“Dare to be free, dare to go as far as your thought leads, and dare to carry that out in your life. ”
“God is everywhere but He is most manifest in man. So serve man as God. That is as good as worshipping God.”
"As clouds are blown away by the wind, the thirst for material pleasures will be driven away by the utterance of the Lord's name."
​All are welcome
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All the services are available for all interested devotees
Please click the buttons below for
Vedanta Society of Portland
The Vedanta Society of Portland, Oregon, is an affiliated branch of the Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, Howrah, India. The Center was established in the year 1925 by Swami Prabhavananda. It gradually developed into its present stature through the efforts of illustrious monks such as Swamis Vividishananda, Devatmananda, Aseshananda, Shantarupananda, and many dedicated devotees. The city of Portland is at the confluence of two perennial rivers—the Willamette and the Columbia—making it equivalent to a Prayag. It is surrounded by snow-clad Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, other mountains of the Cascade range, and the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest city in the state of Oregon, the seat of Multnomah County in the Pacific Northwest, situated at about 45.52 latitude and -122.68 longitude. It has the following facilities: a) A Vedanta Temple at 1157 SE 55th Ave, Portland The Temple offers encouragement and guidance to spiritual seekers through lectures, readings, discussions, publications, retreats, rituals, and personal guidance based on universal teachings of various scriptures and teachers by cultivating self-knowledge and building character. Karma Yoga, the selfless offering of services, is encouraged through a few programs such as "Serve God in Man," "Friends of the Vedanta Retreat," etc. Hatha yoga is promoted for physical well-being, and other cultural activities are promoted for intellectual expansion, such as the study of Sanskrit and other languages. b) A room for a devotee retreatant who is associated with us for meditation, contemplation, reading, and volunteering with prior permission. c) A 289-acre beautiful forest sanctuary at 23000 NW Gilkison Road, Scappoose for promoting the Harmony of Religions in the lap of Nature by maintaining shrines of various religions and by organizing interfaith meetings inviting religious leaders from various streams. This beautiful, pristine forest was developed by dedicated volunteers on a parcel of clear-cut land of 120 acres, and the adjacent 169 acres of land property was added to the Vedanta Retreat on March 17, 2020. It is open to the general public to enjoy the peace and beauty of this hallowed place. It takes a lot of resources to maintain the above facilities, buildings, shrines, trails, etc. Support from the generous public and benevolent institutions will be appreciated and acknowledged.
What is Vedanta?
The word "Vedanta" means the essence, the gist, or the conclusion of the knowledge enshrined in the Vedas, especially in the Upanishads. The Vedas are the most ancient and sacred scriptures of India, believed to be about 8,000 years old. It is the oldest, broadest, and most rational philosophy to discover the ultimate reality. It teaches a universal way of living and accepts all paths as valid means to realize God if done earnestly and sincerely. The pure-hearted seers (Rishis) sought the ultimate Truth, the secret Reality, with an open and earnest heart. The spiritual principles were revealed to those earnest seekers, which are called the Vedas. The Vedas, then, were passed on to many generations through oral tradition and later recorded. These seers were like spiritual scientists who discovered that these spiritual principles are universal in nature, rational in approach, and intensely practical for our everyday lives.
Essential Teachings
The Rigveda says, "That which exists is one; sages call it variously. Swami Vivekananda put it in a nutshell—" Each soul is potentially divine; the goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature: external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy—by one, or more, or all these—and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details." Vedanta philosophy is the philosophical foundation of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion ordinarily known as Hindu Dharma. Hindu Dharma includes aspects of Indian culture, and Vedanta is universal in its approach and application. It is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds. Vedanta affirms the following: 1. The unity of Existence, 2. The divinity of all individual Selves 3. The many paths lead to the same goal. 4. Sincere and earnest yearning is essential for progress. 5. The Goal of Life—Freedom, Devotion, Knowledge, and Bliss. 6. Ultimate Reality is the source and cause of the whole existence. This Reality is uncreated, self-luminous, all-pervading, and eternal. It is the only truth behind all tangible and intangible, sentient and non-sentient, and animate and inanimate things. Does it mean it is beyond our reach? No. This is the essence of and closest to us. This truth is present within our hearts, so it is accessible to all.
Practices
Whatever we are today, it is due to the effect of our past actions and accumulated impressions. Our past actions were inspired by our thoughts and beliefs. So, if we want to be a better specimen of human being, we need to improve our thoughts. Our actions will follow our thoughts, which in turn will improve our habits and then will transform our behavior patterns and character. The misery, weakness, and incompleteness that we experience today are due to the ignorance of our Real Self. The following ways are practiced to remove these weaknesses: Jnana Yoga: By cultivating the right knowledge of our Real Self. The following methods are practiced: (A)Shravana (hearing, absorbing)—repeated hearing of the Truth with one-pointed devotion that our Real nature, the innermost core, is Divine. (B)Manana (cogitation, contemplation)—removal of all doubts by positive contemplation based on robust common sense. Vedanta emphasizes leading a life of virtue and righteousness and also seeking guidance from our innermost core. Following this method one sheds off ignorance, and a strong conviction grows within for goodness and the Divinity of the Self. (C)Nididhyasana (being and becoming)—Realization comes to an aspirant based on this conviction. It is being and becoming by constant meditation on the Real Self then translating those thoughts into one's own natural behavior pattern. Bhakti Yoga: The same goal can be achieved through devotion to the personal God with nine kinds of endeavor, where wholehearted total surrender to God is the essential part. Karma Yoga: Similarly, the same goal can be achieved through selfless service to the God that resides in all beings. Raja Yoga: An aspirant may achieve the same goal by cessation of all mental waves through meditation and one-pointed concentration.
