CMLA Rameshwaram, Tustin

On April 9th, Swami Ishwarananda, spiritual head and resident monk at CMLA, gave a gripping and erudite lecture on Hinduism and Vedanta at Cal State Bakersfield.  The lecture was the first in a planned series, with approximately 30 students in attendance. Given the enthusiastic response, we intend to invite Swamiji to deliver these talks at CSUB each time he visits. The audience reaction was overwhelmingly positive.  Swamiji conducted the session in a highly interactive and participatory manner, engaging students with thought-provoking questions. The attentive students also posed pertinent and insightful questions. Swamiji began by explaining the origin of the word “Hinduism,” tracing it to the Sindh region, and emphasized that it represents not merely a religion but a way of living. He described culture as having three key aspects: beliefs (Dharma), values, and celebrations aligned with the seasons. To engage the audience, Swamiji asked what determines life. Various answers w...