About Vedanta Centre      

THE VEDANTA CENTRE of Boston was founded in 1909 by Vivekananda's youngest disciple, Swami Paramananda. Another ashrama was established on the South Shore of Massachusetts in Cohasset in 1929. This ashrama is now the permanent headquarters of the Vedanta Centre, and is the sister ashrama to Ananda Ashrama of La Crescenta, California.

The ashrama is a non-sectarian place of worship dedicated to all the religions of the world, where people of different faiths may come together and worship the One Spirit Who is called by many names. Our philosophy is based on the universal teachings of Vedanta as expounded by India's 19th century mystic and world teacher, Sri Ramakrishna. His chief disciple Swami Vivekananda brought Vedanta to the West in 1893.

Ananda is the Sanskrit word for bliss. An ashrama is a spiritual retreat. Ananda Ashrama, therefore, is a retreat where one strives to live by and practice spiritual life in order to realize the joy of the Divine.

THE TEMPLE OF THE UNIVERSAL SPIRIT

The Vedanta Centre Temple of the Universal Spirit is dedicated to all of the world's great religions. Each is represented by stained glass symbols in each window, statues and scriptural quotations. Our Cohasset Temple was dedicated in 1959 on the 50th anniversary. It was designed by Srimata Gayatri Devi. The California Temple at Ananda Ashrama was built in 1928 under the direction of our founder, Swami Paramananda.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the centers in the United States is to present authentic knowledge of Indian philosophy, as well as to stimulate better understanding between the East and West on a spiritual basis.

Through our services and classes, we emphasize practice of the universal truths taught in all great religions: love and service together with study, prayer and meditation. Our primary aim is to stress the life of selfless dedication and to create an atmosphere of serenity and peace.

We also have two sister ashramas in Calcutta, India. The mission of these ashramas is to train and serve destitute women and children through schools, an orphanage, and a shelter.