The Vedanta Society of Portland celebrated its Centenary on October 6, 2025, marking one hundred years of the Vedanta Movement in the Pacific Northwest. To commemorate this milestone, a three-day celebration of worship, music, and spiritual discourse was organized, featuring the esteemed Swami Sarvapriyananda. The event also marked the launch of a yearlong centennial observance, attended by about 20 monks and nuns from across the country.
October 4 (Saturday):
The celebration commenced with a special worship service including Vedic chanting and devotional singing at the Vedanta Temple, attended by around 100 devotees. In the evening, a public lecture on “The Light of Lights” by Swami Sarvapriyananda drew about 250 friends and devotees at Taborspace, a local Presbyterian church in Portland.
October 5 (Sunday):
A day-long retreat titled “The I of the I” was conducted, offering meditation, discourse, and guided contemplation. About 125 devotees participated in this spiritually enriching session.
October 6 (Monday):
On the centenary day, a sixteen-item special worship to Sri Ramakrishna was performed, accompanied by Vedic hymns and bhajans. A midday meeting on “Glorious Past and Promising Future” was held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:55 p.m., attended by around 50 devotees. The celebrations concluded with a public lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda on “Ideal Guru-Disciple Relationship” at the Hindu Temple, Tigard.
Continuing the Spiritual Legacy:
The centennial observance continued through October, featuring spiritual talks and visits by senior monks. Swami Aparananda, former head of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley, visited on October 25 and delivered a discourse on the Kathopanishad.
The Vedanta Society of Portland continues to uphold its mission of spiritual enlightenment and service, offering lectures, meditation sessions, devotional services, retreats, and study classes. Its 289-acre sanctuary near Scappoose, Oregon, with 16 shrines and numerous meditation seats, provides a serene setting for seekers, embodying the ideals of harmony, peace, and spiritual realization.
