Vedanta Center of GWDC Annual Weekend Retreat 2025
“Upāsanā for Spiritual Progress”

With featured speaker, Swami Sarvasthananda
And special guests: Dr. Jeffrey Long

Due to a scheduling conflict, our annual “Labor Day” Weekend Retreat will take place the weekend after Labor Day,  Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7 (Please see the program below). Our special guest is Swami Sarvasthananda, Minister-in-Charge, Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre in UK. His topic will be Upāsanā for Spiritual Progress. Special guest Dr. Jeffrey Long, Professor of Religious Studies at Elizabethtown College, will also participate in one of the panel discussions. The weekend program will also include a vocal concert Saturday (September 6) night by Janhavi Phansalkar on Vocals and Mallar Goswami on Tabla. Another vocal concert will be included on Sunday (September 7) afternoon.

September 6th - Saturday

10:00 am - 10:15 am
Introduction to Retreat, Opening Prayer, Opening Remarks
10:15 am - 10:45 am
Guided Meditation
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Session 1 - Upasana: A Progressive Reading of Spirit into Matter (Swami Sarvasthananda)
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Devotional Songs
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Session 2 - Upasana: Worship and Meditation (Swami Sarvasthananda)
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Tea/Coffee Break
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Session 3 - Upasana: Synthesis of The Four Yogas (Swami Sarvasthananda)
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Panel Discussion: Swami Atmajnanananda & Swami Bhaswatananda
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Arati and Meditation
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vocal Concert: Janhavi Phansalkar on Vocals and Mallar Goswami on Tabla
9:00 pm
Dinner

September 7th - Sunday

5:00 am - 7:00 am
Morning Silent Meditation in Shrine
7:30 am - 8:15 am
Morning Worship in Shrine
8:30 am - 9:30 am
Breakfast
9:45 am - 10:45 am
Session 4 - Upasana: Its Importance in the Ramakrishna Movement (Swami Sarvasthananda)
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Tea/Coffee Break
11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Panel Discussion: Swami Sarvasthananda & Dr. Jeffrey Long
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Devotional Songs
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Conclusion and Q&A: Swamis Sarvasthananda, Atmajnanananda, Bhaswatananda
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Vocal Concert: Piu Mukherjee
4:00 pm
Vote of Thanks, Group Photo