Concluding Program · Year‑Long Centennial Celebration

100 Years of the
Vedanta Society of Portland

The Centenary Convention · HECSA Portland Balaji Temple · Oct 2–4, 2026

A century after Swami Prabhavananda founded the Society on October 6, 1925, sixteen monastics of the Ramakrishna Order gather in Portland to close out a year‑long Centennial Celebration with a weekend of teaching, worship, and celebration.

3Days, Oct 2–4

16Monastic speakers

100Years since 1925

To preach unto mankind their divinity, and how to make it manifest in every movement of life.

Swami Vivekananda

A welcome note

Dear devotees and friends

The Vedanta Society of Portland was established on October 6, 1925, by Swami Prabhavananda. For a century, the Society has served the local community, nurtured and guided spiritual seekers, and shared the wisdom of Sanatan Dharma treasured in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, as taught and exemplified in the lives of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda — nurtured across the decades by stalwarts such as Swami Devatmananda and Swami Aseshananda, with the help of dedicated and sacrificing devotees.

This rare milestone has been an opportunity to reflect on the inspiring accomplishments of the last hundred years and to renew our commitment to serving God in various forms as we move into the future. We are deeply grateful to all the devotees, friends, and family who have organized and participated in this historic Centenary Celebration, making each program an uplifting and memorable occasion to treasure in our hearts forever.

Please join us to conclude the Centenary Celebration with the grand Portland Vedanta Centenary Convention this October. You are all cordially invited and most warmly welcome. Best wishes to you all.

Swami Chandrashekharananda
Head, Vedanta Society of Portland

The weekend

Three days, one theme

Friday – Sunday

Program

Three days, forty-eight sessions, down to the minute

The full weekend timeline, exactly as printed in the convention program — welcome ceremonies, sixteen talks with open Q&A, meals, and three evenings of music.

Worship & Ceremony Talk & Discussion Music & Culture Meals & Breaks

Day 1 — Friday

October 2, 2026

By 1:00 PM

Venue Preparation

Photos of the Divine Trinity, three stands, two large lamps and decorations to be brought from the Temple; two lecterns from HECSA.

1:30 – 1:50 PM

Prelude

Recorded instrumental music.

1:50 – 2:00 PM

History of Vedanta Society of Portland

The Centenary video.

2:00 – 2:05 PM

Lamp Lighting

Shubhaṁ Karoti Kalyāṇam, Ārogyaṁ Dhana Sampadam.

2:05 – 2:20 PM

Invocation

Vedic chanting by Vedanta Vedapathis.

2:20 – 2:35 PM

Yati Puja

By the Devotees (Hosts / Sponsors).

2:40 – 2:55 PM

Introduction & Centenary Report

Swami Chandrashekharananda.

2:55 – 3:00 PM

Emcee Introduction

Swami Sarvapriyananda.

3:00 – 3:40 PM

The Real and the Apparent Self

Swami Tyagananda.

3:40 – 4:20 PM

Understanding Divinity

Swami Ishtananda.

4:20 – 4:35 PM

Q&A

Covers the two talks above.

4:35 – 5:00 PM

Tea Break

5:00 – 5:05 PM

Emcee Introduction

Swami Sarvapriyananda.

5:05 – 5:45 PM

Manifestation of Divinity through Karma Yoga

Swami Prasannatmananda.

5:45 – 6:25 PM

Manifestation of Divinity through Bhakti Yoga

Swami Prapannananda.

6:25 – 6:40 PM

Q&A

Covers the two talks above.

6:40 – 8:00 PM

Dinner / Stage Change

8:00 – 9:00 PM

Musical Offering — Sangīt Nivedan

Aarati and songs on the Divine Mother.

Day 2 — Saturday

October 3, 2026

9:45 – 10:00 AM

Opening Song

Devotional song on Vishnu / Swamiji.

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Guided Meditation

Swami Ishatmananda.

