Welcome to Vedanta in Atlanta

What is Vedanta?

Vedanta means the culmination of the Vedas, the most ancient scriptures, or the Highest Knowledge pertaining to God, soul, and world. It is impersonal and experiential, for it is not based on the arbitraty authority of a person or persons, but is the record and systemization of the superconscious experiences of the Rishis (seers) of India, and the summation of the exact knowledge obtained through an investigation of the same.

Vedanta is not a creed, but is, in a sense, the foundation of all creeds and religions, inasmuch as it offers explanation of the psychological states pertaining to it, and unfolds the nature of reality in all its aspects. Vedanta does not believe in conversion, but holds that all the great religions are true and beneficial when sincerely practiced; for it has discovered that Truth is One, though it is called by various names and worshiped under different forms.

Vedanta does not believe in a negative view of life, which stresses the imperfections and weaknesses of the human being, but emphasizes that we are really --in our essential nature-- pure, perfect, blissful, omniscient, omnipotent and Divine. It seeks to bring out the Divine perfection in us and to make it bear on the affairs of everyday life, by prescribing various effective means suitable to the individual temperaments. Today, Vedanta teaches the insights of sages and mystics of the world for the benefit of people of all faiths. Vedanta has been elucidated for us by great souls who lived only decades ago, most notably Sri Ramakrishna, his companions, and the line of teachers that he inspired. Vedanta is also based on the Bhagavad Gita and other texts, including The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and the Works of Swami Vivekananda.

Vedanta Center of Atlanta

In the 1980's the Vedanta Society of Chicago sent Swami Yogeshananda to Atlanta to introduce Vedanta to the South. The word Vedanta being unfamiliar to westerners, a non-profit organization was established a few years later under the name of The Eternal Quest to promote the study and practice of Vedanta. Meetings and classes were held in various rented locations. Afterwards, with the help of friends a house was purchased in Tucker to establish a permanent center, now known as the Vedanta Center of Atlanta.

Our Director

Swami Yogeshananda is an American monk of the Ramakrishna Order, that he joined over fifty years ago. He has lived for extended periods of time in several monasteries in the US, in India and in England, before coming to Atlanta in 1992 to reestablish the Vedanta Center. Having extensively studied the religions of the world, he is in an ideal position to teach one of the core principles of Vedanta: that every religion is a valid path to the One Truth. Swami freely gives his time to hold regular classes, talks and meditation workshops (see our current schedule of events), as well as personal interviews, and he takes part regularly in interfaith dialogue.

Our Logo

or AUM, or OM, is a syllable in Sanskrit. It is an attempt on the part of the Vedic rishis (seers) to reproduce in human sound their experience of the fundamental vibration of the energy of the universe. It has become the "name of God" and so the root mantra of all mantras, and from it has been derived a profound spiritual philosophy. In our Logo an AUM has been superimposed on a dogwood blossom, symbol of Atlanta, within a border suggesting lotus petals. Design by Larry Berryman, executed in marble by Ode Droit, photographed by Ty Butler, adapted for the web by Jay Moore.

Activities of the Vedanta Center of Atlanta

To get a better idea of what the Center can bring you, please have a look at our calendar of events.

Where to find us    google map

The Center is located in Tucker, on the east side of Atlanta, 1.4 miles outside the perimeter, one block south of LaVista Rd.
From I-285, take exit 37 = LaVista Rd (GA 236) to the East (away from North Lake Mall).
Drive 1.3 miles on LaVista Rd. Pass two traffic lights: Northlake Parkway and Midvale Road.
At the third traffic light, Henderson Rd is on the left , and Brockett Rd is on the right.
Turn right on Brockett Rd, and after 50 yards turn left on Adrian St.
The Center is at the corner of Brockett and Adrian.

Driving from Lawrenceville Hwy or south Brockett Rd you may have to wait at the railroad crossing.