Swami Vivekananda
On February 5th 2024 England and Wales recognised the International Vedanta Society as a charity with registration through the Charities Commission. Our charity number is 1206868.
It has been a long time dream of Sri Bhagavan to have a centre for the International Vedanta Society in London and we are now closer to achieving that goal. With centres in many parts of India, Indonesia, Spain and the Netherlands, the intension is to create an open space here in London, where people of all walks of life and all backgrounds can find solace in connection with their True nature. The relationship we have with our Self is the same relationship we have with God, that's why Swami Vivekananda has said "Vedanta teaches men to have faith in themselves first. As certain religions of the world say that a man who does not believe in a Personal God outside of himself is an atheist, so Vedanta says, a man who does not believe in himself is an atheist. Not believing in the glory of our own soul is what Vedanta calls atheism!"
Currently, Vedanta sessions are being conducted in various locations around London. The aim of these sessions is to inspire and empower individuals on the journey to Self-Realisation and to establish a community of like minds who can support each other on that journey. Time and again the spiritual scriptures remind us of the importance of the company we keep. To be with spiritual beings and to engage in spiritual conversations which support us on the journey to the Divine is the most worthwhile way of spending our time.
I grew up in a society (UK and Australia) that lacked a foundation in spiritual wisdom, nor was there any suggestion of an attainable deeper Truth. I felt a profound longing from within to explore the depths of my own spirituality. This inner yearning led me on a transformative journey to India, where I met my Guru who taught me the timeless teachings of Vedanta. The teachings resonated deeply with the truth already present (yet unknown) within my own heart. Through my immersion (over the last thirteen years) in the rich spiritual traditions of India and my initiation as a Brahmacharya, I found a purpose and direction that had been missing from my life.
Inspired by my Guru's guidance and my own journey of Self-Realisation, I am driven to establish a spiritual centre in London that serves as a beacon of light and guidance for all seekers of Truth. Everyone deserves access to the profound teachings of Vedanta. By making this knowledge accessible to everyone, individuals can be empowered to live inspired lives of direction, fulfilment, and Self-Knowledge.
The vision for a spiritual centre in London is rooted in inclusivity and openness, welcoming people from all walks of life to come together in pursuit of Self-Realization and inner peace. I am committed to creating a supportive and nurturing environment where individuals can explore the depths of their spirituality, engage in meaningful dialogue, and develop a deeper inner standing of the Universal Self and cultivation of love for the world.
Ultimately, my inspiration to establish a spiritual centre in London stems from an ancient and deep-seated longing to do something positive for humanity, and personal experience in the transformative power of Vedanta. With my Guru's blessing, I am dedicated to sharing this timeless wisdom with the world, inspiring the journey of Self-Realisation, empowerment, and ultimate fulfilment to uplift and enrich the lives of individuals and communities.
Click here to be directed to the main website and find out more about our Head Quarters and the inception and works of IVS in India. Also to find out more about Bhagavan.
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals. Your generous donation will help fund our mission of establishing a permanent Vedanta Centre in England.
Aims and objects for which the Society is established are:
a) To attain Self-realization on the essence of Upanishad.
b) To spread the message of Vedanta to each and every person.
c) To render service in the need of the people within the capacity of the Society in order to manifest the benevolent virtues of the ascetics.
d) Publication on spiritual subjects only
e) Generally to do all such other things, deeds and acts as are identical to or conducive to the attainment of the objects of the Society as stated herein.
The Society is a purely spiritual organization with the following essence:
i) Nothing exists except but Brahman or Atman or God.
ii) Brahmajnana, Self-Knowledge or God-realization is the sole object of life. Self-realization is traditionally transmitted through Guru. So, mediating of Guru is inevitable.
iii) 'Bhagavan', the embodiment of Love, is the life force and core of the International Vedanta Society.
iv) To spread the awareness about the nature of the Self, to make people aware of the existence of God and the process by which to attain it, is the sole object of the Society.
v) The medium of serving of the essence of this subject is Love, and chanting of Mahamantra ‘Hare Krishna.’
Sri Guru Stotram
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुरेव परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
GURUR BRAHMA GURURVISHNU GURURDEVA MAHESHVARA
GURUREVA PARAM BRAHMA TASMAI SHRI GURAVE NAMAH
Meaning:
1.1: The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru Deva is Maheswara (Shiva),
1.2: The Guru is Verily the Para-Brahman (Supreme Brahman); Salutations to that Guru.