10:15 – 10:20 AM

Emcee Introduction

Swami Sarvapriyananda.

10:20 – 11:00 AM

Manifestation of Divinity through Jñāna Yoga

Swami Tattwamayananda.

11:00 – 11:40 AM

Manifestation of Divinity through the Practice of Raja Yoga

Swami Satyamayananda.

11:40 AM – 12:20 PM

Ramakrishna Order: Its Principles and Practices

Pravrajika Virajaprana.

12:20 – 1:00 PM

Q&A

Covers the three talks above.

1:15 – 2:15 PM

Lunch

Dining hall.

2:15 – 2:25 PM

English Music

Paul Goldo, Toby Pollock.

2:25 – 2:30 PM

Emcee Introduction

Swami Tyagananda.

2:30 – 3:10 PM

Seeing God in Everything

Swami Atmajnanananda.

3:10 – 3:50 PM

Vedanta and Spiritual Health

Pravrajika Gitaprana.

3:50 – 4:30 PM

Influence of Vedanta in the USA and Its Future

Pravrajika Vrajaprana.

4:30 – 4:45 PM

Q&A

Covers the three talks above.

4:45 – 5:05 PM

Tea Break

Lobby / Dining hall.

5:05 – 5:10 PM

Emcee Introduction

Swami Tyagananda.

5:10 – 5:50 PM

Inner Harmony, Outer Work

Swami Ishatmananda.

5:50 – 6:30 PM

Unselfishness and Spirituality

Swami Sarvadevananda.

6:30 – 6:45 PM

Q&A

Covers the two talks above.

6:45 – 8:00 PM

Dinner / Stage Change

Stage set for music; background music.

8:00 – 9:00 PM

Cultural Program

Aarati, devotional song on Sri Ramakrishna, and Gīti Ālekhya by Natak.

Day 3 — Sunday

October 4, 2026

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Devotional Music Offering

On Shiva, by Sahana.

10:15 – 10:20 AM

Emcee Introduction

Swami Tyagananda.

10:20 – 11:00 AM

Vedanta in a Changing Time

Swami Yogatmananda.

11:00 – 11:40 AM

The Truth Behind the One and the Many

Swami Sarvapriyananda.

11:40 – 11:55 AM

Q&A

Covers the two talks above.

11:55 AM – 12:10 PM

Vote of Thanks and Shanti Mantras

Sri Sutirtha Bhattacharya and Swami Chandrashekharananda.

12:10 – 12:20 PM

Bharatnatyam Offering

By the dance ensembles.

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Prasad Lunch

Dining hall.

2:00 – 4:00 PM

Farewell & Meet-the-Monks

Courtyard / Dining hall — event concludes at 4:00 PM.

Sixteen monastics

Speakers

Visiting from across the country

Swamis and pravrajikas of the Ramakrishna Order, travelling from monasteries and convents across the United States to mark the Society's centenary together.

Swami Chandrashekharananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Portland

Introduction & Centenary Report · Vote of Thanks and Shanti Mantras

Appointed head of the Portland Society in January 2016 after ten years as assistant minister in Sydney, Australia. Joined Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow in 1977 and later served at the Order's hospital center in Kolkata; emphasizes the unity underlying the world's diverse religious paths. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Prasannatmananda

Head, Vedanta Society Berkeley

Manifestation of Divinity through Karma Yoga

Received sannyasa in 1995 and served at several Ramakrishna Order centers in India before coming to the United States in 2011; has led the Berkeley Society since 2014. Lectures widely on interfaith topics, including at GTU Berkeley, UC Berkeley, and Stanford. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Prapannananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Sacramento

Manifestation of Divinity through Bhakti Yoga

Trained in engineering before joining the Ramakrishna Order as a disciple of Swami Vireswarananda; spent twenty years at the Rajkot center in India. Posted to Sacramento in 1989 and became its minister in 1996; teaches on meditation and the teachings of Krishna. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Tattwamayananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Northern California

