VEDANTA SOCIETY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 2323 Vallejo Street (at Fillmore) San Francisco, CA 94123

Swami Tattwamayananda, Minister and Spiritual Teacher Swami Asutoshananda, Assistant Minister

Ramakrishna Order of India

SEPTEMBER 2017SUNDAY LECTURES: 11 A.M. Sept. 17: “The Great Poet and His Divine Poem” Swami Vedananda Sept. 24: “Towards Light, Beyond Light” Swami Asutoshananda

WEDNESDAY VESPERS: 7:30 P.M. Worship, Devotional Singing, and Meditation Every Wednesday evening in September.

PATANJALI’S YOGA SUTRAS FRIDAYS, 7:30 P.M. Vivekananda Hall Classes will resume in November.

LABOR DAY RETREAT SEPTEMBER 2 – 4, 2017 “How to Succeed Spiritually in the Workplace & in Homelife” by Swami Tattwamayananda Vivekananda Hall

Sri Krishna’s Birthday Observance Sunday, September 17, 11 a.m. We traditionally observe Sri Krishna’s birthday at the opening lecture of the fall season in September. On Sep-tember 17 there will be a small worship at 9 a.m. in honor of Sri Krishna, and at 11 a.m. Swami Vedananda will speak on “The Great Poet and His Divine Poem.” _____________________________________________ Autumn Festival of Divine Mother Durga Saturday, September 30 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The program will include worship, meditation, devotional singing, readings on the Divine Mother, flower offerings by devotees, and a prasad luncheon. All are welcome!

Phone: 415 -922-2323 E-mai l : t em p le@sf vedan ta .o rg W ebsi te : www.s f vedan ta . o rg o rg Facebook : f acebook .com /s f vedan ta

L iv es t ream: l i ves t r eam .com /s f vedan ta Y ouTube : you tu be .com /use r /s f vedan ta Sw ami T a t tw amayananda : t a t twa @s f vedan ta .o rg

New Temple

LABOR DAY RETREAT

“How to Succeed Spiritually in the Workplace and in Homelife” By Swami Tattwamayananda

Saturday, Sept. 2 – Monday, Sept. 4 Vivekananda Hall, New Temple

Saturday, Sept. 2 & Sunday, Sept. 3

10 – 11:30 a.m. Discussion 11:30 – 12 noon Break 12 – 1 p.m. Meditation 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Lunch 3 – 4:30 p.m. Discussion

Monday, Sept. 4

10 – 11:30 a.m. Discussion 11:30 – 12 noon Refreshments 12 – 12:30 p.m. Meditation

Please RSVP at sfvedanta.org ― or phone 415-922-2323 ―

All are welcome!

BIRTHDAY OF SRI KRISHNA In observance of the birth of Sri Krishna, Swami Vedananda will give a special lecture, “The Great Poet and His Divine Poem,” in the New Temple on Sunday morning, September 17, at 11 o’clock. All are cordially invited to attend.

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Autumn Festival of DIVINE MOTHER DURGA Saturday, September 30, 2017

10 a.m. 11 a.m. Worship and Meditation Devotional Singing

11:45 a.m. Readings on the Divine Mother

12:15 p.m. Flower Offerings by Devotees

Prasad Luncheon

(Child Care Provided)

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Wednesday evenings: Vespers & Meditation 7:30 – 8:15 p.m.

Devotional Singing, Worship, and Meditation – September 6, 13, 20, and 27 –

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A CLASS on Vedantic scriptures is conducted on Fridays by Swami Tattwamayananda at 7:30 p.m. in Vivekananda Hall. The topic for study is: “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.” The class will resume in November.

The class may also be viewed live and archived at:

http://new.livestream.com/sfvedanta https://www.facebook.com/sfvedanta

TEMPLE HOURS. The temple is open daily for meditation from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Tuesdays the temple is closed. INTERVIEWS with Swami Tattwamayananda may be scheduled by those who wish to know more about Vedanta. Specific instruction and guidance are given by the swami to anyone who earnestly desires to undertake spiritual practice. Those wishing to make appointments with the swami may do so by speaking with him after the services, by phoning 415-922-2323, or by e-mailing: tattwa@sfvedanta.org. SUNDAY SCHOOL. Classes are held on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon for children in first grade through high school to give them a general knowledge of Vedanta. Parents wishing to enroll their children are invited to speak to the secretary of the Society. Classes resume on September 17. THE SRI SARADA LIBRARY is open on Sundays, following the lecture, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and at other times by appointment. The library reopens on September 17. BOOKSHOP HOURS Mondays: 10 a.m. ‒ 5 p.m. Tuesdays: CLOSED Wednesdays ‒ Saturdays: 10 a.m. ‒ 5 p.m. Sundays: 1 ‒ 4 p.m. The bookshop carries translations of principal Vedantic scriptures, books on Vedanta and other world religions, and children’s books. A large selection of books, incense, photos, etc., may be ordered online at sfvedanta.org. Orders may also be placed by phone or fax. E-mail: books@sfvedanta.org.

To view or listen to lectures, classes, and retreats, also please visit:

YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/SFVedanta

Vedanta Retreat Olema, Marin County

THE SOCIETY’S RETREAT provides an opportunity to spiritual seekers of all faiths to meditate and study in a secluded area of meadows and forests away from the disturbances of urban life. The retreat is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please visit our website: sfvedanta.org or phone 415-922-2323.

Above is the emblem of the Ramakrishna Order depicting the union of the four paths by which the Supreme Being may be realized. The waves are symbolic of unselfish action; the lotus, love of God; the rising sun, knowledge; the serpent, awakening of spiritual power; and the swan, the Supreme Self.

FIGHT YOUR WAY OUT

Wisdom can be preached even on a battlefield. The Gita [Bhagavad Gita] was preached so. There are three states of mind: the active, the passive, and the serene. The passive state is characterized by slow vibrations; the active, by quick vibrations, and the serene by the most intense vibrations of all. Know that the soul is sitting in the chariot. The body is the chariot; the outer senses are the horses; the mind the reins; and the intellect the charioteer. So man crosses the ocean of maya. He goes beyond. He reaches God. When a man is under the control of his senses, he is of this world. When he has controlled his senses, he has renounced. Even forgiveness, if weak and passive, is not true: fight is better. Forgive when you could bring legions of angels to the victory. Krishna, the charioteer of Arjuna, hears him say, “Let us forgive our enemies,” and answers, “You speak the words of wise men, but you are not a wise man but a coward.” As a lotus leaf, living in the water yet untouched by it, so should the soul be in the world. This is a battlefield, fight your way out. Life in this world is an attempt to see God. Make your life a manifestation of will strengthened by renunciation. We must learn to control our brain centers consciously. The first step is the joy of living. Asceticism is fiendish. To laugh is better than to pray. Sing. Get rid of misery. Don’t, for heaven’s sake, infect others with it. Never think God sells a little happiness and a little unhappiness. Surround yourself with flowers and pictures and incense. The saints went to the mountain tops to enjoy nature. The second step is purity. The third is full training of the mind. Reason out what is true from what is untrue. See that God alone is true. If for a moment you think you are not God, great terror will seize you. As soon as you think, “I am He,” great peace and joy will come to you. Control the senses. If a man curses me, I should still see in him God, whom through my weakness I see as a curser. The poor man, to whom you do good, is extending a privilege to you. He allows you, through His mercy, to worship Him thus. The history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves. That faith calls out the divinity within. You can do anything. You fail only when you do not strive sufficiently to manifest infinite power.

– Swami Vivekananda “Jnana and Karma,” Notes of a lecture delivered in London,

November 23, 1895