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशालाकया ।
चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
AJÑANATIMIRANDHYASYA JÑANANJAYA SHALAKAYA
CHAKSHURUNMILITAM YENA TASMAI SHRI GURAVE NAMAH
Meaning:
3.1: (Salutations to the Guru) Who Removes the Darkness of Ignorance from our Blind (Inner)
Eyes by applying the Collyrium of the Light of Knowledge.
3.2: By Whom our (Inner) Eyes are Opened; Salutations to that Guru.
अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् ।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
AKHANDAMANDALAKARAM VYAPTAM YENA CHARACHARAM
TATPADAM DARSHITAM YENA TASMAI SHRI GURAVE NAMAH
Meaning:
2.1: (Salutations to the Guru) Whose Form is an Indivisible Whole of Presence, and By Whom is Pervaded the Moving and the Non-Moving Beings,
2.2: By Whom is Revealed (out of Grace) That Feet (of Indivisible Presence); Salutations to that Guru.
मन्नाथः श्रीजगन्नाथो मद्गुरुः श्रीजगद्गुरुः ।
ममत्मा सर्वभूतात्मा तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
MANNATHAH SHRIJAGANNATHO MADGURUH SHRIJAGADGURUH
MAMATMA SARVABHUTATMA TASMAI SHRI GURAVE NAMAH
Meaning:
12.1: (Salutations to the Guru) My Lord is the Lord of the Universe, My Guru is the Guru of the Universe,
12.2: My Self is the Self of All Beings; Salutations to that Guru.
ध्यानमूलं गुरुर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरुर्पदम् ।
मन्त्रमूलं गुरुर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरूर्कृपा ॥
DHYANAMULAM GURORMURTI M PUJAMULAM GUROH PADAM
MANTRAMULAM GURORVAKYAM MOKSHAMULAM GUROH KRIPA
Meaning:
1: The Root of Meditation is the Form of the Guru, The Root of Worship is the Feet of the Guru,
2: The Root of Mantra is the Word of the Guru, The Root of Liberation is the Grace of the Guru.
ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं केवलं ज्ञानमूर्तिम्
द्वन्द्वातीतं गगनसदृशं तत्त्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम् ।
एकं नित्यं विमलमचलं सर्वधीसाक्षीभूतम्
भावातीतं त्रिगुणरहितं सद्गुरुंतं नमामि ॥
BRAHMANANDAM PARAMASUKHADAM KEVALAM JÑANAMURTIM
DVANDVATITAM GAGANASADRISHAM TATVAMASHYADILAKSHYAM
EKAM NITYAM VIMALACHALAM SARVADHISAKSHIBHUTAM
BHAVATITAM TRIGUNARAHITAM SADGURUM TAM NAMAMI
SADGURUM TAM NAMAMI SADGURUM TAM NAMAMI</center
Meaning:
1: (Salutations to the Sad-Guru) Who is the Bliss of Brahman, Who is the Bestower of
Supreme Joy, Who is the Absolute, Who is the Embodiment of Knowledge,
2: Who is Beyond Duality, Who is Boundless and Infinite Like the Sky, Who is Indicated
by Maha Vakyas Like Tat-Tvam- Asi (That-Thou- Art).
3: Who is One without the Second, Who is Eternal, Who is Stainless and Pure, Who
isImmovable, Who is the Witness of the Intelligence of All Beings,
4: Who is Beyond the States of the Mind, Who is Free from the Three Gunas; Salutations
to that Sad-Guru.
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय।
OM ASATO MA SADGAMAYA
TAMASO MA JYOTIRGAMAYA
MRITYORMAMRITAM GAMAYA
OM! Lead us from the unreal to the real!
Lead us from darkness to light!
Lead us from death to immortality!!
