Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2010

Year 16

Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission

Pdu!3121

Jai Durga Mata Greetings for auspicious Navratra’s

Issue 4

In This Issue

1.

Vedanta Section:

Atma Bodha - Shloka-23

2.

Letter Section:

Steps for Meditation

3.

Festival Section:

Navratras

4.

Story Section:

Shakti - the Power of Gods

5.

VM Programs:

Mission / Ashram Progs

From Poojya Guruji

Vedanta Sandesh Spreading Love & Light

Hari om!

Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission Sharing the message of Vedanta and Sanatan Dharma

Oct 2010 On the Net since 1995

Started by:

Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji

Editor:

Swamini Samatananda

Published from:

Vedanta Ashram E/2948-50, Sudama Nagar Indore-452 009, India

Web:

www.vmission.org.in Email:

vmission@gmail.com

The long awaited Ayodhya land title dispute judgement has come from the High Court. The judges rightly accepted the findings of Archaeological Survey of India that there was indeed a Temple at that site earlier, and a mosque was constructed there on the orders of Babar, in an un-islamic way and therefore it was wrong. This settles the title ownership issue of the land, and paves the path of the construction of a grand temple of Bhagwan Sri Ram on the site.

However, the judges proposed division of the land into three portions and giving a third portion even to the muslims. This is strange. Once it is established that this is indeed the birth place of Bhagwan Sri Ram, and it was wronly occupied then why give even a portion of land to wrongdoers. Was this a stop-gap arrangement of appeasing the Muslims and thus assuring peace in the country. Such steps are like keeping the thorn inside, and the problem will inevitably continue. Such moments require bolder decisions. The scene will be like Varanasi and Mathura where a mosque exists just adjacent to the important Hindu shrines, and create obstacles in doing the worship properly. We shall hear the chanting of Quran where there should be just the chants of Vedas or Ramayan. Such steps anger the thronging devotees all the time, and thus implant seends of animosity rather than brotherhood. The issue has been handled like the partition of India - divide the land. We all are suffering the consequences of that historical blunder even today.

We are sure that the litigations will go on, by all the concerned parties, and the time of construction of the temple is still far, however, an important issue has certainly been settled - that of the exact place of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi. It would be a great gesture if Muslims came forward and leave even this onethird of land and have their mosque elsewhere in Ayodhya. Hindus will be floored by this gesture, and will cooperate in their project too whole-heartedly. Afterall it has been established beyond doubt that the place is indeed the birth place of Bhagwan Ram. Now is the time for them to act, and show to the world that both the communities indeed respect each others sentiments, and can live in brotherhood. Someone rightly but humorously twittered that ‘When Hindus said they wanted peace the judges mistook it for a piece’. Peace got by submitting to the wrong-doers is no peace, it is weakness, and weak people are danger not only to the security of the society at large, but even to the very modesty, dignity and security of their own families. So Hindus, the majority community, must carry on their fight, legally, and get their due constitutional right of worship and also living with due self-respect in their own country.

Love & om,

Swami Atmananda

Atma Bodha - Shloka 23 Vedanta Section

Impurities are products of Mind In the previous sloka it was discussed that due to ignorance the agency of action, of enjoyment and of other limitations are superimposed as the nature of the Self (Atman) which really is the nature of the mind. In the following sloka the Revered Acharya goes on to further explain that the attributes like pleasure, pain, desires etc all also belong to the mind and not to the Atman. It is the beauty of our scriptures that all principles are explained clearly and authentically on the basis of logic, experience, and the scriptures. Here too, as we will see, the sloka is explained logically and by relating to our experiences as well.

23 Raageccha sukhadukhaadi buddhau satyam pravartate Sushuptau naasti tannashe tasmaat buddhestu naatmanah Raageccha sukhadukhaadi: Attachment, desire, pleasure, pain, etc; buddhau satyam: when the intellect is present; pravartate: play their part; Sushuptau: in deep sleep; naasti: do not exist; tannashe: in its absence; tasmaat: hence; buddhestu: it is of the intellect; naatmanah: not of the Atman.

Attachment, desire, pleasure, pain, etc., are perceived to exist so long as Buddhi or mind functions. They are not perceived in deep sleep when the mind ceases to exist. Therefore they belong to the mind alone and not to the Atman.

