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FESTIVALS THIS MONTH:
SEPTEMBER 7: GANESH CHATURTHI
SEPTEMBER 15: ONAM
Hindu Temple of Florida:
9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; 5509 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624; (813) 962-6890.
JAIN SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY: monthly lectures by Samniji and Dev Darshan, Days Inn hotel at Fletcher Avenue and Interstate 75; call Kini Shah at (813) 503-0715 or (813) 968-4088.
Vishnu Mandir:
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday only, discourse by Pandit Vishnu Sharma; 5303 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624; (813) 654-2551
Sanatan Mandir:
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday; 311 East Palm Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602; (813) 221-4482
Shri Saraswati Devi Mandir: 9:30 a.m. to noon Sunday only; officiating priest is Pandit Purnanan Sharma; 16220 Livingston Avenue, Lutz, FL 33559; (813) 264-1539
Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; Darshan is closed
between noon and 4 p.m. but reopens at 4 p.m.; 9226 E. Fowler Ave. (between
Interstate 75 and U.S. 301); (813) 986-5473.
MANAV DHARMA ASHRAM: sumiran is from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. first Thursday
of every month; satsang is 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, followed by dinner;
yoga classes begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday; bhajans are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
every third Sunday; 7520 Caron Road, Tampa, FL 33615; call the ashram
at (813) 889-7155, Himatlal Parekh at (813) 969-1661 or Ashok Modh at
(813) 935-3439.
SHREE YAMUNA PREETI SEVA SAMAJ: Pushtimargiya Satsang Mandal invites
Vaishnavs of Tampa Bay area to weekend Satsang sabhas and kirtans; 1340
Robin Road S., St. Petersburg, FL 33707; call Smitabein Patel at (813)
961-3816 or Himatlal Parekh at (813) 969-1661.
Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area Mosque:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; 7326 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33601; Tel: (813) 628-0007
Gurudwara:
8 a.m. till 8 p.m. daily; 15302 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa, FL 33592; (813) 986-6205.
ORLANDO AREA
HINDU SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 1994 Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL 32707; (407) 699-5277.
Shri Shivdham Hindu Temple and Brahmrishi Yogashram: 7 a.m. to 1
p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily; 460 O�Berry Hoover Road, Orlando, FL 32825; (407)
380-2661 or e-mail [email protected]
GURDWARA, SIKH SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: 11:30 A.M. to 1 p.m. Sunday;
2527 W. Aloma Ave. (west State Road 426), Oviedo; (407) 805-0404.
MASJID AL-RAHIM, ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, WEST ORLANDO: five
times daily prayers and pray on Friday; 4962 Old Winter Garden Road,
Orlando, FL 32811; (407) 523-7882.
SHRI SHIVDHAM HINDU TEMPLE AND BRAHMRISHI YOGASHRAM: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily; 460 O�Berry Hoover Road, Orlando, FL 32825;
(407) 380-2661 or e-mail [email protected]
SANTOSHI MA TEMPLE: bhajan and aarti first Friday of every month; 10900
Park Ridge Gotha Road, Windermere, FL 34786; (407) 996-2830.
SHRI LAXMINARAYAN MANDIR: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday; 269 N. Klondike
Ave., Pine Hills, FL 32811; (407) 877-7916.
SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR (BAPS): 1325 W. Oak Ridge Road, Orlando, FL
32809; (407) 857-0091.
ALACHUA (ALACHUA COUNTY)
ISKCON OF ALACHUA (International Society for Krishna Consciousness):
founder is A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, P.O. Box 819, Alachua,
FL 32616; (386) 462-2017.
INVERNESS (CITRUS COUNTY)
Shirdi Sai Center: 4707 Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, FL 34452; for timings of the center and any other information, call (352) 860-2181 or e-mail [email protected]
RELIGION: IN A SERIES WISDOM OF THE �YOGA VASISTHA� By SWAMI SURYADEVANANDA
Rama was asked by his father to provide insight into his internal state of affairs. Without hesitation, Rama presented a superb analysis of life and the pitfalls based on all that he had learnt under the tutelage of teachers, the experience of his recent journey though the land and the deep pondering that followed. Rama was unable to reconcile learning with experience and found many defects in living a life of duty as expected.
Despite being well-tutored, Rama felt that there was much to be clarified. The opportunity that arose for Rama many years ago arises in each of us even today. We also are born into certain circumstances in life, society, family and provided an education before our entry into what we call �the world.� We carry with us our unique nature or impressions that have to be reconciled as the differences do not just go away. Life is a stream of change and it forces us to evolve through opposition and confrontation, to enquire into the truth and come to our own conclusions based on our experiments.
Most of the first section of the Yoga Vasistha is the presentation of Rama�s analysis and inspiring to read as we will find questions that we share but may not have put forth. Here are just few of the extensive questioning that Rama put forth for clarification:
Rama�s observations �
How is one to live a happy life in a world of unpredictability and constant change? What is correct living? What is the cause of all the suffering and sorrow in the world? The wealth that we work to acquire for a comfortable living, but it seems to be a never satisfying process that consumes us and wastes our life ultimately. In an attempt to provide for our existence, we lose the most precious years of our life since none of what is acquired externally can quench the inner pull towards knowledge of the self. As such, what is the real quality of life and how is it to be had?
Achievements of all sorts to include name and fame are stealthily accompanied by egotism; an uninvited guest who barges in to divide and breakup all that we seem to be constructing. Kith and kin turn on one another and friends turn against friends. The price paid for living a comfortable life thus seems to be too steep. Is it possible to align achievement with purpose without egotism?
The mind seems to be an enemy within as it is never satisfied and its desires and cravings are endless. Yet, this seems to be our primary faculty for envisaging life � is there another way of living without the push of the mind toward objects and people? What ultimately satisfies the mind? How is this restless mind to be controlled?
This body that we work so hard to take care of -- clothe, feed, maintain etc. -- does not seem to be grateful as it is still prone to afflictions and aging; it seems that it will one day be happy to see us leave like an ungrateful landlord.
The series of Rama�s questions are pertinent to our lives today and we will continue with this series of questions in the next issue. In the meantime, it will be of benefit to try to answer the questions ourselves and participate in the discussion that took place thousands of years ago.
Swami Suryadevananda, presently residing in St. Petersburg, is with the Divine Life Society founded by Sri Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh, India. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
Swami Suryadevananda, presently residing in St. Petersburg, is with the Divine Life Society founded by Sri Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh, India. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
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