आविराविर्म एधि
रूद्र यत्ते दक्षिणं मुखं
तेन मम पाहि नित्यं
ॐ यो ब्रह्माणं विदधाति पूर्वं
यो वै वेदांश्च प्रहिणोति तस्मै ।
तवं है देवत मबुद्धिरप्रकाशम
मुमुक्षुर्वै शरणमहं प्रपद्ये।
AVIRAVIRMA EDHI
RUDRA YATTE DAKSHINAM MUKHAM
TENA MAM PAHI NITYAM
OM YO BRAHMANAM VIDADHATI PURVAM
YO VAI VEDANGSHCHA PRAHINOTI TASMAI
TVAM HA DEVATMABUDDHIRPRAKASHAM
MUMUKSHURVAI SHARANAMAHAM PRAPADYE
O self illumined one, reveal yourself!
O Rudra, protect me with your inspirations and teachings
I offer salutations and take refuge under the one who is the source of all creations, the one who enlightens the intellect and the one who grants us the Vedas.
ॐ नमो वेदान्तवेद्य
गुरवे बुद्धिसाक्षीने
सच्चिदानंदरूपाय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने ।
OM NAMO VEDANTAVEDYA
GURAVE BUDDHISAKSHINE
SACCHIDANANDARUPAYA NIRGUNAYA GUNATMANEH
I salute the one who can be realized through the Upanishads, the teachings of the Vedas and the one who witnesses the intellect. I salute the Sacchidananda Brahman.
ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवा भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ।
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवांसस्तनूभिर्व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः । (प्रश्नोपनिषद, मुन्दकुपनिशद)
OM BHADRAM KARNEBHIH SHRINUYAM DEVA
BHADRAM PASHYEMAKSHABHIRYAJATRAH
STHIRAIRANGAISTUSTUVANSASTANUBHIRVYASHEMA
DEVAHITAM YADAYUH
OM SHANTIH! SHANTIH! SHANTIH!
Aum! O gods, may we hear auspicious words with the ears;
While engaged in yajnas,
May we see auspicious things with the eyes;
While praising the gods with steady limbs,
May we enjoy a life that is beneficial to the gods.
May Indra of ancient fame be auspicious to us;
May the supremely rich (or all-knowing) Pusa (god of the earth)
Be propitious to us;
May Garuda, the destroyer of evil,
Be well disposed towards us;
May Brihaspati ensure our welfare.
Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace![12]
ॐ सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
(तैतरीय उपनिषद, कठोपनिषद, माण्डुक्योपनिषद तथा श्वेताशेतोपनिषद)
OM SAHANAVAVATU SAHA NAU BHUNAKTU
SAHVIRYAM KARAVAVAHAI
TEJASVI NAVADHITAMASTU
MA VIDVISHAVAHAI
OM SHANTIH! SHANTIH! SHANTIH!
OM. Let us both protect each other together!
May both of us enjoy together!
May both of us put our energies together!
May our studies be radiantly glorious!
May there be no hatred between us!
OM Peace, Peace, Peace!
ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः
श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि।
सर्वम् ब्रह्मौपनिषदम् माऽहं ब्रह्म
निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म
निराकरोदनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकरणम् मेऽस्तु।
तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते
मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
केन उपनिषद तथा छान्द्योग्य उपनिषद
OM APYAYANTU MAMANGANI
VAK PRANASHCHAKSHUH
SHROTRAMATHO BALAMINDRIYANI CHA SARVANI
SARVAM BRAHMAUPANISHADAM MAHAM BRAHMANIRAKURYAM MA MA BRAHMANIRAKARODANIRAKARANAMASTWANIRAKARANAM
HASTU TADATMANI NIRATE YA UPANISHADSTU DHARMASTE MAYI SANTU TE MAYI SANTU
OM SHANTIH! SHANTIH! SHANTIH!
OM may my organs, speech, Prana, eyes and ears be nourished and be well, so should all (my) senses become strong.
Upanishad says all this (world) is Brahman.
I don’t reject Brahman, may Brahma not reject me.
Let there be no rejection, let there be no rejection at all in me, let me be concentrated on Self, all those ways of righteous living told in Upanishads be in me!
Be in me,
OM Peace, Peace, Peace.