Raageccha sukhadukhaadi: Raag(Attachment), iccha(desire), sukh (pleasure), dukh(pain) etc are the various emotions of the mind which one experiences in the state of ignorance and misunderstanding of the Self as a limited being. Once a person comes to see himself as a limited Self, he automatically begins a ride of seeking something or the other to bring about contentment. This seeking could be a vast unending network like money, success, fame, relationships, etc. This sense of seekership is the mother of desires. Fulfillment of one desire does not satiate this thirst, infact it is like one seed which gives birth to thousands of fruits and those in turn give birth to thousands more and the search for satisfaction goes on endlessly. Fulfillment of desires then bring about Vedanta Sandesh - Sept 2010

personal likes and dislikes which the Acharya calls as ‘raag’ attachments. Further, the mind gets conditioned that when situations are conducive to us as per our personal likes, it brings about sukha i.e. pleasure and when situations are against our preferances they bring about dukha (pain). And like wise a number of emotions like anger, greed, anxiety all make the family tree of desires. In such a state the root of all sufferings and ups and downs is the belief that I am a limited being. The Seers of truth reveal that whatever storm these various thoughts of the mind may bring about the truth is that they are only a play of the mind and are not the reality of the Self, the Atman. Therefore basically one is free of any such bondages. The Acharya says:

Buddhau satyam pravartate Attachment, desires, pleasure, pain and the like are experienced in the intellect and the mind alone. This is proved very clearly without any doubt as we experience these thoughts and emotions only in the waking state, when the mind is fully awake and dream state when the mind is partially awake. In deep sleep state when the mind has also dissolved and is not available, one does not experience any such emotions and thoughts. Neither does one feel any happiness or sorrow, nor is the mind available to think or make any decisions. It is only due to this reason that we often hear of the phrase ‘Sleeping over a probem’. Whenever a mind is boggled with anxiety, stress and pain, then often the easiest thing a person does is to mentally escape from that situation. One uses various means to do so. Sleep, drugs, alcohol, all these are different means to make the mind inactive and escape from all problems of the mind. It is thus also said that if the state of mind is healthy then life is healthy and happy. Ignorance and knowledge are all play of the mind.

Sushuptau naasti tannashe: To understand the reality of these thoughts it is important to understand the three states, the awakened state, the dream state and the deep sleep state. On contemplating on these states one comes to see that the illusionary experience of these various thoughts exists only in the awakened state and the dream state, when the individual comes to identify with the BMI as ‘I’. In deep sleep state the mind ceases to exist and hence the awareness of such thoughts and identification with them is also dropped. Hence none of these mental and intellectual attributes are experienced during deep sleep state. Whatever is the state of mind when in waking state, nothing exists once a person has glided into deep sleep. All the goodnes of the mind, all its negativities, all pain and pleasure, all ego-centric existence, everything is dissolved in deep sleep. Total identification with the worldly Self is dropped. All that remains is the silent witness,

the Atman which exists irrespective of the dissolution of the mind. In this analyses one comes to see that the different states may come and go. When one is in the awakened state then that state replaces the dream state and when one is in the deep sleep state then that replaces the awakened state. With the rise and set of the various states there is one common factor which is there at all times, it is that substratum which supports the existence of all the states and the BMI. This common factor is the Pure Self, the Atman. The Atman does not undergo any change or end. With this logical explanation and direct experience one can clearly see what the scriptures are pointing at.

Tasmaat buddhestu naatmanah: Hence all the thoughts and emotions are modifications of the mind and not the nature of the Atman. Infact the entire spiritual journey essentially involves curing the mind. It is the mind which is ignorant and therefore knowledge too has to be brought about in the mind. The Real Self is always exisiting in its glory, even when the mind is ignorant of the reality of the true nature of the Self. The Atman is unaffected by the changes, modifications, impurities or divine qualities too for that matter. It stands as a lamp that illumines the entire show on stage. A lamp which was there before the play began, it is there when the show goes on with various emotions and changing situations, and it still remains when the play is over. If thoughts, changes, and different states would have been the nature of the Atman then the Atman would also become limited, changing and ephimeral. In such a case liberation would never be possible. Infact there would be no difference between a worldly individual and the Real Self.

