Eat to Live, Not Live to Eat

Swami Sarvapriyananda enjoying Jalebi dessert 

at the Santa Barbara Vedanta Society Temple.
He's just been reassigned to head the New York West Side Vedanta Society. 
We will miss you Swami !!!

The Light Within 

Video Talk by Swami Sarvapriyananda

Sri Ramakrishna used to say: 

“Eat as much as you like during the day, 

but eat sparingly at night.” 

Swami Brahmananda, the eminent disciple of the Master, explains the meaning of these words: The idea is that the full meal taken at noon will be easily digested, and if you eat lightly at night, your body will remain light and you can easily concentrate the mind. A heavy meal at night produces laziness and sleep. How do you want to spend the night - in sleep or in meditation? People are generally busy during the day, so it is difficult to still the restless mind at that time. But at night nature becomes calm and all creatures go to sleep. This, therefore, is the best time for meditation. Concentration becomes easily intensified in the quiet hours of the night.

The glutton who has no restraint over his palate injures his body and mind. Whenever he gets some choice food, he overeats and then suffers from breathing difficulty. His whole energy is spent in digesting that food, and if he cannot digest it, he falls ill. Foods like onion, garlic, and chili excite the body and mind so much that later one finds it extremely difficult to bring the system under control. I think that those who want to lead a spiritual life should pay special attention to what they eat and drink. Don’t overeat. Eat that food which is nutritious, easily digested and not exciting. Avoid stimulating food because it is injurious, and also avoid that food which increases lethargy (tamas). What is the purpose of food? To maintain good health and one needs good health for God-realization. Discrimination with regard to food and moderation in eating are very much connected with mastery over the senses. 

“A man who has controlled all other senses except the palate is not to be considered a master of his senses. When the desires of the palate are controlled, everything else is controlled” 
(Bhagavata, 11.8.21).   From the book ‘Meditation & Its Practices’ by Swami Adiswarananda

The Eternal Witness

Lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda

Jalebi

Ramakrishna's Favorite Dessert

Watch How to Make Sweet Dessert on YouTube

God in Every Experience
Lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda

I Am The Infinite Ocean

Look at the Ocean

Lecture by Swami Tyagananda

Yesterday

I lived bewildered,

In illusion.

But now I am awake,

Flawless and serene,

Beyond the world.

From my light

The body and the world arise.

So all things are mine,

Or nothing is.

Now I have given up

The body and the world,

I have a special gift.

I see the infinite Self.

As a wave,

Seething and foaming,

Is only water.

So all creation,

Streaming out of the Self,

Is only the Self.

Consider a piece of cloth.

It is only threads!

So all creation,

When you look closely,

Is only the Self.

Like the sugar

In the juice of the sugarcane,

I am the sweetness

In everything I have made.

When the Self is unknown

The world arises,

Not when it is known.

But you mistake

The rope for the snake.

When you see the rope,

The snake vanishes.

My nature is light,

Nothing but light.

When the world arises

I alone am shining.

When the world arises in me,

It is just an illusion,

Water shimmering in the sun.

A vein of silver on mother-of-pearl,

A serpent in a strand of rope.

From me the world streams out

And in me it dissolves,

As a bracelet melts into gold,

A pot crumbles into clay,

A wave subsides into water.

I adore myself.

How wonderful I am!

I can never die.

The whole world may perish,

From Brahma to a blade of grass,

But I am still here.

Indeed how wonderful!

I adore myself.

For I have taken form

But I am still ONE.

Neither coming or going,

Yet I am still everywhere. . .

I am the infinite ocean.

When thoughts spring up,

The wind freshens, and like waves

A thousand worlds arise.

But when the wind falls,

The trader sinks with his ship,

On the boundless ocean of my being

He founders,

And all the worlds with him.

But, Oh how wonderful!

I am the unbounded deep

In whom all living things

Naturally arise,

Rush against each other playfully,

And then subside.

From: The Heart of Awareness 

A translation of the Ashtavakra Gita by Thomas Byrom

KAMAL

Ripkyn Strader Murphy

R.I.P.

I want to tell you about a very special 20 year old Vedanta Society devotee. Four years ago, at the tender age of 16, a beautiful sweet soul, "Kamal" came to live with the nuns at the Santa Barbara Vedanta Society temple. After finishing high school early he was granted a rare, (for an American teenager) three year, full scholarship to Vivekananda University near Kolkata run by the Ramakrishna monks. His major of concentration was "Sanskrit" and "Vedic Culture". 

While in India,  Kamal decided to start a blog about his adventures as a way to keep in touch with family and friends.    
                                          
http://ripkynkamal.blogspot.com

Take a read through his blog. The posts are very informative with lots of photos and antidotes about local customs and his new Indian life. He was a very brave and wise spirit, old beyond his years, and everyone at the Vedanta temple was so proud of his maturity and high achievements. We all had hopes he would become a full fledged monk of the Ramakrishna order someday. 

I pray his writings will inspire you like they have me. We will miss his passing but we take great comfort in knowing that he has returned to that infinite ocean of unchanging love. Now enjoying the bliss of samadhi with Holy Mother, Thakur & Narendra. Shiva, Shiva, Higher Birth!!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

EMAIL FROM KAMAL

From: Ripkyn Murphy <kamal.ripkyn@gmail.com>

Date: Saturday, June 23, 2012

Subject: Re: [India] New comment on Hey Mom, So I'm here at the University. They put....

To: <njoyart@gmail.com>

Dear Andra,

Thanks so much for putting the idea of starting a blog in my head, I think that will be the easiest way to let people know what's going on with me. Thanks also for linking my blog with yours, hopefully some people can find it and get something out of reading it. I looked at your blog and was very impressed, it's very well done and has a lot of great information on it. Vedanta needs more people like you who are willing to use the internet to spread the word to people who are searching for it.

Stay in Touch,

Kamal

Life Beyond Death 

Lecture by Swami Bhasarananda

In the words of Swami Vivekananda: 

"One day a drop of water fell into the vast ocean. 

When it found itself there, 

It began to weep and complain just as you are doing. 

The great ocean laughed at the drop of water. 

"Why do you weep?" it asked. "I do not understand. 

When you join me, you join all your brothers and sisters, 

The other drops of water of which I am made. 

You become the ocean itself. 

If you wish to leave me, 

You have only to rise up on a sunbeam into the clouds. 

From there you can descend again, 

A little drop of water, 

A blessing and a benediction to the thirsty earth."

- His Eastern and Western Admirers, Reminiscences of Swami Vivekananda, Advaita Ashrama, 1964

Article: Fear of Death 

Vedanta Society of North Carolina

OBIT
Ripkyn Strader-Murphy: 1996 – 2016 | Santa Barbara Independent

Ma Durga

To look upon God as Mother 

is the purest and highest form 

of spiritual practice.

-Sri Ramakrishna

Vande Mataram

(Translation of Bankim Chandra's song)

by Sri Aurobindo

Mother, I bow to thee!

Rich with thy hurrying streams,

Bright with thy orchard gleams,

Cool with thy winds of delight,

Dark fields waving, Mother of might,

Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams

Over thy branches and lordly streams,

Clad in thy blossoming trees,

Mother, giver of ease,

Laughing low and sweet!

Mother, I kiss thy feet,

Speaker sweet and low!

Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands,

When the swords flash out in seventy million hands

And seventy millions voices roar

Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?

With many strengths who art mighty and stored,

To thee I call, Mother and Lord!

Thou who savest, arise and save!

To her I cry who ever her foemen drove

Back from plain and sea

And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,

Thou art heart, our soul, our breath,

Thou art love divine, the awe

In our hearts that conquers death.

Thine the strength that nerves the arm,

Thine the beauty, thine the charm.

Every image made divine

In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,

With her hands that strike and her swords of sheen,

Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,

And the Muse a hundred-toned,

Pure and perfect without peer,

Mother, lend thine ear.

Rich with thy hurrying streams,

Bright with thy orchard gleams,

Dark of hue, O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair

And thy glorious smile divine,

Loveliest of all earthly lands,

Showering wealth from well-stored hands!

Mother, mother mine!

Mother sweet, I bow to thee,

Mother great and free.

Mother Durga Worship

Lecture by Swami Tyagananda

Durga Durga Ma-Ha-May-A 

Na-Mah DurgaYa

Namo Na-Mah

Pravrajika Anandaprana

62 Years of Service

Pravrajika Anandaprana Obituary

“My mind fell like a hailstone 
into that vast expanse of Brahman’s ocean. 
Touching one drop of it, I melted away 
and became one with Brahman.”

Listen to Teachings from Shankara’s Crest Jewel of Discrimination by Swami Prabhavananda

The Real Inner Temple

Devotees at Vedanta Society Temple Steps - Santa Barbara, CA

The Message of Sri Ramakrishna

Lecture by Swami Veetamohananda 

It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grander still to conquer the internal nature of man. It is grand and good to know the laws that govern the stars and planets; it is infinitely grander and better to know the laws that govern the passions, the feelings, the will, of mankind. This conquering of the inner man, understanding the secrets of the subtle workings that are within the human mind, and knowing its wonderful secrets, belong entirely to religion.  

-- Swami Vivekananda   (The Necessity of Religion - Jnana Yoga 1902 edition)

We should never for­get that our real objective is to enshrine the Lord in the heart of every man in the world, for the real tem­ple of the Lord is the human heart. There within the heart of every man the ground has to be con­se­crated, for it has been defiled by the pro­fan­ity of worldly desires and plea­sures. There on that con­se­crated ground let the tem­ple of Divine Com­mu­nion be raised and the over­flow­ing bliss of the Supreme Good reign. Infi­nite Bliss from within, that is the idea. Let the devo­tee be flooded over by this Bliss from within. Preach­ing is real only when this Bliss pro­vides for its own preach­ing. One devo­tee over­flow­ing from within with this Divine Bliss is worth a mil­lion dol­lars of pro­pa­gan­dist devices. One real tem­ple raised in the human heart is worth dozens of tem­ples built out­side. Remem­ber that our objective is really to raise the tem­ple from within. I pray that our Lord may shower His bless­ings upon you more and more, as He is doing, till your life becomes per­vaded through and through by a blessed­ness which is His love, which is He Him­self. May you be sub­merged in the real­ity of His Pres­ence. With lov­ing bless­ings to all,

Yours in the Lord,
Swami Pre­m­ananda

1861-1918

Living Inwardly 

Article by Swami Shraddhananda

Read the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Online

In the Glow

Vespers at Santa Barbara's Vedanta Society Altar

Video of Sri Ramakrishna Arati (Vespers Service) Belur Math, India

Silence.... Is the beginning and end of yoga meditation work. Sitting in silence enables us to begin to know the symphony that is present inside ourselves. Really there is no silence as we will learn when we try to sit in meditation. Our heart beats, respiration, nervous, digestive and circulatory systems all create a myriad of sounds, a mini celestial orchestra, that we can become aware of through silence. Listening is an active activity, as opposed to hearing which is a passive activity. Listening involves using our ears as an organ of consciousness to discriminate between the sounds around us. By sitting in silence it enables us to empower the act of listening. When we sit in this manner we also become aware of natures external sounds, birds chirping, wind blowing, dogs barking, clocks ticking or the hum of electrical sounds. But it is through the simple act of sitting silently in meditation and tuning into the inner world of sounds that we truly change the way our everyday perceptions and brainwaves work. In meditation we learn how to detach ourselves from the sense organs. Meditation is the time to look and listen to understand our suffering. Finally we experience an openness that helps us to realize our interconnectedness to all things.  

Swami Vivekananda writes:
"First sit for some time and let the mind run on. The mind is bubbling up all the time; it is like the monkey jumping about. Let the monkey jump as much as he can, simply wait and watch; knowledge is power, says the proverb, and that is true; until you know what the mind is doing, you cannot control it. Give it the rein. Many hideous thoughts may come into it, you will be astonished that it was possible for you to think such thoughts, but you will find that each day the mind’s vagaries are becoming fewer, and less violent; that each day it is becoming calmer. In the first few months, you will find that the mind will have a great many thoughts; later you will find that they have somewhat decreased, and in a few more months you will find they are fewer and fewer, until at last the mind will be under perfect control. But we must patiently practice every day."

This is where Arati/Vespers comes in handy. From my own experience, I find Vespers a very effective way to transition from my busy work day into the contemplative state of evening meditation. While sitting in the silence of the temple, I listen to the Santa Barbara Vedanta Society Nuns sing three beautiful Sanskrit hymns and become a watchful witness to the closing ritual of dusk. This allows my soul to unload much of it's hurried material world burdens and relax in the loving unity of the oneness. 