ॐ वाङ् मे मनसि प्रतिष्ठिता
मनो मे वाचि प्रतिष्ठित-मावीरावीर्म एधि।
वेदस्य म आणिस्थः श्रुतं मे मा प्रहासीरनेनाधीतेनाहोरात्रान्
संदधाम्यृतम् वदिष्यामि सत्यं वदिष्यामि तन्मामवतु
तद्वक्तारमवत्ववतु मामवतु वक्तारमवतु वक्तारम्।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
ऐतरेय उपनिषद
OM BANGME MANASI PRATISHTHITA
MANO ME VACHI PRATISHITAM
AVIRAVIR MAYEDHI
VEDASYA MAA ANISTHA
SHRUTAM ME MAA PRAHASIH
ANENA DHITENAHORATRN SANGDADHAMI
RITAM VADISHYAMI SATYAM VADISHYAMI
TANMAMAVATU TAD VAKTARAMAVATU
AVATUMAM AVATU BAKTARAM AVATU BAKTARAM
OM SHANTIH! SHANTIH! SHANTIH!
OM let my speech be established in (my) mind, and (my) mind be established in my speech, May Brahman (Supreme Reality) reveal itself to me!
May I be able to grasp the truths of the Vedas!
Let not what I have heard (studied) forsake me! May I spend both day and night in study! I say rta (divine law), I’ll say the Truth; may that (truth) protect me!
May that (truth) protect the teacher!
May it protect me; and may it protect the speaker as well!
OM Peace, Peace, Peace.
ॐ शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः।
शं नो भवत्वर्यमा।
शं न इन्द्रो वृहस्पतिः।
शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः।
नमो ब्रह्मणे। नमस्ते वायो।
त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि।
त्वामेव प्रत्यक्षम् ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि।
ॠतं वदिष्यामि। सत्यं वदिष्यामि।
तन्मामवतु।
तद्वक्तारमवतु।
अवतु माम्।
अवतु वक्तारम्।
‘ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
(तैतरीय उपनिषद)
OM SHANNO MITRA SHAM VARUNA
SHANNO BHADATWARYAMA
SHANNA INDRA BRIHASPATIH
SHANNO VISHNU RURUKRAMAH
NAMO BRAHMANE NAMASTE VAYO
TWOMEVA PRATYAKSHAM BRAHMASI
TWAMEVA PRATYAKSHAM BRAHMA VADISHYAMI
RITAM VADISHYAMI SATYAM VADISHAMI
TANMAMAVATU TAD VAKTARAMAVATU
AVATUMAM AVATU BAKTARAM
OM SANTIH! SANTIH! SANTIH!
OM may Mitra do good to us, may Varuna do good to us,
May Aryama do good to us,
May Indra do good to us, may Brihaspati do good to us,
May Vishnu-who has vast coverage-do good to us,
(I) Salute O Brahma!,
Salutations to you O Vayu!,
Only you (Vayu) are the visible Brahman.
I say only you (Vayu) are the visible Brahman,
I say rta (divine law),
I say truth,
May that (truth) protect me,
May that (truth) protect teacher,
May it protect me,
May it protect teacher,
OM Peace, Peace, Peace.
ॐ मधु वाता ऋतायते मधुं क्षरन्ति सिन्धवः ।
माध्वीर्नः सन्त्वोषधीः
मधु नक्तुतोषसो मधुमत्पार्थिवं रजः ।
मधु द्यौरस्तु नः पिता
मधुमान्नो वनस्पतिर्मधुमान् अस्तु सूर्यः ।
माध्वीर्गावो भवन्तु नः
ॐ मधु ॐ मधु ॐ मधु!
Madhu vātā ritāyate
Madhu ksharanti sindavah
Madhvīr nah santvoshadhīh
Madhu naktam utoshasi
Madhumat pārthivam rajah
Madhu dyaur astu nah pitā
Madhumānno vanaspatih
Madhumām astu sūryah
Mādhvīr gāvo bhavantu nah
Om Madhu, Madhu, Madhu
May the winds blow sweetly,
May the rivers flow sweetly,
May plants and herbs be sweet to us,
May night and morning be sweet to us,
May the dust of the earth be sweet to us,
May the heavens be sweet to us,
May the trees be sweet to us,
May the sun shine on us sweetly,
May the cows yield us sweet milk.
From Rik Veda
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
वृहदारण्यक उपनिषद
OM PURNAMADAH PURNAMIDAM PURNAT PURNAMUDACHYATE
PURNASYA PURNAMADAYA PURNAMEVA VASHISHYATE
OM SANTIH! SANTIH! SANTIH!,
That Creator is Absolute, Complete and Full. This Universe is Absolutely Complete and Full. Only Absolutely Complete springs off That Absolute!
