Summer Recess: Summer recess starts at both Berkeley center and San Jose House on Saturday, Aug. 01, 2020, and they will remain closed. Online lectures, classes, and other different activities will resume on Sunday, September 27, 2020. Regarding in-person lectures, classes, meditation, vesper services, Yogadharana, etc. we shall inform you after the summer recess ends. Please stay tuned.
Swami Ishatananda, Minister-In-Charge of the Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg, Florida is delivering an online lecture on July 4, 2020, on 'Guru Tradition and Mantrashakti'.
July 4th Spiritual Retreat – Commemorating Swami Vivekananda
Vedanta Society Berkeley conducted its July 4, 2020, spiritual retreat commemorating Swami Vivekananda Online.
While the challenging COVID-19 pandemic has locked down the entire world, Vedanta Society Berkeley decided to continue its tradition of observing the 4th July Spiritual Retreat this year, deciding to hold this event online rather than in person. Swami Prasannatmananda, the Swami-In-Charge of the Vedanta Society Berkeley cleared in his opening remarks that the program was entirely homemade and the Swamis including all other participants recorded their messages and performances at their respective centers and homes. Finally, our Tech-team, the devotees, made the live streaming possible. It was, overall, a splendid outcome of a collective effort.
The retreat opened with Vedic chanting by the Swamis. Following that, Swami Prasannatmananda led devotees in chanting a mantra and mentally offering flowers to the Holy Trio.
There were several devotional hymns and songs sung by vocalists Sumita Chakravorty and Alokparna. Chorus songs were led by Sumita Chakravorty.
Ruhi, a young participant, recited and shared an analysis of Swami Vivekananda’s poem, ‘The Song of the Free’.
Six Swamis from four different Vedanta centers explained the significance of Guru, the spiritual teacher or preceptor, from different point of views. Swami Prapanananda, Minister and teacher of the Vedanta Society of Sacramento, delivered a lecture on ‘Sachchidananda (the Supreme God) is the Guru’. Swami Vedananda, the Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, spoke on ‘Is Initiation Required in Spiritual Life?’ Swami Ishtananda, Minister In-Charge of the Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg, Florida, elaborated on ‘Guru Tradition and Mantrashakti’.
In the afternoon session, Swami Tattwamayananda, Minister In-Charge of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, delivered his talk on ‘Human Guru’. Speaking on the topic of ‘Our Mind is Our Guru’, Swami Ishadyanananda, Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Society of Sacramento, explained the secret of mind. And finally, Swami Prasannatmananda spoke on ‘Avatara (Incarnation) as Guru’. All six talks were enlightening and answered devotees’ many unasked questions on the significance of Guru and Guru tradition of Indian.
The retreat concluded with Ramakrishna sharanam, a song that inspires love, devotion, and dedication to Sri Ramakrishna and a song that unites all devotees of the Holy Trio from all parts of the world.
The retreat event can be watched on the Vedanta Society Berkeley’s website athttps://www.vedantaberkeley.org/video-gallery/
Dharma Master Rev. Heng Sure, a senior disciple of Hsuan Hua, and Director of Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, delivered lectures in Living In Spirit continued lecture series using online platform on Sunday, July 19, 2020, on 'Buddhistic Perspective in this Scenario of New Normal'.
“Skillful Living In the New Normal: Lessons from the Monastic Community”
Reverend Heng Sure, the director of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, gave a presentation on “Buddhist Perspective in the Scenario of a New Normal.” This lecture was a part of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley’s “Living in Spirit” lecture series and was given on July 20, 2020.
The presentation begins with observations about society today. Not only are we in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic, but we are also facing an economic crisis (people are losing their jobs and losing access to food/other resources) and climate change. Meanwhile, monastic communities worldwide have lived sustainably for decades, and Buddhist and Vedantic monastics have much to offer the world in this time of crisis in terms of ways to live wisely and sustainably.
To live in the new normal, consisting of face masks and quarantine, we have to cut back on greed. Specifically, we should cut back on our thought process of “I” as an isolated being and instead connect to our environment.
Buddha once said, “all senses are on fire.” This refers to the whole world seeming to be on fire when we look outside with burning senses. The solution to the burning of the senses is the moral precepts, which teach us how to be a wholesome and responsible person. The moral precepts put out the fire of the senses and serve as the antidote to the fire in the world. The precepts function as an interface with the world and as guidelines to facilitate our resolve to live spiritually and pragmatically.
The perfection of morality is able to eradicate the fires of all afflictions. Monastic life teaches us harmless, compassionate ways to engage with the world using wisdom and skillful means.
No greed
No harm
No solipsism
Prioritize spirituality
Live in a way that removes humans from the center of the world
No Greed
Practice simplicity and moderation.
Monastic life celebrates human life in the world without honoring greed.
Monks believe that by living mindfully & carefully, avoiding any extremes, and celebrating moderation, there is plenty for anyone.
Learn to distinguish between need and greed.
Greed is a poison. Practicing contentment and gratefulness counteracts that poison.
No Harm
There is always a way to live skillfully that isn’t at another’s expense.
Many monks follow a plant-based diet. Doing so reduces the killing of animals and also reduces the carbon footprint even more so than purchasing an electric car.
Monks traditionally refrain from participating in military combat, as well as taking part in any military-related services.
No Solipsism
Develop a sense of interdependence with the world around you.
Monastic communities believe that we are knit into a relationship with other creatures.
Stay humble and reverent. Be grateful and wise in your sharing and stewardship of resources. Show compassion to other, neighboring species who inhabit the planet with us.
Prioritize Spirituality
The Buddhist teachings came from Asia in the sutras, and in the pratimoksha code is a world full of gods, dragons, spiritual pantheons, and creatures of all kind.
The connections with the realms of spirit are affirmed by indigenous peoples (pre-modern Earth-based civilizations).
Live in a Way That Removes Humans from the Center of the World
We live life in a way that puts humans in the center of the world while forcing all other things on earth to serve us. This way of living has proven to be unsustainable.
The Buddha and the sutras describe the earth as a community to be lived in harmoniously and wisely, not as a commodity to be exploited and consumed by the strongest and most ruthless.
In the world of a monastery, nature is full of spirit and the lives resemble a pre-modern, indigenous nature. We, therefore, need to step back from this feverish dream of the competitive marketplace where the senses are on fire. We should adapt to a pre-historical person’s awe and appreciation for the interrelated power of the natural world, and combine pre-modern wonder with global and ethical wisdom.
The event concluded with a note of thanks from Swami Prasannatmananda. He also explained that Swami Vivekananda's teachings are on positive aspect of Buddha's teachings of Pancha Sheela. Viewers can watch Rev. Heng Sure’s full talk here.
Swami Vivekananda: Always Alive
We put our energies to concentrate and get attached to one thing; but the other part, though equally difficult, we seldom pay any attention to -- the faculty of detaching ourselves at a moment's notice from anything. Both attachment and detachment perfectly developed make a man great and happy. Non-attachment has always been there. It has come in a minute. Very soon I stand where no sentiment, no feeling, can touch me. [Swami Vivekananda on Himself - in his second visit to United States in 1900- pg.313 & 315]
Vedanta Society Berkeley
2455 Bowditch Street, Berkeley, CA 94704; 510-848-8862 society@berkeleyvedanta.org
San Jose House, 1376 Mariposa Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126; 408-493-0665; society@vedantaberkeley.org
