Introduction To Ananda Ashrama
Overview • Purpose • Vedanta Philosophy

VISWAMANDIR
(Temple of the Universal Spirit)

Viswamandir is dedicated to all of the world's great religions. Each is represented by stained glass windows, symbols, statues and scriptural quotations. The California Temple was built in 1928 under the direction of our founder, Swami Paramananda. Our Cohasset Temple was dedicated in 1959 on the 50th anniversary. It was designed by Srimata Gayatri Devi

ANANDA ASHRAMA was founded in Southern California in 1923 by Swami Paramananda as an extension of the Vedanta Centre in Boston. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, at an altitude of more than 2000 feet, the ashrama covers 120 acres of hillsides, canyons and meadows. Trees, gardens and rock-lined pathways provide a peaceful retreat for spiritual study and prayer.

The ashrama is a non-sectarian place of worship dedicated to all the religions of the world, where people of different faiths may come together and worship the One Spirit Who is called by many names. Our philosophy is based on the universal teachings of Vedanta as expounded by India's 19th century mystic and world teacher, Sri Ramakrishna. His chief disciple Swami Vivekananda brought Vedanta to the West in 1893.

The Vedanta Centre of Boston was founded in 1909 by Vivekananda's youngest disciple, Swami Paramananda. Another Ananda Ashrama was established on the South Shore of Massachusetts in Cohasset in 1929. This sister ashrama is now the permanent headquarters of the Vedanta Centre.

Ananda is the Sanskrit word for bliss. An ashrama is a spiritual retreat. Ananda Ashrama, therefore, is a retreat where one strives to live by and practice spiritual life in order to realize the joy of the Divine.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the centers in the United States is to present authentic knowledge of Indian philosophy, as well as to stimulate better understanding between the East and West on a spiritual basis. Through our services and classes, we emphasize practice of the universal truths taught in all great religions: love and service together with study, prayer and meditation. Our primary aim is to stress the life of selfless dedication and to create an atmosphere of serenity and peace. We also have two sister ashramas in Calcutta, India. The mission of these ashramas is to train and serve destitute women and children through schools, an orphanage, and a shelter.

VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY

Vedanta comes from the Sanskrit words Veda (wisdom) and Anta (end) and signifies Supreme Wisdom. It is applied to the spiritual revelations of the great sages of ancient India as recorded in the final part of the Vedic scriptures known as the Upanishads. Dealing with the fundamental principles and the practice of spirituality, rather than with dogmas, rituals, or personalities,

Vedanta is the philosophical basis of most Indian traditions, regardless of sect or creed. Vedanta strives to be free from sectarianism and exclusiveness with an infinite scope for tolerance. Vedanta does not believe in converting from one form of faith to another, but it seeks to help each one to follow his or her own religious faith with whole-heartedness. Modern Vedanta teaches that all religions are paths leading to the same goal. "By whatsoever path men and women seek Me, even so do I reach them." Bhagavad Gita.

The comprehensive system of spiritual practice which it offers is known as Yoga. The term is from the same Sanskrit root as the English word "yoke" and means union between the soul and God. Yoga is typically divided into four main paths to suit the varying temperaments of human beings. These paths are karma yoga (selfless work), bhakti yoga (devotion), jnana yoga (philosophic discrimination) and raja yoga (concentration and meditation). Through them, one may attain the highest realization.

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