Newsletter • November 2023 | |
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"Every one of us carries within, the hidden memory of that first sunrise, and even beyond it, into the darkness of antiquity. We are, by means of this primordial memory, which is part of our human heritage, intimately connected to all forms of life.."
-- Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
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UPCOMING!
New Fall course:
PROUT's Ecological Philosophy
more info here
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Let Us Move Together
free monthly program on Zoom
The next program will be Nov. 4th.
Stay tuned for details!
9:00 am Pacific
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The Let Us Move Together program on Nov. 4th features Liisa Kannisto, who will give a program on Future Visions. Click on the poster below for more information. | |
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Join our spiritual community events!
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Ohio
The Ananda Seva Ohio meditation group Led by Ac. Giriisha remains active.
Regular Saturday meditation for new people continues at 10:00 am ET with music and a discussion of a spiritual topic.
Contact Ac. Giriisha for more info.
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Oregon
The Dharmalaya Community in Eugene, Oregon participated in the First Annual BEAM Bright parade in downtown Eugene, Oregon. on Oct. 13th.
The offering was well received by the community. Lokesh drummed while Rob and Gayatri played "This Little Light of Mine" and everyone sang the tune alternating between "Baba nam kevalam" and "This little Light of Mine" lyrics. People along the route cheered and sang along. It was upliting and helped give visibility to the Dharmalaya community. Ac. Kaverii's photo made it in the paper!
| The Eugene community enjoyed a "Gratitude" retreat at the Oregon coast. The beautiful weather contributed to relaxing walks on the beach, deep connecting and community building. We enjoyed a sattvic feast, lovely music and mediation! | |
Click on photo below for video of the BEAM Bright parade! | marching in the BEAM Bright parade | volunteering at the BEAM event | having fun at the Green Salmon during retreat | |
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Ac. Gayatri, Ac Anandam and Kirana are working on a concert series with the intention to raise money for the homeless in Eugene through a number of house concerts. Stay tuned for more news about this exciting project!
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The Washington D.C. Ananda Seva group hosts a dharmachakra weekly on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 pm Eastern. See East Coast dharmachakra below for more details.
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IIn this 5-week course series, you’ll learn essential tools for your spiritual journey. These classes are designed to help you develop a meditation practice and explore practical techniques for finding stillness. The tools you’ll learn are derived from the Yogic tradition and adapted for our time and cultural context. Click here to learn more about meditation.
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Ananda Seva Ottawa, led by Ac Chandranatha, is now having in-person group meditations in addition to the regular guided mediations on Zoom. People from California, Oregon and Montana are joining the online weekly Wednesday class.
Follow Ottawa Meditation on facebook for all events and classes.
Contact Ac. Chandranatha for more info.
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Weekday Morning Kiirtan & Meditaiton
Every weekday morning
at 7:35 am PT.
Ac. Gayatrii and others lead kiirtan, meditation, kaoshikii and a morning check-in to connect and support each other on our spiritual journeys.
Join by Zoom
passcode: Baba
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West Coast Dharmachakra
Join us for our weekly Sunday morning group meditation. This event is free and open to everyone. The program includes singing uplifting devotional songs, yogic dance, chanting, meditation, a discourse, and group discussion.
The first Sunday of the month program is followed by a sattvic vegetarian potluck..
more info here.
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EAST Coast Dharmachakra
To connect with our community in the Washington D.C. metro area please write us on our contact page at https://meditationeast.org/ .
The Wednesday program includes singing uplifting devotional songs, yogic dance (kaoshikii), chanting, meditation, a discourse, and group discussion.
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Philosophy Study Group
Please join us every two weeks on Zoom to discuss Shrii Shrii Anandamurti's writings. We choose 3 to 4 discourses, (currently from "Problems of the Day) and discuss these in a congenial setting. Participants are free to share what they found relevant, interesting, and meaningful which will deepen our understanding of the material and make them relevant to the progress of our spiritual lives. Participants must have access to the Electronic Edition compendium of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti's writings.
We'd love to have you join us!
— Ac. Jayadeva
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If you have questions and wish to join, please email Jayadeva at:
Jayadevaasm@hotmail.com.
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The latest initiative by the PROUT Café is called "PROUT Bites". These are short videos that illustrate a bite-sized PROUT concept.