Manifestation of Divinity through Jnāna Yoga

Trained from an early age in Hindu scripture and Sanskrit, later serving as editor, publisher, and Sanskrit teacher at Ramakrishna Order centers and at the training center in Belur Math. Brings a modern university education in literature, psychology, and philosophy to his teaching on yoga and interfaith dialogue. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Satyamayananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Western Washington

Manifestation of Divinity through the Practice of Raja Yoga

A disciple of Swami Bhuteshananda, joined the Order's Advaita Ashrama in 1988 and later edited the journal Prabuddha Bharata. Headed the Ramakrishna Mission in Kanpur before coming to the United States, and has led the Seattle-area Society since 2022. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Tyagananda

Head, Ramakrishna Vedanta Society, Boston

The Real and the Apparent Self

Head of the Boston Society since 1998 and Hindu chaplain at Harvard and MIT since 1999. Edited the Vedanta Kesari journal for over a decade, has authored fourteen books, and is a frequent presenter at academic conferences on Vedanta. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Ishtananda

Head, Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg

Understanding Divinity

Joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1976 and received sannyasa a decade later, serving at educational institutions in India before being posted to Southern California in 2000. Active in interfaith councils, he has led the St. Petersburg center since 2007. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Atmajnanananda

Head, Vedanta Center of Gr. Washington, D.C.

Seeing God in Everything

Head of the Greater Washington, D.C. center, where he continues a long teaching ministry on Vedanta as a universal religion, delivering talks and satsangas to communities across the country. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Sarvapriyananda

Head, Vedanta Society, New York

The Truth Behind the One and the Many

Minister of the New York Society since January 2017; received sannyasa in 2004 and later served as a Numata Fellow at Harvard Divinity School (2019–2020). A widely followed speaker on Vedanta and consciousness, he has addressed audiences from university lecture halls to the World Parliament of Religions in Toronto (2018). — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Ishatmananda

Head, Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago

Guided Meditation · Inner Harmony, Outer Work

Long associated with the Ramakrishna Mission at Cherrapunji before founding the Ramakrishna Mission at Port Blair and serving as a school principal in Arunachal Pradesh. Has led the Chicago Society since 2013. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Sarvadevananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Southern California

Unselfishness and Spirituality

A monk of the Ramakrishna Order since 1961, he performed relief work in Assam and later headed the Ramakrishna Mission at Sikra before his appointment as minister of the Southern California center in 2012. Serves as co-chair of the National Hindu–Christian Dialogue. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Yogatmananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Providence

Vedanta in a Changing Time

Served twenty years at the Nagpur center and later headed the Ramakrishna Mission in Shillong before coming to the United States in 2001. Serves as the Hindu affiliate chaplain at Brown University and at UMass Dartmouth. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Pravrajika Virajaprana

Vedanta Society of Northern California

Ramakrishna Order: Its Principles and Practices

A member of the Vedanta convent in San Francisco since 1972, she lectures widely across the Society's centers and contributes to Ramakrishna Order journals. Researched, compiled, and edited the volume Photographs of Swami Vivekananda. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Pravrajika Gitaprana

Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, MA

Vedanta and Spiritual Health

Serves as minister‑in‑residence at Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, a Ramakrishna Order retreat center in rural Maryland, where she guides retreatants through scheduled classes, meditation, and quiet contemplation. — adapted, with thanks, from ridgely.org

Pravrajika Vrajaprana

Vedanta Temple, Santa Barbara

Influence of Vedanta in the USA and Its Future

A sannyasini of the Southern California center residing in Santa Barbara, and Hindu chaplain at Cottage Hospital there. Author of Vedanta: A Simple Introduction and co-author of Interpreting Ramakrishna; joined the convent in 1977 and took final vows in 1988. — adapted, with thanks, from navc.info

