Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
By
Waveney Ann Moore, Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Swami Prabhananda, from left, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and Swami Ishtananda talk at the Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg on Friday. Swami Prabhananda is a world leader of the Ramakrishna Order and a leading authority on Vedanta.
St. Petersburg's mayor and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg were among those who welcomed a world leader of the Ramakrishna Order on his first visit to Florida last week.
Visiting from India, Swami Prabhananda, 75, is the general secretary of the Ramakrishna Order, which has its headquarters on the banks of the sacred Ganges River. He came to St. Petersburg to meet the swami and devotees of the small Vedanta Center that has sat inconspicuously in the Old Southeast neighborhood for almost 50 years.
Friday evening an interfaith, multicultural crowd assembled to greet Prabhananda. American converts joined India-born women in saris. The chapel's neighbors, including members of the St. Petersburg Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Bruderhof Communities, a communal religious group, also were present.
As he welcomed Prabhananda, Mayor Rick Baker, a Christian, said he was thankful for St. Petersburg's diverse faith groups and added that they shared something in common.
"It's a desire to make things better,'' he said.
Frank Biafora, dean of the college of arts and sciences for USF St. Petersburg, said he wanted to establish closer links with the center and offered the university as a place for interfaith discussions.
Prabhananda focused on a central theme of Vedanta, the harmony of all religions. He is one of the foremost authorities on Vedanta — considered both a philosophy and a religion. It evolved from the teachings of the Vedas, a collection of ancient Hindu scriptures.
Other swamis were also present Friday, including the minister of the St. Petersburg chapel, Swami Ishtananda, originally from India, and others from New York and California.
Waveney Ann Moore can be reached at wmoore@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2283.
[Last modified: Sep 07, 2008 10:29 AM]
Comments on this article
by Bev
Sep 7, 2008 10:29 AM
How wonderful it would be if all religions could work together. Prayer works for all. Thanks for what you do.
by OneGod
Sep 7, 2008 10:29 AM
Jesus Christ, the Son Of God, taught us how to live, love and attain Eternal Life in Heaven. "No one goes to the Father in Heaven but through me" He taught" Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind;love your neighbor as yourself.
by deep thought
Sep 7, 2008 10:29 AM
still don't get it do you ashley?pity,really.you need to fix you karma.as do most in this area,i'll continue to chant mantras for so many who reveal their inner torment.controll one's inner mind first and your surrounding will improve.bless you all.
by ASHLEY
Sep 6, 2008 2:44 PM
I THOUGHT THIS WAS ABOUT OBAMA AND HIS PEACE AND HIS HARMONY AND HIS WISDOM. YOU CAN SEE HAOE DISAPPOINTED I AM. I'LL NEVER READ THIS STORY AGAIN UNTIL ITS ABOUT OBAMA AND HIS VISION FOR WORLD GOODNESS AND HIS NIGHT SKY WITH TWINKLY STARS HE PUT UP.
by rastus
Sep 4, 2008 5:41 PM
as well as st,pete needs this so does a half millon other counties in america, sure hope this helps.bless all who attend the teachings,and bring your children ,,thats who needs this most,,get up off the couch and donate your time to so good for once.
by jim
Sep 4, 2008 5:11 PM
i thought this was about the swami, chris berman.
Subscribe to the Times
Click here for daily delivery
of the St. Petersburg Times.
News
