Vedanta Center of Atlanta: May events
Vedanta Center of Atlanta: May events
Times:
10:30am-11am: silent meditation in the Chapel before each Sunday’s talk.
11am-noon: talk and worship in the chapel.
noon-1:30pm: devotees and friends meet in the Monastery 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.
May is a month for study of Bhakti Yoga. As a bhakti yogi (bhakta), you establish a devotional relationship with God through study, prayer, ritual, and worship. You practice giving every action, thought, emotion, perception and tendency “a Godward turn.” All of your energies and attributes, both positive and negative, are offered to the Divine Presence. Your prayer is for complete self-surrender, in ecstatic union with your Belovèd.
May 6 -- Seva Saturday
May 7, Sun
We will continue the discussion of Near Death Experiences and explore the relevance of NDEs to your spiritual journey:
Last Sunday our congregation heard Michelle Fletchall tell about her Near Death Experience (NDE). We were moved by her sincerity, and her story of how that experience changed her perceptions of the world and her way of being with the people in her life.
As was mentioned after her talk, scientists have been studying NDEs and have reached some startling conclusions.This Sunday morning we will continue that discussion.
For thousands of years, yogis have taught that — if you are persistent and sincere — chanting OM and other spiritual self-effort can change every aspect of your being. For example, Sri Sarada Devi (Holy Mother) said: “The Mantra purifies the body. Man becomes pure by repeating the name of God. So repeat His name always… The name of God is more powerful than the senses… Prayer to God makes your heart as pure as the star.” Is this true? If so, how and why?
For more than 20 years, groups of scientists in Europe and the U.S. have studied Near Death Experiences; they found that an NDE very often has profound, positive, lasting effects on behavior. This Sunday morning Br. Shankara will review their methodologies, findings and conclusions, and explore with you the implications for your spiritual life and practice.
May 10th, 6pm (Wednesday)
BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY - Talk by Br. Shankara on “Buddha as a Chosen Ideal” plus a short worship. In the Chapel, in place of regular arati.
May 13-14 (Saturday and Sunday)
James Swartz will give a weekend workshop on Advaita/Nondual Vedanta
TOPIC - "Enlightenment and Energy Management: Yoga of The Three Gunas"
Enlightenment is freedom from dependence on objects, especially emotional states of mind that hinder our ability to accomplish our goals. The ancient Science of Energy Management is a sophisticated set of simple principles that allow anyone to eliminate the thoughts and emotions that inhibit our ability to live creatively and to cultivate the energies that ensure success in any endeavor. The three universal energies that each of us experiences throughout the day are called ‘gunas,’ a Sanskrit word that means qualities. The technique that allows us to control them is called Triguna Vibhava Yoga. This Yoga originated in India several thousand years ago and is practiced, consciously or unconsciously, throughout the world today. Successful people in every field have to varying degrees mastered some aspect of this science. This seminar reveals the basic principles of the Yoga of the gunas and how to use them to transform your life, worldly or spiritual, into the life you always desired.
WEEKEND TEACHING SCHEDULE
SATURDAY
Morning Session: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch break: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Afternoon Session: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Dinner break: 5:30 pm - 7:30pm
Evening Session: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
SUNDAY
Morning Session: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch break: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Sunday Afternoon Session: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS EVENT, BUT DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED TO PAY FOR TRAVEL COSTS. ** RESERVATIONS ARE NOW FULL BUT YOU MAY CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST. ** (Attendance of this event is by reservation only.)
Find out more about James Swartz at www.shiningworld.com
May 21 - “Seven Sayings of Swami Prabhavananda”
w/ Br. Shankara
May 28 - “Thou Shining, Everything Shines”
w/ Br. Shankara
Here’s what to expect this Sunday morning:
first, a guided meditation
then, a 30-35 minute talk on the inner light that is a reflection of your true original nature
finally, we’ll finish with our usual 15 to 20 minutes of Q&A and discussion
Chapter 6, Verse 14 of the Svetasvatara Upanishad says,
“There the sun shines not, nor the moon and stars, nor does the lightning illumine, much less this earthly fire. He alone shining, everything shines after him. By his light all this universe shines!”
Svetasvatara, having realized the ultimate Reality, does his best to share that knowledge with us. His words are awe-inspiring, no doubt. Yet, they can leave us feeling something like this:
“If I’m honest, I can’t say I understand him. Here I sit, a seemingly isolated individual. I live my life as best I can, from day to day, in a troubling and sometimes frightening world.
Sure, I’d like to share Svetasvatara’s realization. I’d love to be free from suffering and sorrow! Is that really possible?”
In a number of unambiguous promises, our great teachers tell us, “Yes, you certainly can.” On Sunday morning we’ll explore and discuss those reassuring promises.
But first, after our guided meditation, we’ll review:
Successes and gifts you’ve had so far in life
Challenges to your continued progress, and
Obstacles — habits of mind that, while they persist, can “freeze you in place.”