Swami Shivarchanananda

Vedanta Society of St. Louis

Joins the Centenary gathering from St. Louis

Became a monk of the Ramakrishna Order in 2001 and spent over a decade at Jayrambati, India, in ritual worship and religious writing, before editing Vedanta publications at Baghbazar and serving as chief editor of Udbodhan, the Order's Bengali magazine. Relocated to the United States in April 2022 to serve as Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, alongside Swami Chetanananda. — adapted, with thanks, from vedantastl.org

Oct 2025 – Sep 2026

The Year‑Long Centenary Celebration

Eighteen sessions on the road to the Convention

Celebrating 100 years of silent service, the Society opened a year‑long Centenary Celebration on October 4, 2025 — welcoming a monastic guest from across the Ramakrishna Order nearly every month, each sharing a talk, satsanga, or retreat, before the Convention itself brings the year to its close.

Where it began

October 6, 1925 — October 6, 2025

The Vedanta Society of Portland was established on October 6, 1925, by Swami Prabhavananda. A century later, the Society opened its Centenary Celebration to reflect on a hundred years of service and to renew its commitment to the future — with heartfelt gratitude to every guest, near and far, who shared these eighteen sessions.

Swami Prabhavananda, who established the Vedanta Society of Portland — Swami Prabhavananda · established the Society, 1925

Eighteen sessions

The full year, session by session

Session 01 · Oct 4–6, 2025

Swami Sarvapriyananda

Head, Vedanta Society of New York

The I of the I · The Light of the Lights · Vedanta Movement Essentials, Its Past & Future · The Ideal Guru–Disciple Relationship

Distinguished guest of the three‑day inaugural event — two lectures and an all‑day Vedanta retreat

Session 02 · Oct 25–26, 2025

Swami Aparananda

San Francisco, California

Vedanta: A Talk on Kathopanishad

One talk

Session 03 · Nov 6–10, 2025

Swami Atmajnanananda

Head, Vedanta Center of Greater Washington D.C.

Vedanta as the Universal Religion

One talk and two satsangas

Session 04 · Dec 5–8, 2025

Swami Vimohananda

Head, Vedanta Society of British Columbia, Canada

Understanding Vedanta through Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi

One talk and two satsangas

Session 05 · Dec 19–22, 2025

Pravrajika Vedaprana

Sarada Convent · Vedanta Society of Southern California

The Timeless Message of Jesus Christ and Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi

One talk and one satsanga

Session 06 · Jan 24–26, 2026

Swami Satyamayananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Western Washington

Understanding Vedanta through Swami Vivekananda

A short retreat and one satsanga

Session 07 · Feb 6–9, 2026

Swami Prapannananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Sacramento

Understanding Vedanta through Sri Ramakrishna

One talk and one satsanga

Session 08 · Mar 6–9, 2026

Swami Prasannatmananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Berkeley

The Path of Meditation in Vedanta

One talk and one satsanga

Session 09 · Apr 27–30, 2026

Swami Tattwamayananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Northern California

The Path of Knowledge in Vedanta

A half‑day retreat with Ayurvedic physician Dr. Rajesh Kanwar — three talks and one satsanga

Session 10 · Apr 10–13, 2026

Swami Arupeshananda

Vedanta Society of Southern California

The Path of Selfless Work in Vedanta

One talk and two satsangas

Session 11 · Apr 24–27, 2026

Swami Kripamayananda

Head, Vedanta Society of Toronto

The Path of Selfless Work in Vedanta

One talk and two satsangas

Session 12 · May 7–12, 2026

Swami Bodhasarananda Maharaj

Assistant General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Belur Math, India

