Christmas,
2009/New Year, 2010
Dear Friends at Home and Abroad:
"It
is only through the life that we can prove the
truth of a Savior’s message. We must not
only hear His words, but assimilate them; and
assimilation requires practice, leading an inner
spiritual life. Christ declared that not those
who merely cry, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will
enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but those who do
God’s will. Buddha taught His disciples
never to try to convert by words, but by holy
acts because He knew that the only true help lies
in converting a person’s soul to righteousness,
not merely in changing his or her faith from one
form to another. Living the life is what every
Savior preaches…infilling each thought,
deed and word with spiritual power.”
--- Swami
Paramananda, 1917
On Sunday, January
25th we began a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary
of Swami Paramananda’s work in the United States
which began with the founding of the Vedanta Centre
of Boston in 1909. Our celebrations took place on both
coasts and included visits from Dr. Prabir Guha Thakurta,
Swami Paramananda’s nephew, who shared the history
of the family. He and other family members sang Swamiji’s
favorite Bengali songs. We showed archival films of
Swamiji and the early days; shared the lives of the
pioneer sisters beginning with Sister Devamata, accompanied
by archival photographs; held 100th anniversary kirtans
with ashrama musicians from around the country; prepared
and served 100th anniversary Bengali feasts using Swamiji’s
and Mataji’s delectable recipes. In addition,
we had a 100th anniversary 2009 calendar with photos
of both ashramas, offered 100 jars of organic Temple
Hill rosemary and created 100th anniversary lotus pendants
based upon Swamiji’s design. I gave the vows of
Sannyas to Sr. Kathakali, Sr. Murti Mata and Brother
Ahimsa.
There is no doubt
that prayer makes a difference! Thanks to prayers around
the world, the California ashrama was spared from one
of the worst fires in Southern California history, even
though 250 square miles, including our surrounding hillsides,
were charred. Following the fire, floods and mudslides
are the big threat. Under the direction of the government
authorities and a civil engineer we hired, the community
has worked tirelessly to do all the huge earth-moving
and piling of more than 160 tons of rocks in protective
barriers. Your prayers are still needed.
We wish you a most blessed New
Year. Please check our websites for announcements so
that you can join us for upcoming celebrations.
Rev. Mother Sudha Puri and the community of Vedanta
Centre and Ananda Ashrama, La Crescenta, CA.
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