Year 16 Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission Issue 4

Pdu!3121

Jai Durga Mata

Greetings for auspicious Navratra’s
 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 The long awaited Ayodhya land title dispute judgement has come from the
International Vedanta Mission High Court. The judges rightly accepted the findings of Archaeological Survey
Sharing the message of Vedanta and Sanatan Dharma
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
Oct 2010 path of the construction of a grand temple of Bhagwan Sri Ram on the site.
On the Net since 1995 However, the judges proposed division of the land into three portions and giv-
ing 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 occu-
pied 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 coun-
Started by: try. Such steps are like keeping the thorn inside, and the problem will inevitably
Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji 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
Editor: hear the chanting of Quran where there should be just the chants of Vedas or
Swamini Samatananda 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.

Published from: We are sure that the litigations will go on, by all the concerned parties, and the
Vedanta Ashram time of construction of the temple is still far, however, an important issue has
E/2948-50, Sudama Nagar certainly been settled - that of the exact place of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi. It
Indore-452 009, India would be a great gesture if Muslims came forward and leave even this one-
third 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
Web: 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 broth-
www.vmission.org.in
erhood. 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
Email: wrong-doers is no peace, it is weakness, and weak people are danger not only
vmission@gmail.com 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 enjoy-
ment 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: personal likes and dislikes which the Acharya

Raag(Attachment), iccha(desire), sukh
(pleasure), dukh(pain) etc are the various emo-
tions 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
calls as ‘raag’ attachments. Further, the mind
gets conditioned that when situations are con-
ducive 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 emo-
tions 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 real-
ity 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 ex-
perience 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. What-
ever 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-cen-
tric 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 dis-
solution 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 scrip-
tures 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 es-
sentially 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 na-
ture 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 dif-
ferent states would have been the nature of the
Atman then the Atman would also become lim-
ited, changing and ephimeral. In such a case
liberation would never be possible. Infact there
would be no difference between a worldly indi-
vidual 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 intel-
lect, 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
Swami Atmananda
two things: one is _______________________________________________________
changing and the
Steps for Meditation:
other is changeless,
1. Sit comfortably with straight back, keeping the neck & head in one line
namely the mind and (because a straight vertebral column facilitates better energy supply to the
I, its witness. See 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 cross-
nature of each as it is, legged comfortably then sit in any most comfortable posture, wherein the body
& mind are nicely alert & awake. A comfortable posture is that when you can
neither trying to stop
really forget your body.
the change of the
2. Do some deep breathing. Breathing & Mind are intimately connected, so
changing entity, nor 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
trying to change the
the air completely, so that your lungs get fully emptied of all its impure air, and
changeless. 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
- Poojya Guruji 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 5. Now just watch whatever thoughts are going on in the mind - like a witness.
Month 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
When we turn
its seer. The mind keeps changing, keeps having different thoughts, while you
our awareness on 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
the changeless & as per the scene & its works. Mind is revealed, and you are its revealer. Mind is
effulgent witness 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
and just remain 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
conscious of it, then watching the mind, you see the thoughts come & go.
time shall stop, we
7. So there are two things: one is changing and the other is changeless, namely
are not aware of 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
any change. You
always free to turn our focus on anything we wish. Either on the changing or on
transcend the 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
thoughts, time and of any change. You transcend the thoughts, time and all kinds of change. This is
all kinds of change. 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
Blessings & Best Wishes.
to the timeless, the
divine. It is
effortless quietitude.
Just revel in this
peace, quietitude &
bliss. This is the
peace that passeth
all understanding.

Page # 9
 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

the Nine Days of worship of Shakti

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
Navratra’s

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 of-
fered for the protection of health and prosperity. During this vowed religious obser-
vance, 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 auspi-
cious 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
Vedanta Sandesh- -Sept
April2010
2009 Page # 10
 During the eight or ninth day, Kanya Poojan, pre-pubescent girls are ceremoni-
ally 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 Shakti - The Power of the Gods
po n Shakti - The Power of the Gods

e u ..
The Kena Upanishad, a major text of Indian philosophy, narrates a

On c .
profounder story, where the gods, having defeated the demons, puffed up with

me pride. The Highest God (Sanskrit: Brahman), that formless entity who is beyond

a ti
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 god-
dess:
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 ex-
ceedingly 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 in-
struments in the grander design.

Vedanta Sandesh - April 2009 Page

Page##13
13
 Sept’10 VM / VA Programs
Sri Krishna Janmashtami Celebration, Indore:
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
Vedanta Mission / Ashram Programs

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 pre-
sented 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 & fe-
licitation 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 dis-
courses were in English.
In the Gita discourses Poojya Guruji revealed the place & importance
of Karma with reference to ones Self-Knowledge goal. It is a fact the knowl-
ave a short speech edge 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.

Vedanta Sandesh - Sept 2010

 Sept’10 VM / VA 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 Chari-
table 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
Vedanta Mission / Ashram Programs

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 vari-
ous questions which had gathered in the course of their studies. The ques-
tions 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 north-
ern 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 can-
not 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.” - Anony

Vedanta Sandesh - Sept 2010

 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 !

Web Site of the International Vedanta Mission:

http://www.vmission.org.in/

Check out for other issues of Vedanta Sandesh at:

http://www.vmission.org.in/mission/ezine.htm

International Vedanta Mission News Blog:

http://vmissionews.blogspot.com/

Inspiring Tit-Bits Blog:

http://vmission.wordpress.com/

This is a Net Publication of the

International Vedanta Mission

Om Tat Sat