This reality is thus revealed in the present sloka thereby negating the superimposition of the attributes of the mind which has been brought about only due to absence of knowledge and false identification with the body, mind and intellect, by itself it is pure, infinite & immaculate.

Atma realized thus is indeed Brahman.

Page # 5

Letter of the Month

Steps for Meditation Hari om, I had promised John to send him ‘Steps for Meditation’.

Here are the steps I suggest for him. Please give a print out of this mail to him.

Thanks.

Love & om,

So there are two things: one is changing and the

Swami Atmananda _______________________________________________________ Steps for Meditation:

other is changeless, namely the mind and I, its witness. See the nature of each as it is, neither trying to stop

1. Sit comfortably with straight back, keeping the neck & head in one line (because a straight vertebral column facilitates better energy supply to the brain). The legs should preferably be crossed, squatting on a medium soft carpet. Hanging legs is not a very healthy posture, but if one cannot sit crosslegged comfortably then sit in any most comfortable posture, wherein the body & mind are nicely alert & awake. A comfortable posture is that when you can really forget your body.

the change of the changing entity, nor trying to change the changeless.

- Poojya Guruji

2. Do some deep breathing. Breathing & Mind are intimately connected, so deeper the breathing, quieter will be the mind. Inhale as much as you can in one go, then retain the breath as long as you can - comfortably, then exhale out the air completely, so that your lungs get fully emptied of all its impure air, and then again retain the empty lungs for few seconds and then again inhale the fresh air inside fully. Do this 3 times, and then breathe normally. After this relax for few moments, experiencing a more relaxed, and more energized mind & body.

3. Keep aside all worries & responsibilities, and just relax and also feel blessed for all the good things you have been blessed with by the loving & compassionate God. Be an embodiment of contentment and fulfillment, meaning you are not wishing & dreaming to become anything else or more.

Just be yourself, and drink the elixir of contentment & blessedness.

4. Remember Meditation is basically to awake to the truth of your Self, which is divine, therefore there is nothing that we really have to ‘attain’ from outside, but only have to awake to an already existing fact about our self. Such an endeavor is thus free from all anxieties, and has no question of any failure, and moreover as it is all about awakening to the real truth of our self it is all a matter of great joy & even love.

Vedanta Sandesh - Sept 2010

Letter of the Month

When we turn our awareness on the changeless & effulgent witness and just remain conscious of it, then

5. Now just watch whatever thoughts are going on in the mind - like a witness.

Witness is someone who is uninvolved in a situation but does see the scene nicely. So do observe your thoughts and emotions, but as though as a ‘third person’ - without any reactions, and without even labeling them as good or bad.

Just observe all the thoughts clearly and objectively. Dont try to stop or continue any thoughts, just remain a detached observer. To the extent you are really detached, to that extent the flow will reduce and even if it is there will not bother you, simply because you are anyway uninvolved & detached.

6. Now ‘see this fact’ that there is a Seer and there is the Seen. Both these entities are very different from each other. Mind is seen and you, its master, are its seer. The mind keeps changing, keeps having different thoughts, while you are standing apart from it, and are conscious of all the change, which means you remain changeless. You are constantly there, while the mind keeps dancing as per the scene & its works. Mind is revealed, and you are its revealer. Mind is your instrument, and you are its master. Mind is made for thinking about various things, so it has to have different thoughts. This is natural to mind, so don’t try to suppress the thoughts. Just see its play in a detached way and slowly awake to its observer, the uninvolved changeless witness, that is the real you. You are watching the mind, you see the thoughts come & go.

time shall stop, we are not aware of any change. You transcend the thoughts, time and all kinds of change.

7. So there are two things: one is changing and the other is changeless, namely the mind and I, its witness. See the nature of each as it is, neither trying to stop the change of the changing entity, nor trying to change the changeless. We are always free to turn our focus on anything we wish. Either on the changing or on the changeless. When we turn our awareness on the changeless & effulgent witness and just remain conscious of it, then time shall stop, we are not aware of any change. You transcend the thoughts, time and all kinds of change. This is awakening to the timeless, the divine. It is effortless quietitude. Just revel in this peace, quietitude & bliss. This is the peace that passeth all understanding.

This is awakening to the timeless, the

Blessings & Best Wishes.

divine. It is effortless quietitude.

Just revel in this peace, quietitude & bliss. This is the peace that passeth all understanding.

Page # 9

the Nine Days of worship of Shakti

Navratra’s

The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/ Devi are worshipped.

Navaratri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in the form of Shakti [Energy or Power].The Navaratri festival or ‘nine day festival’ becomes ‘ten day festival’ with the addition of the last day, Vijayadashami which is its culmination. On all these ten days, the various forms of Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) are worshipped with fervour and devotion.

Navaratri is celebrated five times a year. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri of the month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are very important.

1. Vasanta Navaratri is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the spring season (March–April). It is also known as Chaitra Navratri. The nine days of festival is also known as Raama Navratri as it culmintes in Ram Navami 2. Sharada Navaratri is the most important of the Navratris. It is simply called Maha Navratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. It commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin and culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. It is known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).

During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity. During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. The uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi.

The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are recited.A period of introspection and purification, Navratri is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new ventures.

Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses.

First three days: The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.

Second three days: The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.

Final three days: The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.

Saraswati pooja is performed on the 8th day. Eight day is traditionally Durgashtami.

VedantaSandesh Sandesh- -Sept April2010 2009 Vedanta

Page # 10

During the eight or ninth day, Kanya Poojan, pre-pubescent girls are ceremonially worshiped.

The 10th day is Ayudha Pooja when everyone gives their tools of the trade— pens, machinery, books, automobiles, school work, etc. a rest and ritually worships them.

Students also pay homage to their respective teachers as they are considered the third god (Maathaa, Pitha, Guru, Daivam - Mother, Father, Teacher & God). On this tenth day of Navratri in October - the holiday of Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.

Nine forms of Shakti are worshipped during the Navaratris.

The mother goddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshipped for a day. These nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with.

The Devis worshipped depend on the tradition of the region.

- Durga, the inaccessible one - Bhadrakali - Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of the universe - Annapurna, The one who bestows grains (anna) in plenty (purna: used as sub jective) - Sarvamangala, The one who gives joy (mangal) to all (sarva) - Bhairavi - Chandika or Chandi - Lalita - Bhavani - Mookambika North India: Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. In North India, all t Navratris are celebrated with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshipping the Mother Goddess in her different forms. and the The Dussehra of Kulu in Himachal Pradesh is particularly famous in the North.

West Bengal: The last four days of Sharad Navratri take on a particularly dramatic form in the state of West Bengal in East India where they are celebrated as Durga Puja. This is the biggest festival of the year in this state. Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of the Goddess Durga depicting her slaying the demon Mahisasura are set up in temples and other places. These idols are then worshipped for five days and immersed in the river on the fifth day.

Gujarat: In Western India, particularly in the state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance.

In South India: People set up steps and place idols on them. This is known as golu.

Page # 11

Focusing On Unimportant & Stress A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and in life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other’s cups.

Life is the coffee and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and do not change the quality of Life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided. So, don’t let the cups drive you … enjoy the coffee instead."

Vedanta Sandesh - Sept 2010

Stories from Purana n o p e u .. c n .

O e m a ti

Shakti - The Power of the Gods Shakti - The Power of the Gods The Kena Upanishad, a major text of Indian philosophy, narrates a profounder story, where the gods, having defeated the demons, puffed up with pride. The Highest God (Sanskrit: Brahman), that formless entity who is beyond any gender, realized their folly and revealed itself before their eyes, to grace them with repentance. However, blinded with the veil of egoism, the gods were unable to understand the vision revealed to them.

Agni Tries to Burn the Twig The deity of fire was then deputed by the gods to enquire who the divine person in front of their eyes was. When Agni reached the Great Being, the latter asked him as to what power he (fire) possessed. Pat came the reply: "I can burn down the whole world." The manifested Brahman then placed a blade of grass between them and asked him to burn it. Using all his might, fire tried his utmost to set the twig ablaze, but could not do so.Unable to know the Brahman, he then returned dejected to the waiting gods.

The Wind Attempts to Blow Away the Twig Next came the god of wind. He too bragged about his ability to carry along anything with his mighty power. Faced with the same miniscule twig, he had to retreat.

