Vedanta Society of Northern California
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Monthly Reading

April 2018

Letter: “We Think We Are the Doers”

 Kankhal 10 September 1914   Dear X, . . . I am glad to know that you have learned many new ideas about karma yoga from my previous letter [27 July 1914]. It does not matter whether your actions are with desire or without desire, the main thing is: “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, […]

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March 2018

Timeless Wisdom from a Hasidic Master

Where there is not truth there is no grace. While praying, listen to the words very carefully. When your heart is attentive, your entire being enters your prayer without your having to force it. Grant me the ability to be alone. May it be my custom to go outdoors each day among the trees and […]

Read more →


February 2018

You Are Sure to Attain God

Master: “The important thing is somehow to cultivate devotion to God and love for Him. What is the use of knowing many things? It is enough to cultivate love for God by following any of the paths. When you have this love, you are sure to attain God. Afterwards, if it is necessary God will […]

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January 2018

There Is No Other Way

Sri Ramakrishna used to say, ‘God reveals himself to a devotee who feels drawn to him by the combined force of these three attractions: the worldly man’s attraction for possessions, the child’s attraction for its mother, and the husband’s attraction for his chaste wife.’ What does this mean? It means that when intense longing for […]

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December 2017

Every Duty Is Holy

It is only work that is done as a freewill offering to humanity and to nature that does not bring with it any binding attachment. Duty of any kind is not to be slighted. A man who does the lower work is not, for that reason only, a lower man than he who does the […]

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November 2017

Individuality Is My Motto

Individuality is my motto. I have no ambition beyond training individuals up. I know very little; that little I teach without reserve. Where I am ignorant I confess it as such, and never am I so glad as when I find people being helped by Theosophists, or Christians, or Mohammedans, or anybody in the world. […]

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October 2017

On Divine Mother Kali

Govinda: “Revered sir, why does the Divine Mother have a black complexion?” Master: “You see her as black because you are far away from Her. Go near and you will find Her devoid of all color. The water of a lake appears black from a distance. Go near and take the water in your hand, […]

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September 2017

Swami Vivekananda: “Fight Your Way Out”

Wisdom can be preached even on a battlefield. The Gita [Bhagavad Gita] was preached so. There are three states of mind: the active, the passive, and the serene. The passive state is characterized by slow vibrations; the active, by quick vibrations, and the serene by the most intense vibrations of all. Know that the soul […]

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July 2017

A True Teacher

First you must find a teacher, a true teacher, and you must remember that he is not just a man. You may get a teacher in the body, but the real teacher is not in the body; he is not the physical man—he is not as he appears to your eyes. It may be the […]

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June 2017

Swami Vivekananda on Equality

In what scriptures do you find statements that women are not competent for knowledge and devotion? In the period of degradation, when the priests made the other castes incompetent for the study of the Vedas, they deprived the women also of all their rights. Otherwise you will find that in the Vedic or Upanishadic age […]

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Monthly Bulletin

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Special Events

Winter Retreat: Spiritual Psychology of Mindfulness

November 21, 2019 / Peter Diao / Events

by Swami Tattwamayananda Location: Vivekananda Hall, New Temple Date: January 4 – 5, 2020 RSVPs are now closed. The retreat will delve deeper into the topic of mindfulness in its relation to spiritual psychology. Saturday, Jan. 4 10 – 11:30 a.m. Discussion 11:30 – 11:45 a.m. Break 11:45 – 12:30 p.m. Meditation in Auditorium 12:30 […]

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Memorial Day Program, May 27, 2019

April 22, 2019 / VedantaMain / Events

“The Interfaith Movement” – join us for a day of talks, music, Q&A, and meditation.

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Winter Retreat, January 5 – 6, 2019

December 5, 2018 / VedantaMain / Events

“The Vedic Way of Living” by Swami Tattwamayananda Location: Vivekananda Hall, New Temple Saturday, Jan. 5 10 – 11:30 a.m. Discussion 11:30 – 11:45 a.m. Break 11:45 – 12:30 p.m. Meditation in Auditorium 12:30 – 2 p.m. Lunch 2 – 3:30 p.m. Discussion Sunday, Jan. 6 10 – 11:30 a.m. Discussion 11:30 – 12 noon […]

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Old Temple Open House, October 13 – 14, 2018

September 17, 2018 / VedantaMain / Events

Saturday, October 13, 2018 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. On Saturday afternoon, October 13, the day of our Mother Durga worship, the Old Temple will be open to all our members, devotees, and friends. Sunday, October 14, 2018 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. On Sunday afternoon, October 14, the Old Temple will be open especially to all […]

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Labor Day Retreat, September 1 – 3, 2018

August 3, 2018 / VedantaMain / Events

“The Soul: The Eternal Witness” (Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka of Sri Shankaracharya) by Swami Tattwamayananda Vivekananda Hall, New Temple Sat., Sept. 1 & Sun., Sept. 2 10 – 11:30 a.m. Discussion 11:30 – 12 noon Break 12 – 1 p.m. Meditation 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Lunch 3 – 4:30 p.m. Discussion Monday, Sept. 3 10 – […]

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Monthly Reading

Letter: “We Think We Are the Doers”

April 8, 2018 / Temple / Monthly Reading

 Kankhal 10 September 1914   Dear X, . . . I am glad to know that you have learned many new ideas about karma yoga from my previous letter [27 July 1914]. It does not matter whether your actions are with desire or without desire, the main thing is: “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, […]

Read more →

Timeless Wisdom from a Hasidic Master

March 1, 2018 / Temple / Monthly Reading

Where there is not truth there is no grace. While praying, listen to the words very carefully. When your heart is attentive, your entire being enters your prayer without your having to force it. Grant me the ability to be alone. May it be my custom to go outdoors each day among the trees and […]

Read more →

You Are Sure to Attain God

February 25, 2018 / Temple / Monthly Reading

Master: “The important thing is somehow to cultivate devotion to God and love for Him. What is the use of knowing many things? It is enough to cultivate love for God by following any of the paths. When you have this love, you are sure to attain God. Afterwards, if it is necessary God will […]

Read more →

Vedanta Society of Northern California

2323 Vallejo Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

415-922-2323
415-922-1476 (fax)
[email protected]

MAP

About Vedanta

  • A Synopsis
  • Sri Ramakrishna
  • Sri Sarada Devi
  • Swami Vivekananda
  • Ramakrishna Order
  • Suggested Reading

Vedanta Society

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  • History
  • New Temple
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  • Retreat
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Resources

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  • USA Centers
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  • Monthly Reading

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Our Friday Bhagavad Gita classes, Saturday Upanishad classes, and Sunday lectures are now being offered online. The temple and the Olema retreat are closed until further notice. The bookshop is closed but orders can be placed online.