The Vedanta Society of Portland, Oregon is an affiliated branch of the Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, Howrah, India. The Center offers encouragement and guidance to spiritual seekers through lectures, readings, discussions, publications, rituals, Karmayoga and personal guidance based on Universal teachings of various scriptures and teachers by cultivating Self knowledge building character. Yoga is promoted for physical wellbeing and study of Sanskrit and Hindi is promoted for intellectual expansion.
Vedanta Society of Portland is maintaining a 120 acre beautiful forest sanctuary in Scappoose. It is dedicated to promote Interfaith activities by maintaining shrines of various religions and by organising Interfaith meetings inviting religious leaders from various streams. This beautiful pristine forest was developed by a band of dedicated volunteers on a clear-cut land. It is open to general public to enjoy the peace and beauty of this hallowed place. It takes a lot of resources to maintain its trails and shrines. Support from generous public and benevolent institutions will be appreciated and acknowledged. We are happy to inform all that the adjacent 169 acres landed property has also been added to the Vedanta Retreat on March 17, 2020.
The city of Portland is situated between snow-clad Mt. Hood and the Pacific Ocean and at the confluence of two perennial rivers - the Willamette and the Columbia. It is the largest city in the state of Oregon, the seat of Multnomah County in the Pacific Northwest and situated between 45.52 lattitude and - 122.68 longitude.
The Center was established in the year 1925 by Swami Prabhavananda and gradually developed into its present stature by the efforts of many illustrious monks and devotees such as Swamis Devatmananda and Aseshananda.
The Center offers encouragement and guidance to spiritual seekers through lectures, readings, discussions, publications, and personal interviews.
Special Events
At the Vedanta Temple, Portland
Special Notice
Based on CDC Recommendations
THIS VEDANTA TEMPLE IS CLOSED TO VISITORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
However we have some online services
Please select from the available ONLINE CLASSES and send a REQUEST to or Click the link below at the time given to join the class.
Sundays at 11 a.m. : Bhagavad Gita (simple version)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/99327809679?pwd=M3NRWkp0Zi9Bc0VGRWIxWFRlQjNzZz09
Meeting ID 993-2780-9679 Meeting Password 366707
Mondays at 7:35 p.m. : Sanskrit (limited)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/647307420?pwd=dlRVVGhFM3lyTktJRTRRSUhwYXpGQT09
Meeting ID 647-307-420 Meeting Password 065442
Tuesdays at 7:35 p.m. : Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/716527411?pwd=NTk2RFlhaTE1ekpSYVJjZFlyVHFIQT09
Meeting ID 716-527-411 Meeting Password 335993
Wednesdays at 5 p.m. :Classical Music concert while the musicians are available
(It will be streamed live on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/vedantasocietyportland/ )
Thursdays at 7:35 p.m.: Katha Upanishad (simple version)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/970479548?pwd=eDl6Lzl1ZWFObDlDZVJmekZ4RENLZz09
Meeting ID 970-479-548 Meeting Password 966078
Fridays at 7:35 p.m. : Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/341832402?pwd=Ry82Z1dUNnh1Q095NUN3WURJbUxIUT09
Meeting ID 341-832-402 Meeting Password 048247
Saturdays at 7:35 p.m. : Vivekachudamani
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/410610260?pwd=Zjd6d3JzcFhQTWpQaDlVcnRZZkFJdz09
Meeting ID 410-610-260 Meeting Password 531784
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 particular class.
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
Ramayana video show 7:35 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesdays
Free Yoga Classes 7:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursdays
Ishavasya 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 Panchadashi 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.
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.
From March 26, 2020
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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. It is the broadest religious philosophy and universal way of living. It 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 sitting within our hearts.
Vedanta is the philosophical foundation of Hinduism; but 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.
Unity in diversity: The Vedanta philosophy asserts that God, individual Self and this seemingly diverse universe is 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 and taught the world through His disciples.
Method: Whatever we are today is due to the effect of our past actions. Our actions were inspired by our thoughts and beliefs. So, if we want to be a better human being we need to improve our thoughts. Our actions will follow our thoughts which in turn will improve our habits and which then transform our character. The misery, weakness and incompleteness that we experience today is due to the ignorance of our Real Self.
Jnana Yoga: We can overcome these weaknesses by cultivating the right knowledge of our Real Self by following these procedures:
(A) Shravana—repeated hearing of the Truth with one pointed devotion that our Real nature, the Innermost Core is Divine.
(B) Manana—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 the ignorance and a strong conviction grows within for goodness and Divinity of the Self.
(C) Nididhyasana—Realization comes 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.
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.
Bhakti Yoga: Same Goal can be achieved through devotion to the personal God with nine kinds of endeavours where wholehearted total surrender to God is the essential part.
Karma Yoga: Similarly the same Goal can be achieved through selfless service to God in all being.
Raja Yoga: An aspirant may achieve the same Goal by meditation and cessation of all mental waves.
Teachings: The essential teachings of Vedanta, as stated by Swami Vivekananda is: "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 clinging 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.
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.
The Ramakrishna Order, with headquarters in Kolkata, is one of the largest and most respected religious orders in India and in the world. The Order was inspired by the great saint, Sri Ramakrishna, who was born in Bengal in 1836. Shortly before his passing away in 1886, Ramakrishna encouraged his young disciples to formally renounce the world by giving them the ochre cloth of renunciation. He entrusted the care of these young men to his foremost disciple, Swami Vivekananda, who later, in 1897, founded the Ramakrishna Order.
