm
Swami Shantatmanandaji will speak on Holy Mother

Swami Shantatmananda

 

Swami Shantatmanandaji, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, will be with us on the evening of May 8. Since that is Mother’s Day the Swami will speak with us about Holy Mother, at 7pm in the Chapel. This will be followed by a light supper in the monastery. Swamiji will stay with us overnight and leave by car on Monday morning.

May 14th

Seva Saturday

Come spend a few hours with fellow devotees and friends on Saturday, May 14th, as we all work together to make our Center sparkle and shine!

There will be plenty of work indoors and out. A detailed list of things to do will be provided, so you can pick what suits you best.

A yummy lunch will be provided… drink, chips, and a sandwich or salad made to order from RolyPoly. Free food, free fun, priceless fellowship and invaluable seva service to your Center… all at the same time. Can’t beat that with a stick!

If you can’t be with us the entire time, please come and stay as long as you are able.

Please note the 11AM Saturday Morning Class is suspended on May 14th so that members who wish to can participate in Seva Saturday.

 May 15th @ 11am
“Chaitanya’s Prayer” w/ Br. Shankara

Sri ChaitanyaChaitanya’s Prayer is recited every morning in temples, convents and monasteries of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, and other Vedanta centers in the U.S., including our own.

Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood* interpreted the Prayer for English speakers. It brings Bhakti Yoga — devotional spiritual practice — and its results into sharp focus in about three minutes. The Prayer’s language is intense — it can be thought of as one of the most beautiful love songs ever chanted.

Chaitanya calls forth the heart’s bliss, instructs the mind in how to overcome obstacles, and, in the voice of the spiritually awakening heart and mind, speaks lovingly and directly to the Divine within.

*Swami Prahavananda led the Vedanta Society of Southern California from the early 1930s until his mahasamadhi on July 4, 1976. Isherwood — a highly regarded novelist — was the Swami’s disciple. They collaborated on many of the Swami’s works in English.


Sunday evening, May 15th, 7pm
An Evening of Stories (& Songs) with Andy Offutt Irwin
Andy Offutt Irwin

Award-winning, nationally-touring and local son storyteller and songwriter ANDY OFFUTT IRWIN will be at the Vedanta Center of Atlanta on Sunday evening, May 15th. In the Fellowship Hall. Door open 6:30pm. Show starts at 7pm

“A fiendishly clever union of Tom Lehrer’s topicality… cut with Bobby McFerrin-style mouth music. Andy Offutt Irwin’s shows are good quirky fun!”
–The Atlanta Journal / Constitution

More at: andyirwin.com, our website, or on Facebook.

* Less if you can’t afford $10 but really want to come. Or more just because Andy is that good and you’re feeing generous. Or $10 will be fine, too.

May 22nd @ 11am
“Vivekananda’s Bhakti Yoga” w/ Br. Shankara

Swami Vivekanandaji

Swami Vivekanandaji

We continue our study of Bhakti Yoga, an approach to spiritual realization through reverence for and devotion to God. One who follows this path becomes a lover of God — a Bhakta, or devotee.

Sri Ramakrishna said, “…You should remember that the heart of the devotee is the abode of God. He dwells, no doubt, in all beings, but He especially manifests Himself in the heart of the devotee. … The heart of the devotee is the ‘drawing-room’ of God.”

Swami Vivekananda taught:

“Bhakti differs from (some) Western ideas of religion in that Bhakti admits no elements of fear, no Being to be appeased or propitiated. … There can be no fear in true love, and so long as there is the least fear, Bhakti cannot even begin. …

“The great quality of Bhakti is that it cleanses the mind. … The one great advantage of Bhakti is that it is the easiest and the most natural way to reach the great divine end in view …The path of devotion is natural and pleasant. … It is a longer way, (yet at its end the Bhakta says), ‘Thine am I for ever; henceforth whatever I do, it is Thou doing it. No more is there any me or mine.’” (CW Vols 3 & 7)

On Sunday morning we will explore and discuss these ideas in detail.

Upcoming Talks & Special Activities

May 26, 7:30pm (Thu) - RECEPTION: Swami Sarvapriyananda (potluck)
May 29, 11am (Sun) - OPEN FORUM: "Bhakti Yoga" facilitated by Br. Shankara
May 29, 7pm (Sun) - TALK: Swami Sarvapriyananda will speak on "Living in the Light of Sri Ramakrishna"


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