Program at the Vedanta Temple, Portland
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Open Daily even on holidays
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Daily Hours 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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Everyday from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship and Meditation
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Everyday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Evening prayers, Singing songs,
Reading from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, meditation
on Sundays: singing Rama-Nama after Vesper.
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Regular weekly classes
All are welcome
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Please check the monthly Bulletin given at the bottom of the home page for exceptions
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Sundays at 11 a.m. Srimad-Bhagavad Gita
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5:15 - 6:15 pm Guided Meditation
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Tuesdays at 7:35 pm. Sanskrit
at 7:35 pm Yogasana
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Thursdays at 7:35 p.m. Aitareya-Upanishad
From January 2026
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Fridays at 7:35 p.m. Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play
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Saturdays at 7:35 p.m. Panchadashi
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Sundays: 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. (for young and adults)
Veda Chanting and singing of Bhajans
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Links for Zoom and YouTube
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Please click the links given below for the classes on the mentioned day at Pacific Standard Time
Guided Meditation: in person
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Zoom - https://tinyurl.com/vedantaPdxZoom.
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnMUMOfVo-5fysQ125_wGYw/videos
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History of the Vedanta Society
The Vedanta Temple of Harmony
at Vedanta Retreat, 23000 Gilkison Rd, Scappoose, OR
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First Saturdays: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (April - October) Karma Yoga by the Friends of Vedanta Retreat
The Vedanta Retreat is open from dawn to dusk.
There is no need to obtain prior permission to visit it. Please browse the Retreat section for additional information and answers to your other questions.
If you are visiting the Retreat, please park your vehicle on Gilkison Road. Please do not block the two gated fire lanes at any time.
Please be considerate and refrain from bringing pets.
Other Weekly Programs
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​1st Saturday - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (April - October)
Karma Yoga by the Friends of Vedanta Retreat
2nd Sunday - 5 pm. -6 p.m.
Serve God in Man Food offering
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3rd Saturday - 10 a.m.
Karma Yoga Vedanta Temple, Portland
or a program at the Vedanta Retreat, Scappoose
(TBA)
4th Saturday - 10 a.m. to 1 pm - ​(TBA)
Awakening Vedantin
Or Mother's Cooking Tips
5th Saturday* - 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. (TBA)
Open Devotional Music session
at Holy Mother's House Other functions
​*occasional/ To Be Announced
For annual and monthly programs please see Annual activities and monthly bulletins below
Upcoming Special Events
​Please browse down to find the monthly calendar near the bottom.
These programs do not need registration and are free; donations are welcome.
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​On Birth Anniversaries
Puja in the morning, along with the daily Puja, reading after the Vespers
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February 1, Sunday: Birth Anniversary of Swami Adbhutananda
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Centenary Celebration: Session 7
Day 1, February 6 at 7:35 pm: Satsanga
Day 2, February 7 at 7:35 pm Satsanga
Day 3, February 8 at 11 am to 12 noon
by Swami Prapannananda, Minister in Charge, Vedanta Society of Sacramento
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February 15, Sunday: Shiva Ratri
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February 21, Saturday: Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna
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March 3, Tuesday: Dol Purnima B.A of Sri Krishna Chaitanya
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Centenary Celebration: Session 8
Day 1, March 6 at 7:35 pm: Satsanga
Day 2, March 7 at 7:35 pm Satsanga
Day 3, March 8, at 11 am, a talk
by Swami Prasaannatmananda, Minister in Charge, the Vedanta Society of Berkeley
March 27, Friday: Ram Navami
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Centenary Celebration: Session 9
Day 1, March 27 at 7:35 pm: Satsanga
Day 2, March 28 at 7:35 pm Satsanga
Day 3, March 29, at 11 am, a talk
by Swami Tattwamayananda, Minister in Charge, the Vedanta Society of San Francisco
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Centenary Celebration: Session 10
Day 1, April 11 at 7:35 pm: Satsanga
Day 2, April 12, at 11 am, a talk
by Swami Arupeshananda, Vedanta Society of Southern California
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Centenary Celebration: Session 11
Day 1, April 24 at 7:35 pm: Satsanga
Day 2, April 25, at 7:35 pm: Satsanga
Day 3, April 26, at 11 am, a talk
by Swami Kripamayananda, Vedanta Society of Toronto
A video in YouTube at the Vedanta Society of Portland
All sincere seekers are cordially welcome to participate in our programs. There is no need of obtaining prior permission to attend our programs.
A newcomer who is interested to know more about Vedantic way of life should seek an appointment with the minister between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., on weekdays. Please write an email and give 2/3 options.
Please park your vehicle at the SW side of the Vedanta Temple.
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Please visit the following websites
For Audio lectures of Swami Aseshananda Maharaj
https://soundcloud.com/user-350874388
For Videos https://www.vedanta-portland.org/video
For Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/vedantasocietyportland/ https://www.facebook.com/vedantaretreatscappoose/
http://www.vedantawritings.com/SwAseshananda.htm.
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Swami Chandrashekharananda and Swami Aparananda
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