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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