The Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg opening service for the 2025-2026 season will be held on Sunday September 7, 2025. We are happy to welcome everyone back after the summer recess.
The Center is continuing with our Monday evening chanting class. The class will be held in Mother’s House – 176, 19th Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, at 7:00 PM.
We are also continuing with our Wednesday evening scripture class. This class will be held in the Chapel at 7:00 PM. The scripture class will be on studying the Bhagavat Gita and the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna on the last Wednesday of the month. The Sunday morning service and the Wednesday scripture class shall also be made available live via Zoom platform.
ALL CLASSES ARE GIVEN BY SWAMI ISHTANANDA EXCEPT MENTIONED OTHERWISE
Sunday Lectures – 11:00 A.M.
| Jan. 4 | Seeking of Unknown God |
| Jan. 11 | The Divine Messenger |
| Jan. 18 |
Swami Vivekananda in Northern California Special Guest: Swami Prasannatmananda, Berkeley, CA |
| Jan. 25 | Happiness is for the Wise |
Special Event – Saturday, Jan. 10th 6:30 p.m.
Birthday of Swami Vivekananda celebrated at Panton House
Monday evening chanting class
The class will be held in Mother’s House – 176, 19th Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, at 7:00 P.M.
Special Class – Monday, Jan 19th:
Vedanta in California stories: Special talk by Swami Prasannatmananda, Vedanta Society, Berkeley, CA
****************
Wednesday Evening Scripture Class
December 3,10, 17 – Bhagavat Gita
No class on Dec 31st
This class will be held in the Chapel at 7:00 PM.
******************
Special Events
Dec 11th (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. Sri Sarada Devi Birthday Celebrated at Panton House (216 19th Ave. SE, St. Petersburg)
Dec 24th (Wednesday) at 6:30 pm Christmas Eve Celebrated at Panton House
Inspirational Thoughts
What is the best time for practice in yoga? The junction time of dawn and twilight, when all nature becomes calm. Take the help of nature. Take the easiest posture in sitting – the ribs, the shoulders and the head – leaving the spine free and straight, not leaning backward or forward. Then mentally picture the body as perfect, part by part. Then send a current of love to all the world. Then pray for enlightenment.
**********
The same faculty that we employ in dreams and thoughts – namely imagination – will also be the means by which we arrive at Truth. When the imagination is very powerful, the object becomes visualized. Take up an idea, devote yourself to it, struggle on in patience, and the sun will rise for you.
**********
The purer the mind, the easier it is to control. Purity of the mind must be insisted upon if you would control it. Do not think covetously about mere mental powers. Let them go. One who seeks the powers of the mind succumbs to them. Almost all who desire powers become ensnared by them.
Every wave of passion restrained is a balance in your favor. It is therefore good policy not to return anger for anger, as with all true morality.
**********
Never talk about the faults of others, no matter how bad they are. Nothing is ever gained by that. You never help one by talking about his faults. You do him an injury and injure yourself as well. You cannot judge a man by his faults. Remember, the wicked are always the same all over the world. The thief and murderer are the same in Asia and Europe and America. They form a nation by themselves. It is only in the good and the pure and the strong that you find variety. Do not recognize wickedness in others. Wickedness is ignorance, weakness. Wat is the good of telling people they are weak? Criticism and destruction are of no avail. We must give them something higher. Tell them of their own glorious nature, their birthright.
**********
Never quarrel about religion. All quarrels and disputations concerning religion simply show that spirituality is not present. Religious quarrels are always over the husks. When purity, when spirituality goes, leaving he soul dry, quarrels begin and not before.
**********
–Swami Vivekananda