It then fell to the lot of Indra, the king of gods, to approach the Great Being. No sooner had he tried to do so, than the latter vanished, and instead appeared in the sky, the beautiful goddess Uma, also known as Parvati. (Kena Upanishad: The Highest Shakti (Shrimad Devi Bhagavatam, Book Twelve, Chapter 8) The Devi Bhagavata Purana describes the physical form of this goddess: A virgin blooming with fresh youth, the luster of her body was like the rising sun. Shining on her crown was the digit of the moon. She was holding a noose and goad in her two hands and the other two arms displayed the mudras of boon granting (varada) and fearlessness (abhaya) respectively.

Her body, decked with various ornaments, looked auspicious and exceedingly lovely. She was like the wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpa Vriksa). Three-eyed, her face was endowed with the beauty of ten million cupids (Kamadeva).

Her clothing was red and her body was covered with sandal paste. She was the Cause of all causes, and the embodiment of compassion (karuna-murti).

Seeing her, the hairs on Indra's body stood on ends with ecstasy. His eyes were filled with tears of love and deep devotion and he immediately fell prostrate at the feet of the goddess, singing hymns in her praise. (Devi Bhagavata Purana: 12.8.52-60) The goddess then instructed Indra regarding the essence of the Supreme Reality, stressing that it was the power of Brahman (manifested as herself), which was responsible for victory over the demons, and the gods were but instruments in the grander design.

Vedanta Sandesh - April 2009

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Sept’10 VM / VA Programs Sri Krishna Janmashtami Celebration, Indore:

Vedanta Mission / Ashram Programs

Sri Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated at Vedanta Ashram, Indore with great enthusiasm and devotion on 4th Sept 2010. The preparations started a day earlier on 3rd itself, specially for the making of the altar of Bhagwan. Various devotees worked for several hours under the guidance of P. Swamini Amitanandaji to create the altar.

On the morning of 4th the day started with the chanting of entire Bhagwad Gita. Later in the evening various Balvihar children came and presented bhajans and dances alongwith chanting of shlokas. SOme dressed like Bhagwan Krishna and others as Radha & Gopis. Later other devotees too sang and danced. This went on till 12 in the night, when the birth of Bhagwan was celebrated, and was followed by Maha-Aarti and chanting.

Devotees partook the prasad before leaving after mid-night.

Janmashtami and Satsang at Reading, UK: Poojya Guruji and P. Swamini Samatanandaji were in UK during this festival. Both of them were invited at the special celebrations at the Hindu Temple at Wellingborough, which was thronging with devotees. Both the Mahatmas briefly spke on the occasion and conveyed their blessings & felicitation to all.

On 7th Sept Poojya Guruji and P. Swamini Samatanandaji drove to the city of Reading. They were taken by Avnish Thakrar through beautiful countryside roads. The took a short break at the residence of one of the Mandir Trustee and then later gave a Satsang to the temple devotees. Both the Mahatmas spoke on Bhagwad Gita. Dr Ashok Khare and Pt Anilji thanked the visited Swamis. They later had dinner with Bhupendrabhai & Niraben Sodha and then came back to Welling at night only.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Wellingborough, UK: A week-long Gita Gyana Yagna by Poojya Guruji was organized at Hindu Temple Wellingborough from 11th to 18th of Sept. In the evening the discourses were on the 3rd chapter of Gita, while the subject matter of the morning session was Upadesha Saram of Ramana Maharshi. Both the discourses were in English.

ave a short speech

Vedanta Sandesh - Sept 2010

In the Gita discourses Poojya Guruji revealed the place & importance of Karma with reference to ones Self-Knowledge goal. It is a fact the knowledge of Self requires toal vairagya, yet Gita reveals that the Nishkama Karma alone truly makes the mind ready for this liberating knowledge of Brahman.

In Upadesha Saram the gist of the discourse given by Bhagwan Shiva to some ascetics was given. This is a very comprehensive discourse and not only covers but also connects all the various sadhanas for Self-Knowledge.

Sept’10 VM / VA Programs

Vedanta Mission / Ashram Programs

Interview with Paula Marvelly, UK: On 18th Sept, Paula Marvelly of advaita.org.uk drove all the way from Sussex to meet and interview Poojya Guruji. They represent a Charitable Trust which has taken up a big and noble project of creating an online database of the traditional teachers of Advaita Vedanta, alongwith all their resources of audio or video discourses and books.

