Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North Carolina

1
Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North Carolina
Sri Ramakrishna
Sri Sarada Devi
Swami Vivekananda
2
What is VEDANTA ?

• Vedanta (literally the end or knowledge portion
  of the Vedas) is one of the world's most ancient
  religious philosophies and one of its broadest.
  Based on the Vedas, the Upanishads and Bhagwad
  Gita, Vedanta is a philosphical manifestation of
  Sanatana Dharma (eternal truth) and affirms the
  oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul,
  and the harmony of religions.
• 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.
• Vedanta is a way of living and realizing. It
  gives full freedom to each individual to evolve
  morally and spiritually according to his or her
  own faith and conviction.
• In the modern times, the Vedantic principles
  have been exemplified in the lives of Sri
  Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami
  Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda coined the term
  Practical Vedanta to emphasize the practice of
  Vedanta in every aspect of our daily lives.

3
History

• In the US, organizations with spiritual
  affiliation to the Ramakrishna Order are often
  referred to by such names as Ramakrishna or
  Vivekananda Centers, or Vedanta Societies.
• They were first organized by Swami Vivekananda
  and the first Vedanta Center was opened in New
  York in 1894.
• Today there are Centers in many of America's
  major cities, including New York, Boston,
  Providence, Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas,
  Washington D.C., Seattle, Portland, San
  Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, and Hollywood.
• Because of their belief in the underlying truth
  of all religions, the Centers of the Ramakrishna
  Order attract people from different philosophical
  temperaments and different religious beliefs.

4
WHY ?

• Association satsang, Ramakrishna Mission,
  like-mindedness
• Demand spiritual hunger, ve influence on kids
• Community service giving back, self-development
• Global appeal universality, interfaith
  relations
• Location 5 hrs to Maryland is too far

5

• The Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of North
  Carolina has been registered as a Non-Profit
  Organization in the State of North Carolina on
  January 14, 2008
• The Head of the Society is Swami Swahananda

6
MISSION

• Disseminate the teachings of the Vedanta to the
  younger generation to help develop a future brand
  of service oriented community and national
  leaders with broad values of inclusivity.
• Provide an environment and facilities for
  appreciating, understanding and practicing the
  philosophy of the Vedanta as taught and
  interpreted by Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi
  and Swami Vivekananda.
• Engage in activities including public education
  and community service to practice and spread the
  message of Practical Vedanta as taught by Sri
  Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami
  Vivekananda.
• Encourage members to pursue spiritual growth
  through prayer, meditation, worship, readings,
  discourses and retreats conducted by monks and
  nuns associated with the Ramakrishna Mission and
  Sarada Math, India.

7
Guiding Principles
Sri Ramakrishna
Sri Sarada Devi
Swami Vivekananda

• If you want peace, do not see the faults of
  others. Rather see your own faults
• Jiva is Shiva. Who then dare talk of showing
  mercy? Not mercy but service
• The Vedanta must be intensely practical in
  every part of our lives

• Swami Swahananda
• Head of the Vedanta Societies of Southern
  California Greater Washington D.C.
• Seniormost monk of the Ramakrishna Mission order
  in the US
• Our main inspiration for creating this Society
• HEAD OF RAMAKRISHNA VEDANTA SOCIETY OF NORTH
  CAROLINA

8
Organizational Structure
9
How the Society will benefit you ?

• Satsang The Society will provide a common
  outlet for association and meeting with monks and
  nuns of the Ramakrishna Mission and Sarada Math
  Order
• Self Improvement The Society will provide a
  place for quiet study, meditation and research
  into Vedanta
• Group activities The Society will provide a
  common forum for weekly congregation of devotees
  for performing group worship, meditation, bhajans
  etc.
• Continuous education The Society will offer
  seminars, lectures, retreats and workshops for
  continued debate, discussion and learnings on
  Vedanta
• Volunteer opportunities The Society will
  provide opportunities for community service
  through volunteerism
• Classes The Society will offer a comprehensive
  suite of activities for children, young-adults
  and adults based on Swami Vivekanandas ideal of
  Practical Vedanta.

10
Benefits (contd.)

• For young-adults (13-20 years) and adults
• A library of relevant materials on Indian
  philosophy
• Classes on beginning and advanced Yoga
  (meditation)
• Classes on Vedanta Ramakrishna literature
  (Gita, Upanishads, Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna)
• Classes for teaching devotional songs, Vedic
  mantras
• Seminars, retreats and workshops by Swamijis and
  other speakers
• Debates, discussion groups
• Contribute articles, essays, poems on
  Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and
  Vedanta
• Community service (Food bank, soup kitchen, etc.)
• Clean and maintain property

• For children (5-12 years)
• Stories from childrens books emphasizing Indian
  mythology, culture and values
• Classes on Indian culture, religion and Vedanta
  philosophy
• Classes for teaching devotional songs, Vedic
  mantras
• Organized sports and games
• Teaching beginning practices for Yoga
  (meditation)

11
Our achievements in 2007

• Birth Anniversary Celebrations
• Swami Vivekanandas birth anniversary function
  January, 2007
• Sri Ramakrishnas birth anniversary function
  March, 2007
• Seminars
• Swami Yogatmananda From Human Being to Diving
  Being March, 2007
• Swami Swahananda Vedanta-A Daily Necessity in
  an Age of Uncertainty October, 2007
• Swami Yogatmananda Vedanta and Mental Health
  November, 2007

12
Capital Campaign - Rationale

• The Capital Campaign is an effort to raise enough
  capital to acquire a property in the name of the
  Society preferably at a location close to the
  majority of its members
• A building (focal point of assembly) is critical
  for achieving the desired objectives which
  include
• Weekly congregation and worship
• Quiet study, meditation center
• Weekly classes for children, young-adults, adults
• Public programs (seminars, retreats, birth
  anniversary celebrations, etc.)
• Living quarters for visiting monks
• Requirement Minimum 2 acres of land with a
  building

13
Capital Campaign - Status

• Target 400,000
• Raised so far 100,000
• Need to raise 300,000

Tax-deductible donations are payable to
Ramakrishna Ashrama
14
CONTACTS

• To learn more about the Society and to help,
  please contact any of the following

CONTACTS NAME PHONE EMAIL Swami
Swahananda 3234657114 swahananda_at_vedanta.org Nirma
lya Meena Ghosh 9194848983 nkghosh_at_yahoo.com Par
ag Basavdutta Ghosh 9194613837 ggtech21_at_yahoo.co
m Sujoy Debjani Ghosh 9194830803
sg45653_at_yahoo.com Umesh Usha
Gulati 9194932507 ushagulati_at_earthlink.com Amitava
Jayasri Sarkar 9193620494 asarkar_at_veetechpc.com
Narendhar Vissu Thota 9193895455 t_narendar
_at_yahoo.com Alok Karuna Uppal 9192229370 uppal_at_su
ddenlink.net
Email vedantanc_at_gmail.com