Special Notice
Based on CDC Recommendations
The VEDANTA TEMPLE and the RETREAT TEMPLE are CLOSED TO VISITORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Special Events
At the Vedanta Temple, Portland
Birth Anniversary of Krishna Janmashtami
Tuesday August 11, 2020
We have following online services
Please send us a request at vedantapdx@gmail.com to have a link by those who are not yet included and are interested to have a class.
Sundays at 11 a.m. : Bhagavad Gita (simple version)
Mondays at 7:35 p.m. : Sanskrit (limited)
Tuesdays at 7:35 p.m. : Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali
Thursdays at 7:35 p.m.: Katha Upanishad (simple version)
Fridays at 7:35 p.m. : Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play
Saturdays at 7:35 p.m. : Vivekachudamani
Vedanta Retreat, Scappoose
There is no need to obtain a prior permission to visit the Vedanta Retreat in Scappoose. Please park your vehicle at the Gilkison Road if you are visiting the Retreat.
Please do not block the entrance at any time. Please browse the Retreat section for your other questions and important information.
Daily Hours :
8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Morning Worship and Meditation
On all days from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Daily Evening prayers
On all days from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Singing songs, readings from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and meditation)
Weekly (check monthly calendar for exceptions)
Sundays
Lecture Service 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Guided Meditation session 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Rama-Nama after Vesper singing
Mondays
Sanskrit Class for Beginners 7:35 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Tuesdays
Class on Yogasutras 7:35 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesdays (now suspended)
Free Yoga Classes 7:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursdays
Class on Upanishad 7:35 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fridays
Sri Ramakrishna and His 7:35 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Divine Play
Saturdays
Class on Vedanta scripture 7:35 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Monthly
1st Saturday - Karma Yoga by the Friends of Vedanta Retreat (April - October)*
2nd Saturday - Karma Yoga - in Main Temple*
3rd Saturday - Antar Yoga 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (TBA)
4th Saturday - Other Programs (TBA)
5th Saturday* - Open Devotional Music session in Holy Mother's House from 5 -6 p.m. and other functions (TBA)
* occasional/to be announced
* From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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 give 2/3 options. Please park your vehicle at the SW side of the Main Temple.
What is Vedanta?
Vedanta is the essence or the gist of knowledge enshrined in the Vedas, the sacred and the most ancient scriptures of India. These scriptures were revealed to pure hearted seers (Rishis). It is the broadest religious philosophy and universal way of living.
Vedanta and Hinduism: Vedanta is the philosophical foundation of Hinduism. While Hinduism includes aspects of Indian culture, Vedanta is universal in its application and is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds. Vedanta affirms -
1. The unity of Existence,
2. The divinity of all Souls,
3. The harmony of all religions and basis of all ways of life.
4. The Ultimate Reality is the source and cause of the whole existence.
5. This Reality is all-pervading, uncreated, self-luminous, eternal, and the final cause of the universe. It is the only Truth behind all tangible and intangible, sentient and non-sentient, animate and inanimate. Does it mean it is beyond our reach? No. He is present within our hearts.
Essential Teachings: According to Swami Vivekananda - "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."
Our birthright: Everyone can and should experience God as tangibly as ‘a fruit lying on the palm of one's own hand’ because that is his Real identity. To be perfect, one’s higher nature is to be manifested by conquering the lower nature borne out of one’s desires for worldly objects. By getting rid of these desires which cling to one’s heart, a mortal becomes immortal in this very life. Through the experience of God, one's doubts about oneself disappears totally, the 'knots of the heart are cut asunder’ and he achieves immortality. The attainment of immortality is not the prerogative of a chosen few but the birthright of all. This is the conviction of every follower of Vedanta.
Realization is essential: From the religious standpoint Advaita Vedanta is monotheistic and from the philosophical standpoint it is Non-dualistic. Additionally it admits all other views such as Qualified Non-dualism and Dualism etc. According to Vedanta, religion is experiential and not mere acceptance of certain time-honored dogmas, doctrines or creeds. To know God is to be one with Him. One may study scriptures, engage in rituals, perform social services, or pray with regularity, yet unless one is lifted to the Divine awareness in one’s own heart, he/she is still a phenomenal being and a victim of distorted identity.
Unity in diversity: The Vedanta philosophy asserts that God, individual Self and this seemingly diverse universe are essentially one. The apparent distinctions are being created by names and forms which do not exist when seen from the Ultimate standpoint. According to Vedanta, the Existence is non-dual and Truth is universal. Therefore all religions and all isms (Dualism, Qualified non-dualism and Non-dualism) are so many paths to reach the supreme Goal and are true. Accordingly various deities of the different faiths are in fact diverse manifestations of the same God. In modern times Sri Ramakrishna, a God-Man from India realized these truths in His own life by practicing various paths one by one and taught the world through His disciples.
