Founded in 1939
2455 Bowditch Street, Berkeley, CA 94704; 510-848-8862
San Jose House, 1376 Mariposa Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126; 408-493-0665
Email: society@vedantaberkeley.org ; Website: www.vedantaberkeley.org
January 2020
Grace and peace to you from the Holy Trio. Happy New Year to all the members, devotees, friends and all of you who visit our centers and attend our programs. May the Holy Trio bless you all to make you joyful and fulfilled throughout the year starting with Divine Kalpataru Day.
People of different faiths, as well as those who have no particular belief, can benefit from the lectures. Vedanta is impersonal and rational; it is not a particular creed but includes all creeds and affirms that they are different expressions of One Truth.
Lectures are delivered by Swami Prasannatmananda at the sanctuary of the Vedanta Society Berkeley every Sunday at 11:00 am.
Jan. 26 : Swami Vivekananda's Ethical
perception of Vedantic Oneness
At the sanctuary of the Vedanta Society Berkeley every Thursday at 8:00 pm. Swami PrasannatmanandaSrimad Bhagavad Gita classes are conducted by
Classes and 'Yogadharana' guided group meditation sessions are conducted by Swami Prasannatmananda at San Jose House every Sunday and every Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Classes on every Sunday evening are held after a short vesper service, arati, and meditation. Ramanama Sankirtanam is held on the first Sunday of every month at 6:30 pm.
Jan. 26: Living a Life as Holy Mother showed it
LIBRARY
Vedanta Society Berkeley maintains libraries both in Berkeley Center and San Jose House. Books on Vedanta Philosophy, Religion, and Other Philosophical Systems and Religious Traditions of the world are available for the members to borrow.
Books on Vedanta and Indian Religious literature are sold at the bookstore in the foyer of the Berkeley Center after Sunday and Thursday lectures. And at San Jose House before and after the Wednesday ‘Yogadharana’ and Sunday evening lectures.
Prayer & Meditation
Those who like to spend some time in prayer, meditation, and to attend vesper service are welcome to do so at the sanctuary of Berkeley center from 6:30 to 8:00 pm every evening except Sunday and Wednesday; and
at San Jose House every Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30 pm and 6:30 pm respectively.
Interview and Practical Instructions
Swami Prasannatmananda is glad to confer with those who are interested in knowing more about Vedanta or with those who want to discuss their spiritual interests with him. The Swami requests that appointments be made after lectures or classes or over the telephone 510-848-8862.
Above are the photographs from the worship of Holy Mother Sarada Devi held on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at the sanctuary of the Vedanta Society Berkeley.
Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's 167th Birth Anniversary Celebrations
Swami Prasannatmananda conducted a special worship on the occasion of Holy Mother Sarada Devi's 167th birth anniversary at the sanctuary of Vedanta Society Berkeley, California, On Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 3pm. Swami Prapannananda and Swami Isadyanananda from Vedanta Society of Sacramento, CA, graced the occasion and Chanted verses from the scriptures on Divine Mother during the worship. Devotees offered flowers after the worship. About 100 devotees and volunteers attended the celebration and enjoyed sumptuous prasad at the Saradananda Hall on the premises. Ujjal Chowdhury presented devotional songs during the worship.
Above are the photographs from Christmas Eve celebration organized by Vedanta Society Berkeley at their sanctuary on December 24, 2019.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve celebration 2019,
at Vedanta Society, Berkeley, California
A wonderful program was held on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, at 7:00 pm at the Vedanta Society Berkeley to celebrate Christmas Eve and to ring in the New Year. Raphael’s famous painting (1512) ‘Sistine Madonna’ where the artist showed Mary and the baby Jesus standing in heavenly light, along with Christmas tree were decorated and lighted in red, green, and gold. Swami Prasannatmananda conducted the service. In his welcome address he reminded three important incidents that happened on 24th Dec. Those three incidents were the three turning points of Ramakrishna Order he said. There was a short meditation session after which Swami Prasannatmananda delivered a talk on Jesus Christ and His great sacrifice. The swami also showed the similarities of Christ's message with Vedanta. The sanctuary of Vedanta Society Berkeley became vibrant with several beautiful Christmas carols led by Kathy, Joe, Sahana, Amita, Soma, Ruchi, Ruhi, and Shushama, the devotees of Vedanta Society Berkeley and San Jose. The congregation enjoyed warm supper after the event at the Saradananda Hall.
Swami Vivekananda:
Always Alive
'Krishna, the "Lord of souls", talks to Arjuna or Gudakesha, "lord of sleep" (he who has conquered sleep). The "field of virtue" (the battlefield) is this world; the five brothers (representing righteousness) fight the hundred other brothers (all that we love and have to contend against); the most heroic brother, Arjuna (the awakened soul), is the general. We have to fight all sense-delights, the things to which we are most attached, to kill them. We have to stand alone; we are Brahman, all other ideas must be merged in this one.' [Excerpt from ‘Inspired Talks’ taken from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Jan. 1989, Vol. VII pg.19]
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
Swami Vivekananda:
