overview of Events
Labor Day Retreat
Saturday–Monday, September 5–7, 2026
Vedanta Retreat
Olema, Marin County
FROM BONDAGE TO BLESSEDNESS:
The Spiritual Journey in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
Conducted by Swami Tattwamayananda
Saturday, September 5 & Sunday, September 6
10:00–11:30 a.m. Talk and Discussion
11:30 a.m.–12:00 noon Refreshments
12:00–1:00 p.m. Meditation
1:00–3:00 p.m. Lunch Break / Free Time
3:00–4:30 p.m. Talk and Discussion
4:30–5:00 p.m. Refreshments
5:00–6:00 p.m. Meditation
6:00–7:30 p.m. Dinner and Cleanup
7:30–9:00 p.m. Readings / Devotional Singing
Monday, September 7
10:00–11:30 a.m. Talk and Discussion
11:30 a.m.–12:00 noon Refreshments
12:00–12:30 p.m. Meditation
12:30 p.m. End of Retreat
RSVP
There is no charge, and all are welcome.
Please RSVP by August 31, 2026.
Unable to attend in person? Selected retreat sessions will also be available via
YouTube Live
.
Meals
Participants should bring their own lunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Dinner will be provided on Saturday and Sunday, and lunch will be provided on Monday.
Those who prefer to purchase lunch on Saturday or Sunday may find dining options in Olema,
Point Reyes Station, and Inverness.
Overnight Accommodations
A limited number of overnight accommodations are still available for devotees at the retreat.
Please email Preetiprana at [email protected] to inquire about availability and reservations.
Families wishing to stay together may also consider hotels, inns, vacation rentals,
and Airbnb accommodations in the Olema–Point Reyes–Inverness area.
Change in Summer Bookshop Hours
The Bookshop will be closed August 2–28, 2026.
Online orders placed during this period will be processed beginning August 29.
From August 29 through September 12, the Bookshop will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Summer Recess Notice
Monday, June 29 – Saturday, September 12, 2026
There will be no lectures or classes during the summer recess.
However, we will continue to have vespers (arati) on Wednesday evenings.
Services will resume on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Latest Quotes
Reflect on these inspiring spiritual thoughts and share them with family and friends.
From The Lectures Of Swami Tattwamayananda, Minister-in-Charge
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Bookshop
at the Vedanta Society of Northern California
We carry a selection of the best in all the major religious traditions and contemporary spirituality; translations of Sanskrit religious classics; and many children’s books that are both attractive and meaningful.
A partial listing is given here for online ordering and many more are available in the bookshop itself. Inquiries are welcome.
Explore the Monastic Life
“For One’s own enlightenment and for the good of the world.”
– atmanamokshartham jagad hitaya ca
The Motto of the Ramakrishna Order (a traditional monastic order founded by Sri Ramakrishna in 1896; Organized by Swami Vivekananda in 1897).
In pursuit of this ideal, monastic life includes a variety of spiritual practices, such as meditation, worshipa, and scriptural study, as well as routine tasks of maintenance and service. For those interested and qualified, the monastic path may be meaningful and fulfilling. A monastery and convent are maintained by the Society, giving an opportunity to qualified young men and women to devote themselves exclusively to spiritual life.
My child, you have been extremely fortunate in getting this human birth. Have intense devotion to God. One must work hard. How can one achieve anything without effort?
- Holy Mother
Rely on Him, be like the dry leaf at the mercy of the wind.
- Sri Ramakrishna
