HISTORY

The Vedanta Society of St. Louis was started by Swami Satprakashananda in 1938 with the following aims:
1. To relate the spiritual wisdom of Vedanta and to provide the spiritual basis so greatly needed for modern life and progress.
2. To help and encourage men and women to realize their innate divinity by methods and practices best suited to their individual capacities and conditions of life.
3. To establish religious harmony by cultivating the comprehensive vision that all religions are so many paths leading to the realization of God.

MINISTER
Swami Chetanananda

Swami Chetanananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order. Before coming to the United States, he worked in the editorial and publication departments of Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, Himalayas and also at its Calcutta branch. He was an assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California from 1971 to 1978. He came to St. Louis in March, 1978 and at present is the minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis. Swami Chetanananda has written, edited, and translated many important books on Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, and Vedanta.

FOUNDER
Swami Satprakashananda

Swami Satprakashananda (1888-1979), a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and a disciple of Swami Brahmananda, founded The Vedanta Society of St. Louis in 1938. He had the good fortune of seeing Swami Vivekananda in 1901, and later he met Sarada Devi and nine direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. The swami was a great scholar and wrote several books on Vedanta.

ACTIVITIES

Sunday Services:

10:30 a.m. in the Societys chapel at 205 S. Skinker.

Classes:

Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. A short meditation is conducted before the Tuesday class, followed by discussion of traditional Vedantic texts. Thursday classes cover Ramakrishna Vivekananda literature.

Bookstore:

A variety of books on Vedanta and Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, as well as many books on mysticism and different religions are available.

The bookstore carries the best photographs of Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, and Vivekananda; good Indian incense and other religious-related articles are also in stock.

Special Celebrations:

The Society observes the birth anniversaries of great religious leaders such as Buddha, Shankara, Krishna, Christ, Ramakrishna, and other great teachers of the world. On special occasions, vigils and mini-retreats are conducted.

Interviews:

Swami Chetanananda gives interviews to sincere spiritual seekers and teaches how to practice meditation and spiritual disciplines.

Membership:

Anyone seriously interested in the universal teachings of Vedanta may become a member of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.

CALENDAR

February 2010

Sunday Services 10:30 a.m.

7 Importance of Interfaith Dialogue
David Oughton, Professor of Theology, St. Louis University

14 The Story of Chaitanya
Swami Nishpapananda

21 Worship Service of Sri Ramakrishna
(Singing, meditation, worship. Dinner 12:45 p.m)

28 Spiritual Life According to Ramakrishna (Anniversary Service)
Swami Nirakarananda

Birth Anniversaries 6:30 a.m. (in the shrine, members only)

Tuesday 16 Sri Ramakrishna

Classes 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday No classes in January (winter break)

CONTACT

E-Mail:

Phone:

314-721-5118

Address:

205 S. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis MO 63105

SITE MAP AND DIRECTIONS
Detail Map Overview Map

Directions:

From the East: Take Interstate 64 west to Exit #34B (Clayton Road/Skinker Blvd. ). Turn right (north) at the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp. Proceed .6 miles to 205 S. Skinker Blvd. Our property will be on your left. It is a gray stone house with a green tile roof and large spruce trees in the front yard.

From the Airport: Take Interstate 70 east to Interstate 170 South. Proceed to Exit #1F (Forest Park Parkway ). Take Forest Park Parkway east to Skinker Blvd. (It is 3.0 miles from the point where Exit 1F diverges from Interstate 170 to Skinker Blvd. ) Turn right (south) on Skinker and proceed .45 miles to 205 S. Skinker Blvd.

From the South: Take Interstate 55 north to Interstate 270 North. Proceed to Interstate 64 East. Follow Interstate 64 east to Exit #33D (McCausland Avenue ). Turn left at McCausland and proceed 1.0 miles to 205 S. Skinker Blvd. (McCausland becomes Skinker Blvd. at the second stoplight north of the highway exit.)

From the West: Take Interstate 70 east to Interstate 170 South. Proceed to Exit #1F (Forest Park Parkway ). Take Forest Park Parkway east to Skinker Blvd. (It is 3.0 miles from the point where Exit 1F diverges from Interstate 170 to Skinker Blvd. ) Turn right (south) on Skinker and proceed .45 miles to 205 S. Skinker Blvd.

From the North in Illinois : Proceed south to Interstate 270 West. Take Interstate 270 west to Interstate 170 South. Proceed to Exit #1F (Forest Park Parkway ). Take Forest Park Parkway east 3.0 miles to Skinker Blvd. Turn right (south) on Skinker and proceed .45 miles to 205 S. Skinker Blvd. Our property will be on your right. It is a gray stone house with a green tile roof and large spruce trees in the front yard.

Parking: Sunday morning there is 45 degree angle parking on the west side of Skinker Blvd. At all other times, there is parallel parking on both sides of the street.