Vedanta and Modern Challenges of the World

One talk, one satsanga, and one mini retreat

Session 13 · May 23–25, 2026

Swami Ishtananda

Head, Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg

Teachers of the Vedantic Teachings

One talk and one satsanga

Session 14 · Jun 13–15, 2026

Swami Medhananda

Vedanta Society of Southern California

Vedanta and Harmony

One talk and one interfaith talk

Session 15 · Jul 3–4, 2026

Swami Ishatmananda

Head, Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago

Vedanta as a Force for Change

One talk, at an Interfaith Freedom Fest

Session 16 · Jul 16–20, 2026

Pravrajika Krishnaprana

Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple · Vedanta Society of Southern California

Female Teachers of Vedanta

One talk and one satsanga

Session 17 · Aug 28–30, 2026

Pravrajika Divyanandaprana

Sri Sarada Math, New Delhi

Divine Nature of the Human Being

One talk and one satsanga

Session 18 · Sep 6, 2026

Swami Chetanananda

Head, Vedanta Society of St. Louis

Vedanta: Ancient Solutions to Modern Problems

One talk, delivered online

Hear it

With gratitude

Song, video & pictures

Media

The Centenary Song, the video archive, and the year in pictures

Two centenary songs, one in Sanskrit and one in English; the Society's video archive; and photographs from the year‑long celebration.

Audio

The Centenary Song

Sanskrit — “वेदान्तसमिति-पोर्टलैण्ड-शतवार्षिकोत्सव-गीतम्”
Song for the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Vedanta Society of Portland.

वेदान्तप्रभां वन्दे, ज्ञानदायिनीं शुभाम् ।
पोर्टलैण्ड-नगरे राजन्तीं, शतवर्ष-विभासिनीम् ॥ १ ॥

I bow to the effulgence of Vedanta, auspicious and bestower of wisdom, shining brightly in the city of Portland, radiant for a hundred years.

शतवर्षपूर्ति-महोत्सवे, मिलिताः सर्वे मुदा वयम् ।
रामकृष्ण-विवेकानन्द-भावे, मग्नाः स्याम निरन्तरम् ॥ २ ॥

On this grand celebration of completing a hundred years, we have all gathered with joy; may we remain eternally immersed in the spirit and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

पश्चिम-दिशि प्रज्वलिता, पूर्व-ज्ञान-महाप्रदीपिका ।
सर्वधर्म-समन्वय-वाहिनी, शान्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदायिका ॥ ३ ॥

Lit in the Western realm, it is the great lamp of ancient Eastern wisdom, carrying the message of harmony among all religions, bestowing peace and liberation.

अध्यात्म-गङ्गा प्रवहतु नित्यम्, वर्धतां भक्तिः समाहित-मनः ।
जगद्धिताय आत्मनो मोक्षाय, वेदान्तसंघाय नमो नमः ॥ ४ ॥

May the Ganges of spirituality flow eternally, may devotion grow along with a steady mind; for the welfare of the world and for the liberation of the self, salutations again and again to the Vedanta Society.

English — “Centennial Song for the Vedanta Society of Portland”
Composed and sung by Paul Goldowitz and others.

Verse 1

A hundred years of prayer and light,
Of seeking truth through day and night,
In quiet hearts and voices strong,
We’ve walked the path and shared the song.

Verse 2

From many faiths, from many lands,
We meet in love with open hands,
One truth, eternal, shining through,
In every soul, in me, in you.

Chorus

Sing on, O flame of wisdom bright,
Guide us through the dark with light,
Vedanta’s call, so deep, so clear,
A hundred years, and still You’re here.

Verse 3

Through sacred words and silent grace,
We learn to see the One in all,
Beyond all name, beyond all face,
We hear the spirit’s timeless call.

Verse 4

In Portland’s heart this lamp has burned,
Through every lesson lived and learned,
With gratitude we proudly raise
Our song of love, our hymn of praise.

Chorus

Sing on, O flame of wisdom bright,
Guide us through the dark with light,
Vedanta’s call, so deep, so clear,
A hundred years, and still You’re here.

