Vedanta Society Of Southern California, Ramakrishna Monastery
| Ramakrishna Monastery, Vedanta Society of Southern California | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Ramakrishna Order |
| Region | Orange County |
| Year consecrated | 1949 |
| Location | |
| Location | 19961 Live Oak Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon, California |
| State | California |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°40′24″N 117°36′37″W / 33.6734182°N 117.6101414°W |
| Website | |
| Ramakrishna Monastery, Trabuco Canyon | |
Consecrated on September 7, 1949 by Swami Prabhavananda, the Ramakrishna Monastery is located on a 40-acre property in the rolling hills of Trabuco Canyon, California. It bears the name of the great Indian mystic, Sri Ramakrishna, founder of the Ramakrishna Order of India.
The Ramakrishna Monastery is part of the Vedanta Society of Southern California and is a Western branch of the Ramakrishna Order of India.
Facilities & Activities
The Shrine is still the center of life at the Ramakrishna Monastery and its sanctity is even more tangibly felt after fifty years of meditation and prayer. The monastic routine begins with the ringing of the morning bell at 6 a.m. Meditation lasts from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., followed by a hearty breakfast Each monk works at various assigned tasks until stopping for noon worship. Afterward, the main meal is served, followed by a brief rest. The work routine continues until 5:30 p.m., when the monks prepare for the vespers and evening meditation. A light supper follows. In the evening a reading from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna takes place in the library. After some light conversation, the monks retire for the night.
Public lectures by monks of the Order are held in the main refectory of the monastery at 11 a.m. on Sundays from mid-September through June. On July Fourth, a special celebration is held to honor Swami Vivekananda, which attracts several hundred visitors each year.
Vedanta recognizes the truth of all religions and accepts them as but different paths to the same goal. In recognition of this, the monks designed a mile-long trail along which shrines to the world's major religions have been built. The walk takes about half an hour, and is notable for its scenic charm and serenity.
Visitors are welcome at the monastery during regular visiting hours of 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
There is also a bookstore in the monastery that carries various Vedanta books and other spiritual items. The book store is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekdays (except on Tuesdays). On weekends, the bookshop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
History
The Ramakrishna Monastery began as a dream. In 1939, Gerald Heard, an English writer and philosopher, conceived the idea of founding a religious institution devoted to the study and practice of the contemplative life. Although initially drawn to Christian mysticism and practices, Heard began a study of the Vedanta philosophy under the guidance of Swami Prabhavananda, founder of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, and was ultimately initiated by him.
Heard was also a dedicated pacifist and as World War II loomed on the horizon, he began his search for a peaceful location to build the institution he had envisioned. He discovered it in Trabuco Canyon, a then secluded area adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest some sixty miles south of Los Angeles. Construction of Trabuco College, as it was to be named, began in 1941; the College was completed and occupied the following year.
This bold experiment in living stirred tremendous interest among a number of serious intellectuals such as Aldous Huxley, John van Druten, Christopher Isherwood, and Eugene Exman, religious editor of Harper and Brothers publishers. Seminars were held, three periods of meditation were observed in the octagonal shrine building and various experiments in prayer were made. In a short time the College wa to build a fine library of mystical literature, much of which is still intact. Huxley was to make ample use of the library to write The Perennial Philosophy.
Heard's noble experiment, however, was not to last. In 1947 financial problems and diminished activities forced Trabuco College to close its doors.
Knowing the Vedanta Society was in need of a monastery, Heard generously offered the building and 300 acres of land to the Vedanta society. Hence on September 7, 1949, the monastery shrine was consecrated by Swami Prabhavananda and the Ramakrishna Monastery was born. Although a few men joined the Trabuco Monastery in the early years, the peace and solitude that the monastery offered were soon to draw others from various walks of life. Regardless of their backgrounds, all came with a similar purpose - to live a more fulfilling spiritual life in a community setting.
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