From That Absolute, even if Whole Absolute is taken out, only Absolute does remain!
OM Peace, Peace, Peace.
Jay Vishwavijayi Sri Bhagavan ki Jay!
Jay Sanghajanani Gurumata ki jaye!
Jay International Vedanta Society ki jay!
The Song of the Sannyasin is a poem of thirteen stanzas written by Swami Vivekananda. He composed the poem in July 1895 when he was delivering a series of lectures to a groups of selected disciples in New York. In the poem he defined the ideals of monastic life.
Wake up the note! the song that had its birth
Far off, where worldly taint could never reach
In mountain caves and glades of forest deep,
Whose calm no sigh for lust or wealth or fame
Could ever dare to break; where rolled the stream
Of knowledge, truth, and bliss that follows both.
Sing high that note, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Strike off thy fetters! Bonds that bind thee down,
Of shining gold or darker, baser ore;
Love, hate; good, bad; and all the dual throng,
Know, slave is slave, caressed or whipped, not free
For fetters, though of gold, are not less strong to bind;
Then off with them, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Let darkness go! the will-o’-the-wisp that leads
With blinking light to pile more gloom on gloom.
This thirst for life, for ever quench; it drags
From birth to death, and death to birth, the soul
He conquers all who conquers self. Know this
And never yield, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
‘Who sows must reap,’ they say, ‘and cause must bring
The sure effect; good, good; bad, bad; and none
Escape the law. But whoso wears a form
Must wear the chain.’ Too true; but far beyond
Both name and form is Atman, ever free.
Know thou art That, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
They know no truth who dream such vacant dreams
As father, mother, children, wife and friend.
The sexless Self! whose father He? whose child?
Whose friend, whose foe is He who is but One?
The Self is all in all, none else exists;
And thou art That, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
There is but One – The Free, The Knower – Self!
Without a name, without a form or stain.
In him is Maya, dreaming all this dream.
The Witness, He appears as nature, soul.
Know thou art That, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Where seekest thou? That freedom, friend, this world
Nor that can give. In books and temples vain
Thy search. Thine only is that hand that holds
The rope that drags thee on. Then cease lament,
Let go thy hold, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Say, ‘Peace to all: From me no danger be
To aught that lives. In those that dwell on high,
In those that lowly creep, I am the Self in all.
All life both here and there, do I renounce,
All heavens and earths and hells, all hopes and fears.’
Thus cut thy bonds, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Heed then no more how body lives or goes,
Its task is done. Let Karma float it down;
Let one put garlands on, another kick
This frame; say naught. No praise or blame can be
Where praiser praised, and blamer blamed are one.
Thus be thou calm, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Truth never comes where lust and fame and greed
Of gain reside. No man who thinks of woman
As his wife can ever perfect be;
Nor he who owns the least of things, nor he
Whom anger chains, can ever pass thro’ Maya’s gates.
So give these up, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Have thou no home. What home can hold thee, friend?
The sky thy roof, the grass thy bed; and food
What chance may bring, well cooked or ill, judge not.
No food or drink can taint that noble Self
Which knows itself. Like rolling river free
Thou ever be, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Few only know the truth. The rest will hate
And laugh at thee, great one; but pay no heed.
Go thou, the free, from place to place, and help
Them out of darkness, Maya’s veil. Without
The fear of pain or search for pleasure, go
Beyond them both, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
Thus, day by day, till Karma’s powers spent,
Release the soul for ever. No more is birth,
Nor I, nor thou, nor God, nor man. The ‘I’
Has All become, the All is ‘I’ and Bliss.
Know thou art That, Sannyasin bold! Say –
‘Om tat sat, Om!’
— Swami Vivekananda
Nirvanashatakam comprises of six verses written on the realisation of the Supreme Self (Nirvana) by Adi Shankaracharya. These verses express the Ultimate Truth that I am of the nature of Shiva i.e. pure Consciousness. I am not the body, the mind, the intellect nor the ego, I am of the nature of pure Consciousness. I am the ever free, formless, all pervading Self. Nirvanashatakam is recited daily in all the centres of the International Vedanta Society.
International Vedanta Society UK
Copyright © 2024 International Vedanta Society UK - All Rights Reserved.