Vedanta

I recently discovered the Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple, located in the hills of Montecito. It is an amazingly serene and welcoming place, set amidst the oaks and sagebrush (which remind me of beautiful Carmel Valley, where I grew up).

As one first approaches from this curving path, the temple can be seen peeking above the trees:



This impressive bronze bell, encountered along the way, is probably rung for Vespers, which I haven't yet attended:



And here is the temple itself, inviting visitors inside to meditate, rest, and contemplate:



I have visited the temple three or four times, and each time I am struck by the beauty and peace of the place, wishing I had time to remain longer. I am each time thankful for the opportunity to meditate in such a place of calm and quiet. This means a lot to me because the Siddha Yoga Meditation Center in Santa Barbara (Siddha Yoga being my spiritual path) closed this summer.

While Vedanta cannot replace Siddha Yoga in my life (nor do I want it to), it is closely related, spiritually. In fact, Siddha Yoga teachings often draw on Vedanta philosophy. Siddha Yoga teaches that God is within, that we are each of us divine beings. Similarly, Vedanta's "basic teaching is that our real nature is divine. God, the underlying reality, exists in every being." Thus, according to Vedanta philosophy, "religion [spiritual practice] is a search for self-knowledge, a search for God within ourselves." This conceptualization of spirituality works for me (whereas organized religion never did).

I am truly grateful for this little Santa Barbara treasure and for the role it plays in my own spiritual practice.