Talks & lectures

Swami Aseshananda Maharaj — Audio Lectures
Recorded talks by the Society's former minister, on SoundCloud→

More centenary songs

Portland Vedanta Centenary SongGolden Space Studios

I Have a Mother — Words by Holy Mother, Sri Sarada DeviVedanta Portland

I Have a MotherGolden Space Studios

Sannyasin Bold — lyrics by SwamijiGolden Space Studios

Video

Watch

Golden Jubilee Video, 1958–2018
The Society's history at its present home, 1157 SE 55th Ave · released November 2019→ Vedanta Portland on YouTube
Lectures, pujas, and retreat footage, added regularly→ Full video archive
The Society's own video page, including recorded lectures and retreat talks→

Pictures

The year in pictures

The Society's own announcements for each of the eighteen sessions — see the page for the full session‑by‑session list with speaker photographs. More photographs from the celebration will be added as they become available.

Year-Long Centenary Celebration announcement, page 1 — Announcement, page 1 of 6

Year-Long Centenary Celebration announcement, page 2 — Announcement, page 2 of 6

Year-Long Centenary Celebration announcement, page 3 — Announcement, page 3 of 6

Year-Long Centenary Celebration announcement, page 4 — Announcement, page 4 of 6

Year-Long Centenary Celebration announcement, page 5 — Announcement, page 5 of 6

Year-Long Centenary Celebration announcement, page 6 — Announcement, page 6 of 6

A city venue, not the retreat

Venue & Travel

HECSA Portland Balaji Temple

The convention is held at a rented hall in Portland's west hills — not at the Scappoose retreat grounds. Two hotels nearby carry pre‑negotiated rates for the weekend.

Where

Venue

Sessions run on Level 2 of the HECSA Portland Balaji Temple. The building is a working Hindu temple in the Raleigh Hills area of Portland, unrelated to the Society's own city temple or its Scappoose retreat.

HECSA Portland Balaji Temple

6100 SW Raab Rd, Level 2
Portland, OR 97221

Get directions →

Staying overnight

Hotels

Official block

Hilton Garden Inn Portland/Beaverton

The convention's official hotel, with a pre‑negotiated rate available at registration.

15520 NW Gateway Ct, Beaverton, OR 97006

Get directions → Hotel website →

Group rate

EVEN Hotel Portland–Beaverton

A second nearby option with a pre‑negotiated group rate for convention attendees.

11784 NW Cedar Falls Dr, Portland, OR 97229

Get directions → Hotel website →

Organizers are arranging shared transportation between the hotels and the venue — watch the Zeffy confirmation email for details.

Scappoose, Oregon

Vedanta Retreat, Scappoose

The Temple of Harmony

289 acres of forest sanctuary in the Coast Range foothills, thirteen shrines drawn from the world's spiritual traditions, and wooded trails built for quiet walking.

Where it began

A vision carried from the Alps to the Coast Range

In 1896, travelling through the Swiss Alps, Swami Vivekananda spoke of founding contemplative retreats in the West — places where seekers of any tradition could sit with the same silence monks in the Himalayas had long kept. Four decades later, that vision took root outside Portland.

1936Swami Devatmananda, minister of the Society from 1932–1954, purchases 120 acres of logged forest land to commemorate the centenary of Sri Ramakrishna's birth.
1953The octagonal Main Temple is completed, built in devotion to Sri Sarada Devi — the first Hindu temple of its kind in the Northwest.
1973–77The first shrines are dedicated, linked by trails volunteers cut through the forest by hand.
2016–21The Sikh, Advaita, and Shinto shrines are added, completing the present set of thirteen.
2020A further 169 acres are added, bringing the property to its present 289 acres.

On foot

Walks & trails

Footpaths thread the forest floor connecting all thirteen shrines and several meditation sites, climbing to landmarks such as Shiva Point along the way. Most visitors walk the full circuit in two to three unhurried hours.

The grounds are open dawn to dusk, walked at your own risk. Trail conditions shift with the season — call the Society before you come if it's been raining hard, or if you haven't visited in a while.

