Spiritual Evening Discussion
Friday 9 September, 7.00 – 8.45 pm
Join us for Silent Meditation at Vedanta Hall, 15 Liverpool Road, Croydon, from 7 pm
or via Zoom from 7.30 pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88434388900
Themes for Discussion:
- Art of Attention Path to Inner Calm: Through a ‘daily resolve to concentrate on our goals,’ through a planned routine, through taming the restless, relentless drive of modern life, we must settle into a yogic awareness; cultivating positive attitudes of gratefulness, contentment and compassion, seeking a simplified way of being. Nothing complicated in this, but just as the straightest line gives the greatest resistance, the path to peace and calm is littered with distractions and diversions.
- From Ordinary Mind to Dharana: The normal state of mind flitters from one disorderly thought to another. In Dharana, the prelude to the meditative state, we gradually achieve one-pointedness and the first awakening of true knowledge about ourselves and the whole of existence.
- Dhyana – Meditation: “I’m going to sit for meditation,” we tell ourselves, but what we’re really doing is struggling to concentrate the mind. Reaching a state of meditation is quite rare. It’s only when the mind succeeds in concentrating on an object unwaveringly that we enter meditation – an intensely peaceful state of being.
- Samadhi: Rarer still than meditation is the superconscious state of Samadhi. In Samadhi, there is no ‘distinction between meditator, meditation and the object of meditation – no awareness of the body or the external world. Sri Ramakrishna would frequently enter the state of Samadhi. A scientist devotee was stunned to see this and found Sri Ramakrishna’s breathing had stopped, with no pulse or response when touching Sri Ramakrishna’s eyeball, only to find him emerging soon, peaceful and full of wisdom.
Join the discussion led by Pravrajika Gayatriprana along with our special visitor, visiting senior nun from India, Pravrajika Alokaprana
Drawing on the book: Science of Happiness – According to Yoga Vedanta by Pravrajika Divyanandaprana: a compilation of her talks given to students at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi in 2018.
Pravrajika Divyananandaprana is a nun of Sri Sarada Math of the Ramakrishna Order. Thousands view her talks on YouTube.
Our discussions tap into the wisdom of major world faiths and thinkers relating them to our daily life. You’re welcome to share your insights, experiences, and doubts with the group.