After having lunch with Poojya Guruji she talked for an hour covering various topics which are unique to the ancient tradition of Advaita Vedanta.

She took she own example and discussed various aspects of sadhana & knowledge intimately. She recorded the entire interview and shall publish the same of their new website.

Vishnu Sahasranama Archana / Q&A Session, UK: On the morning of 18th Sept (Sat) a grand Vishnu Sahasranama Archana was organized and conducted by the two visiting Mahatmas at Hindu Temple, Wellingborough. More than two dozen devotees participated in the two hour long Archana in which flowery offerings with the thousand names of Bhagwan Vishnu were made.

On 21st Sept evening there was a weekly class of Gita Study, in which various devotees do some prayers, and then the chanting and study of Bhagwad Gita. Poojya Guruji was invited to this class for answering various questions which had gathered in the course of their studies. The questions were properly written down and asked by Kirtiben Thakrar on behalf of the participants. The question & answer session lasted for 90 minutes and everyone was very happy and satisfied with the answers provided.

Satsang at Bradford / Talk at TS Lodge, Leeds, UK: Poojya Guruji and Poojya Swamini Samatanandaji visited the northern twin cities of Bradford and Leeds on the 19th Sept (Sunday). They were taken there by Robert Tree of Leeds, who had come over all the way to recieve the visiting Mahatmas.

First they visited the Theosophical Society Lodge at Leeds, where Poojya Guruji gave a very enlightening talk on the topic of ‘Cognition of Effulgent’. This topic was abit technical and dealt with the uniqueness of Akhandakar Vritti as compared to other thoughts. Very nice Q&A session followed the talk.

Later they visited the Laxmi Narayan Mandir at Bradford and have an inspiring talk on Yagna Bhava. They had dinner there only and then left.

Check out the detailed Photo Albums of the various functions on VM News Blog at : http://vmissionews.blogspot.com/ Page # 15

Quotes “The beautiful rainbow needs both the rain and the sunshine. It cannot happen with only one of them.”

- Anony “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.

- Anony “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

- Anony “In life we cannot change the direction in which the wind blows.

However, we can adjust the direction of our sails to take advantage of the wind.”

- Anony “The road travelled always turns out to be more beautiful than the destination reached. Enjoy the path you take to reach yur goal.”

- Anony “Spend your time in pushing yourself up, not in pulling others down.”

- Anony “Life is like an echo. We get from it what we put in it and just like an echo, it often gives us much more.”

- Anony “Hospitality is an expression of divine worship.”

Vedanta Sandesh - Sept 2010

- Anony

Forthcoming Programs

Sanyas Deeksha of Poojya Guruji: Sanyas Deeksha Day of Poojya Guruji will be celebrated with special puja and bhajans at Vedanta Ashram on 10th Oct (Sunday).

Talk at Rotary Club, Amernath: Poojya Guruji will give a Talk on the ‘Values & Ethics in Life’ at the Rotary Club, Amernath.

Members of Rotary Clubs of Ulhasnagar, Dombivili and Kalyan will also attend the function.

He will visit Mumbai for a day on 31st of Oct.

Gita Jayanti Celebrations, Indore: This year Gita Jayanti is on the 17th of Dec, as such special programs are organized at Indore on the occasion. Poojya Guruji will inaugurate the Mega program at Agrasen Dham (Footi Kothi) on that day.

Gita Chanting program will also be organized at the Vedanta Ashram on that day - in the morning, while the evening discourse will be there at Agrasen Dham.

Talk at Rotary Club, at Bandra, Mumbai: Poojya Guruji will give a Talk on the topic of ‘Values and Ethics in Life’ at the Manik Sabhagriha, “Vishwakarma”, M.D. Lotlikar Vidya Sankul, Opp. Lilavati Hospital, Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai on 2nd December 2010 from 7.00 to 8.30 PM.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Mumbai: Poojya Guruji will conduct a week-long Gita Gyana Yagna at BHA, Bandra, Mumbai from 3rd to 9th Dec 2010. The texts of the morning and evening discourses will be Gita Chapter 3 and the Kathopanishad - 2nd Valli of the 1st Chapter.

Page # 17

Hari om !

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This is a Net Publication of the International Vedanta Mission

Om Tat Sat