The Power of Silence lecture by Swami Chetanananda

Meditation Alters Genes

The Power of Silence 

Article by Pravrajika Bhavaprana 

Remembering Swami Swahanandaji

Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple Altar
(June 29, 1921 - October 19, 2012)

Time or space does not separate Guru and Disciple. 

He will continue to guide us even after his death.

Do you want a "nambi-pamby" mother 

or do you want a mother who will fight for you?

- Swami Swahananda used to say in reference to Mother Durga and Mother Kali -

Video Tribute for Swami Swahananda - San Diego Vedanta Temple

Puja Season

Mahisasura Hymn to the Divine Mother Durga

O' daughter of the mountains, 
who makes the whole world happy, 
who makes all the universe rejoice, 
who bestows boons upon the gods, 
who defeats the undisciplined, 
who tolerates the ignorant, 
who is ever rejoicing,
who nourishes the three worlds,
who pleases Shankara,
who removes sins,
who inhabits the sound Om,
whose wrath befalls the progeny of the demons,
who destroys those drunk on the intoxicant of pride,
who is daughter of the Ocean.
O' mother of the world, my mother
Victory, victory to Thee,
O' slayer of the Buffalo demon,
Victory, daughter of the Himalayas, 
with beautifully plaited hair.

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Read Online

Ramakrishna and His Disciples

Swami Vivekananda     --     Sri Ramakrishna      --      Swami Brahmananda

Pray constantly with a pure sincere heart:

"O Lord I don't know what is good and what is bad for me.

I am entirely dependent on you.

Grant me everything I need for spiritual life.

Take me along the path that will bring me the greatest good.

Give me the faith and strength to remember you

and meditate on you constantly."

- Swami Brahmananda -

The Teachings of Swami Brahmananda lecture by Swami Tyagananda

Homa Fire

 Pravrajika Vrajaprana performs Homa Fire Ceremony

Heart strings awaken
Divine melody
Senses reveal
Timeless being within

Stay aware luminous
Atman inside source
Grounded warm nourished
Teachings Mother's milk

Attain here infinite
Wonder content known
And knower dance on
Tip of Brahman's flame

Mirrored in Gaia's sphere
Celestial multitudes
Hold space for awareness
Transport glow of ages bliss

Into being sattva, rajas, tamas are
Awaken consciousness
Be my meditative puja joy
Forged in copper

Quiet changeless breath
Energy found
Love unconditional
Take me home

Om shanti, shanti, shanti, Om

- Andra Rubcic

Holy Mother Puja

Sri Sarada Devi

"Don’t be afraid. Human birth is full of suffering and one has to endure everything patiently, taking the name of God. None, not even God in human form, can escape the sufferings of body and mind. I tell you one thing my child — if you want peace, do not find fault with others. Rather, see your own faults. Learn to make the world your own. No one is a stranger, my child; the whole world is your own."
(From Sri Sarada Devi’s last words, spoken before passing away on July 21, 1920)

Ramakrishna Puja

An essential part of puja for the Hindu devotee is making a spiritual connection with the divine. Most often that contact is facilitated through an object: an element of nature, a sculpture, a vessel, or a painting.  This icon is not the deity itself; rather, it is believed to be filled with the deity's cosmic energy. The objects are created as receptacles for spiritual energy that allow the devotee to experience direct communication with his or her gods. Puja is the act of showing reverence to a god, a spirit, or another aspect of the divine through invocations, prayers, songs, and rituals. Sat Chid Ananda Guru. Happy Birthday Ramakrishna!

Vivekananda Puja

VIVEKANANDA

Sri Ramakrishna's life-breath, 

Sri Ramakrishna's supreme gift to mankind, 

Sri Ramakrishna's victory-song all-where! 

The victory-world's delight you were; 

Lo, the cyclone-valour of the Absolute! 

You awakened your slumbering India, 

You awakened humanity's sleep. 

In you blossomed the Form Universal. 

O hero-warrior sannyasin, 

In the core of the creation, 

Sleeplessly shall burn 

The incense of your self-offering.

by Sri Chinmoy

http://www.srichinmoy.org/sri_chinmoy/

Holy Mother Puja

As one gets the fragrance of a flower by handling it, 

or as one gets the smell of sandalwood by rubbing it against a stone, 

in the same way one gets spiritual awakening by constantly thinking of God. 

But you can realize Him right now, if you become desireless.

- Sri Sarada Devi (1853 - 1920)