PRO VISIONS

Newsletter of the Vedanta Center of Atlanta

Pro visions is put out every other month, giving a calendar of the meetings, news of the center, something philosophical / spiritual to chew on, and a bit of poetry, quotations and (hopefully) humor. It is sent out free of charge, but donations to cover its cost are most welcome. Following are excerpts from past Pro visions.

See also our new selection of articles from past issues.

To get a free subscription, please send a request to the Center.

Question to John Dobson, (astronomer, cosmologist and telescope maker):
What do you think should be the relationship between religion and science?

J.D.: I feel that religion and science should meet and shake hands. But it won't happen until the first cause is put under our physics. If some important (well-known) physicist, say John Archibald Wheeler or Stephen Hawking, were to notice that relativity and quantum mechanics are evidence that the Universe is apparitional rather than actual, then the news would spread worldwide within a week. I used to hope that Richard Feynman would notice it, but he is gone....

Fritjof Capra wrote a very interesting book, The Tao of Physics, in which he points out the similarities in the language of the mystics and physicists. Now as I see it, the reason for the similarities is that they are both describing an apparitional world.

From a talk given in Atlanta in 1995.

From a longtime "Quester":

"For my part, over almost a decade of study, listening and reading, I had grown in understanding of the wide range of options that Hinduism opens up for the aspirant. This has been pretty 'heady stuff' for those of us nurtured in a more restrictive, narrower discipline. It has served the purpose for the bhakti nature to deepen the meaning of worship and faith, and for those of us with other needs, it has been like a rush of fresh air in a stifling room. Nowhere in our Western churches is allowance made for non-dualistic approaches."

The search that every seeker gives a name
With which so many preconceptions came
Embodies history's epithets and dreams
So many prophets and their words.
It seems rational now for us to simplify.
If not claim truth, at least not falsify.
We will with God's grace try to do our best
Let's call our search then: the Eternal Quest!

 

Chicago is finally waking up. After a century of ignoring his presence in the city, citizens are placing a bronze plaque with the above inscription in the Art Institute and re-naming a section of Michigan Avenue "Swami Vivekananda Way."