Check out the newest PROUT Bite here..
Visit the PROUT Café for interviews and other PROUT "snacks".
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PROUT
Ravi's article, Beyond Greening of Capitalism, was published as the cover story in the September issue of
PROUT magazine.
Click photo below to link to the issue.
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Projects
Ac. Ammadevi spearheaded a project called Community Driven Recovery and Transition (CDRT).
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The first phase of the project culminated with a presentation on the group's process and results on June 24th at Dharmalaya
See video of presentations here.
If you are interested in attending events related to this project, please
contact Ammadevi
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Click on the photo above to see what is happening in Finland.
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Andanda Seva in Maharliika
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Click on image below for video | |
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Ongoing Service Projects in Maharliika (Philippines)
Ac. Atma Jyoti works tirelessly in Maharliika with a tribal population that has, by and large, been forgotten by the government and large aid agencies. If you would like to support these ongoing efforts, please make a tax deductible donation via our website. Choose "support for Maharliika service projects" in the drop down menu.
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"Health for Humanity"
click on photo below to read article
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Ananda Seva Educational Opportunities
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Instructor: Ravi Logan
Description: 4 month course
Date/Time: Sept. 23 - Dec. 16; 9:00 am PT
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Instructor: Ravi Logan
Description: 90 minute class
Date/Time: Oct. 14th at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET
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Instructor: Acharya Board
Description: 90 minute class
Date/Time: Nov. 11th at 9 am PT / noon ET
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Opportunities to learn at your own pace and time: | |
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NEW ON TEACHABLE
Transformation Education Teachable site gives you the opportunity to take on-demand courses at your own pace. We now have 16 classes up on the platform covering a variety of topics.
Featured Class this Month:
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With the defects of democratic political systems becoming painfully evident — particularly in the United States — this two-class series on PROUT’s political system offers timely understandings of how political systems can be progressively reformed.
This course explores topics such as:
- economic democracy vs political democracy
- selectoral-electoral system
- compartmentalized democracy
- strengthening the electorate
- planetary confederation
- the archetype of moral leaders
- sector-based representation
- the core rights undergirding political constitutions
These classes give a vision of the political system needed for a new era in which political institutions serve people, communities and the planet, and in which leadership is drawn from the best of humanity.
This course is taught by Ravi Logan
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!
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Ac. Ammadevi:
The book that I think may be the most inspiring right now is Humankind, A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. I'm also sending a book review from the Guardian
Kirana Perkins
I'm reading quite a few novels, but re inspirational books/articles, I've appreciated The Age of Overwhelm by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky; We Need New Stories by Nesrine Malik; and Welcome the Unwelcome by Pema Chodron. All three address big challenges in our world, but I find reading about it head on and hearing different approaches to dealing can feel supportive and helpful. But they aren't books I've read straight through--they are ones I dip into.
An article I am grateful for is this one in the Atlantic. It's also a difficult subject--looking at the awful situation in Israel/Palestine...but it gives such a deep and balanced view of the history and complex issues that I wish everyone had access to it and read it: https://archive.ph/2023.10.28-222013/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/decolonization-narrative-dangerous-and-false/675799/
If you are reading something that inspires you, please email your recommendation to Madhu for next month's newsletter.
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Art for Service & Blessedness
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"The artists or writers, before holding their brush or pen, should look around and assess the direction in which society is moving and the basic causes of its weakness. What are the “isms” that have supplied impetus to evil ideals? It is not enough to look around; they may also have to take a firm stand against the apparently irresistible forces of destruction.."
– Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
Abhimata, The Opinion
Artistic expression has always been integral to human evolution. The artists spark the imagination and pave the way for new ideas to flourish. Can you imagine a revolution with no songs to rally the people? The energy stirring beneath the earth now calls us to connect with that Divine Source and draw inspiration to birth a new society. How will you use your creative energy to support that flow?
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Art by Robert Bolman
Industrial Detritus Sedimentation
Rob, a member of the Dharmalaya Community, expresses his desire to uplift humanity through his thought-provoking industrial art that offers commentary on true sustainability.
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Click on image below to listen to "Clear and True" an original song by Ac. Anandam (Albert Perkins), | |
SUPPORT OUR OUTREACH AND SERVICE EFFORTS | | | | |
