[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]May 12, 2019
Click for NOTES & QUOTES from the talk (PDF)
May is a month for study of Jnana Yoga (Advaita Vedanta). As a jnana yogi, you practice discrimination, reason, detachment, and satyagraha (insistence on Truth). The goal is freedom from limitation (mukti). Our teachers say that all miseries in life are caused by seeing inaccurately. An earnest and persistent jnani may break through this misapprehension (maya) and see only the Divine Presence everywhere, in everything and everyone.
When we learn to see accurately, what will we see?
Swami Vivekananda said: “Come up, O lions, and shake off the delusion that you are sheep; you are souls immortal, spirits free, blest and eternal; ye are not matter, ye are not bodies; matter is your servant, not you the servant of matter. …
“Each (one of you) is only a conduit for the infinite ocean of knowledge and power that lies behind mankind. …”
When we study the life of Sri Sarada Devi — Holy Mother — what do we find most inspiring? She worked almost continuously for others, cooking and serving meals, keeping house, mending clothing, and tenderly looking after her relatives’ children. In fact, her daily life was so taken up with these tasks that some people thought of her as nothing more than an ordinary, overworked village woman.
So how can we think of her as a conscious non-dualist? In the dead of night she could be seen counting her beads for hours on end — not for herself, but for her disciples. Then during the day, Holy Mother lovingly conducted worship of Sri Ramakrishna at appointed times. Is this not all dualism?
This Sunday morning, we’ll hear, in her own words, what Holy Mother said about her life, who she was, and what motivated her. We’ll find that her life was consciously lived for us — that she intended her efforts to be an example of love and devotion to the One Divine Presence that appears in human and other forms.
Note: There is silent meditation in the Chapel from 10:30-11am, before each Sunday’s talk. After the talk, devotees and friends meet in the Monastery from noon to 1:30pm, for tea, coffee, snacks and a continuation of our spiritual fellowship. Spiritual talks and classes are open to the public and free of charge.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https://vedantaatlanta.org/audio-archive-of-past-talks/” button_text=”Talk Archive” button_alignment=”center” admin_label=”Button – Talk Archive” _builder_version=”3.16.1″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.96)” button_bg_color=”#9f4204″ button_border_width=”4″ button_border_color=”#d59952″ button_letter_spacing=”1″ button_font=”|700|||||||” button_icon=”%%372%%” background_layout=”dark”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_sidebar area=”sidebar-1″ _builder_version=”3.16.1″][/et_pb_sidebar][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
