Vedanta Center of Atlanta: May events

5/31/2015 10:30 AM

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.

Dates:

5/3 - 11am-noon, Topic: "My Spiritual Journey"
Speaker: Gillian Renault
Gillian Renault began her Vedanta journey ten years ago, and it was her growing understanding of the Vedanta path that drew her to change careers in her early 60s. On Sunday, Gillian will talk informally about her two year journey as a Buddhist chaplaincy student at Joan Halifax's Upaya Zen Center, her work as a hospice volunteer, and her experiences ministering to patients at St. Joseph's Hospital.

This will be Gillian's last time at the Vedanta Center of Atlanta for a while. She is moving back to Los Angeles on May 4. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Gillian tell her story, and wish her farewell as she embarks on a new chapter of her life's journey.

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!

May 10 at 11am:

Swami Brahmavidyananda will speak on
"Unity: The Last Step in Meditation"

Swami Brahmavidyananda-ji arrived at the Center on Tuesday, April 28. He will stay with us through May 13, speaking on Sunday, May 3rd and May 10. Those who already know the swami or would like to get to know him, please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Swami B.!

About the swami: Swami Brahmavidyananda, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order who resides at the Vedanta Society of Southern California in Hollywood, took his monastic vows in 1990 and has been carrying on the universal message of visionary prophet Swami Vivekananda, who in the 1890′s was among the first to bring the concept of religious acceptance from India to America. Swami Brahmavidyananda describes the path of Vedanta as “bringing democracy to religion.”

Vivekananda believed that all religions are not only necessary, but essential to the human spirit which, due to race and culture, has the need for diversity as obviously expressed by the various paths and religions,” he explains. “Vivekananda never used the words ‘religious tolerance’ because that infers one’s sense of superiority over another. He always preferred to say ‘religious acceptance’.”

Note: There is silent meditation in the Chapel from 10:30am, 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!

_______________________________________________________

Seva Saturday May 9, 10am-2pm
May 9th, 10am-2pm

seva sat picture

We have lots to do indoors and out for all ages, abilities and preferences. Plan now to spend a few hours with fellow devotees and friends of the Center as we all work together to make your Center sparkle and shine!

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. See you Saturday!

"Sacred Song Circle" May 10, 5pm-6:30pm
May 10th, 5:00pm-6:30pm

sacred song circle picture Please come, if you like to sing or play (or just listen to) music that lifts the soul. No formality — the Circle is not for “performance.” It’s for the sheer enjoyment of offering music to the Divine, in yourself and in others. If you play an instrument, please bring it. We meet in the Monastery library. Snacks and beverages are available.

And since it's Mother's Day, songs to the Divine Mother are especially encouraged! Looking forward to seeing and hearing you this Sunday!

Sunday, May 17th, at 11am

Steven Gold will speak on
"Abstraction, Form and Meditation"

A good deal of spiritual and religious expression, like the paths of bhakti and karma, is engaged in exploring phenomena whereby spiritual realities are experienced as or through form and ritual. Another avenue of spiritual expression and experience focuses more on the abstract, the formless, like the paths of jnana and raja. This presentation will focus on the intersection between these various approaches, which are not mutually exclusive, and on meditation as a practice that can help access and heighten all of these expressions. Can the abstract, the intangible, the formless feel “real”? And what is the origin of all of these forms? Are they mere projections, fabrications of the human mind seeking to make concrete and comprehensible in more digestible pieces something that is difficult to grasp and comprehend? Or are they something more, expressions originating from other dimensions that we can access to provide us with inspiration and guidance?

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!

Also This Sunday, 1:15pm to 3:15pm

Steven Gold will give a Talk & Workshop on

"A Foundation for a Fruitful Meditation Practice: Science of Breath/Pranayama/Relaxation – Theory and Practice"

Some meditative traditions emphasize the significance of the breath and its associated, more subtle life force, called “prana.” This tandem serves as a significant layer of the soul and physiological and spiritual function that connects the body with the deeper levels of lower and higher mind, and beyond. This session will start with an in-depth theoretical presentation exploring the physiological functions of the breath and corresponding internal subtle functions of the flow of life force prana. It will conclude with a detailed experiential relaxation/meditation exercise putting the theory into practice. These exercises provide a firm foundation for a fruitful meditation practice. This material will provide a “refresher” course for those who have taken a previous meditation class, but there are also some new elements incorporating more advanced and effective techniques. Beginners and experienced meditators may therefore both benefit.

_______________________________________________________

NEXT Sunday, May 24th, at 11am
Buddha's Birthday Celebration

Dhruva will be our pujari once again... some special elements will be part of this year's celebration... come join us! The puja will be followed by a potluck prasad lunch in the Monastery Fellowship hall. Please bring food you wish to have offered to the Lord during the worship to the monastery kitchen no later than 11am.

Sunday, May 31st, at 11am

OPEN FORUM
"Integration of Bhakti & Karma Yoga"

Facilitator: Dr. Bhagirath Majmudar

Come join in on what is sure to be an inspiring and lively discussion on how Bhakti Yoga & Karma Yoga integrate, overlap, and otherwise work very well together. Our own Dr. Maj will be facilitating.