vedantaminnesota.org

Vedanta Study Circle of Minnesota

The objective of the Study Circle is “To manifest the Divinity that is already within us” and this study circle is dedicated to bringing home this eternal message of Vedanta to humanity without discriminating about caste, culture, gender, language, nationality, or religion.

The study circle is designed to fulfill the objective through the joint study of the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, and the subsequent discussion and spiritual practice.

STUDY / PRAYER SESSIONS

Second Sunday and Fourth Sunday of every month

Venue : Devotees House @ Maple Grove, Plymouth, etc.

Timings: 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm

Vedanta Study Circle of Minnesota also conducts special puja, bhajan, chanting, reading and meditation on Thakur, Ma, and Swamiji birthdays. In addition, the spiritual retreats with Swamis will be conducted with the maximum of three in a year. Swami Ishatmananda-ji Maharaj of Chicago center provides regular and detailed guidance to this study circle and he has been conducting one retreat each year as well.

Motto of Ramakrishna Mission

Atmano mokshartham jagad hitaya cha

"For one's own salvation, and for the welfare of the world"

QUOTES OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA:

You should remember that the heart of the devotee is the abode of God. He dwells, no doubt, in all beings, but He especially manifests Himself in the heart of the devotee. The heart of the devotee is the drawing room of God.
You see many stars in the sky at night, but not when the sun rises. Can you therefore say that there are no stars in the heavens during the day? O man, because you cannot find God in the days of your ignorance, say not that there is no God.
One should constantly repeat the name of God. The name of God is highly effective in this age. The practice of yoga is not possible in this age, for the life of a man depends on food. Clap your hands while repeating God's name, and the birds of your sins will fly away.
He is born in vain who, having attained the human birth, so difficult to get, does not attempt to realize God in this very life.

Swami Vivekananda in Minnesota

WE ARE FORTUNATE MINNESOTANS!

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA, THE BELOVED DISCIPLE OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA PARAMHANSA, SET FOOT FIRST IN THE SOIL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT ST. PAUL, MN, ON JULY 30, 1893.

Swami Vivekananda, on his epic journey from Bombay in the Summer of 1893 by Steamship Empress of India, to participate in the World Religion Congress at Chicago, first arrived at Vancouver, Canada.

Then he traveled by train as follows:

JULY 25 , Tuesday: Disembarked from the ship at Vancouver Port at 7 PM. The Captain gave him a winter coat. Stopped at Victoria for quarantine purposes.
JULY 26, Wednesday: In the morning, he boarded a train of Canadian Pacific Railway at Vancouver to reach Winnipeg ( Manitoba).
JULY 27 ( Thursday) to 28 (Friday): He traveled through British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
JULY 28, Friday: Arrived Winnipeg at 10: 30 PM. Met Professor Kate San born on train, who invited Swami to visit her at Boston Massachusetts. He stayed in a Hotel at Winnipeg that night.
JULY 29, Saturday: At Winnipeg, he boarded another train at 11: 30 AM ( Great Northern Railway ) to cross Canada and enter North Dakota. He reached Grand Forks, ND at 8: 30 PM
JULY 29/30: Entered MN at Moor Head at 8: 40 PM. The train passed through Minneapolis to reach ST. PAUL UNION DEPOT ( Rail Station) on July 30 at 6:30 AM.
JULY30, Sunday: He got down in the station [ touching the soil first time in the USA] from the train ( Great Norther Pacific) [ The photographs of the Union Depot at 153 Kellogg Boulevard near the Mississippi River ].
JULY 30: He took a third train at St. Paul Union Depot ( Chicago and North Western Railway) at 7:45 AM to travel to CHICAGO.

SO SWAMIJI WAS IN THE ST. PAUL UNION DEPOT BETWEEN 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM, SUNDAY, JULY 30, 1893.