Stay on marked roads & trails

No pets

No hunting or firearms

No smoking, flames, incense or candles

No bicycles or off‑road vehicles

No intoxicants

Keep noise low

Supervise children at all times

Take only pictures, leave only footsteps

Mobile signal is weak — come prepared

Finding your way

Walking map

A schematic of the property's named points, shrines, and trail junctions, arranged the way they sit on the land — upper ridge at top, the interfaith shrine cluster to the right, the Main Temple and gates where Gilkison Road meets the grounds.

This is a reading guide, not a survey — distances and curves are simplified. Bring the Society's own map for the trails themselves.

View the official map →

Schematic overview · not to scale · elevations approximate

The routes between clusters carry their own names as you walk them — among them Buddha Way, Brahman Way, Jnana Trail, Vijnana Trail, Prajnana Trail, Bhakti Trail, Biblical Trail, Durga, Kali Way, Mother's Trail, Devatmananda Way, Dhyana Trail, Karma Trail, Little Ganga and Little Yamuna. Three meditation seats sit along the central crossroads honoring Hildegard of Bingen (1002'), St. Francis of Assisi, and Reb Nachman of Bratslav, just off the Buddhist and Christian shrines.

Thirteen paths, one forest

Buildings & shrines

At the center stands the octagonal Main Temple (1953). Around it, thirteen shrines — dedicated between 1974 and 2021 — each hold to one of the world's spiritual traditions. All buildings are closed to the public except on special occasions; the shrines themselves are reached on foot.

A trail through the retreat forest — Trail through the 289‑acre forest

One of the retreat's thirteen interfaith shrines — One of the thirteen shrines, hand‑built by volunteers

A forest shrine along the interfaith trail — A forest shrine along the trail

Ramakrishna Shrine

1974

Hinduism

Five‑sided structure surrounded by five sacred trees, honoring Sri Ramakrishna.

Holy Mother Shrine

1974

Hinduism · Sri Sarada Devi

Honors the embodied Divine Mother, personified compassion and love.

Christian Shrine

1975

Christianity

Site of Easter sunrise services, symbolizing Christ's path to Calvary.

Jewish Shrine

1975

Judaism

A three‑dimensional Star of David with a central wooden Ark of the Covenant.

Buddhist Shrine

1975

Buddhism

Honors the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Vivekananda Shrine

1976

Hinduism

Built in Orissa style, with a pyramidal assembly hall and back sanctum.

Native People's Shrine

1977

Native American Spirituality

An eagle overlooks the valley in a protective posture.

Sufi Shrine

1977

Islam · Sufi tradition

Five wooden columns for Islam's five pillars, facing east toward Mecca.

Sikh Shrine

2016

Sikhism

Displays Guru Nanak's image alongside the Om symbol.

Advaita Shrine

2017

Advaita Vedanta

At the property's highest point — a Shiva Lingam within a twelve‑sided structure.

Mind Mirage Seat

—

Jnana Yoga

A seasonal vernal pool symbolizing the eternal substratum.

Jain Shrine

—

Jainism

Honors Bhagavan Mahavir Swami and Jain ethical teaching.

Shinto Gate (Torii)

2021

Japanese Shintoism

Marks the transition from the secular to the sacred, the finite to the infinite.

Getting there

Visit & directions

The retreat sits about 25 minutes from downtown Portland, in the hills above Scappoose. Parking is limited to a small area near the cul‑de‑sac — please don't block neighboring driveways.

Buildings, including the Main Temple, are closed to the public outside of special occasions; the grounds and shrines are open for walking every day, dawn to dusk.

Vedanta Retreat

23000 NW Gilkison Rd
Scappoose, OR 97056

~25 min from downtown Portland

Get directions →

1157 SE 55th Avenue, Portland

Vedanta Temple, Portland

Daily worship since 1968

The base that makes the forest sanctuary possible — daily worship, weekly classes, and the community the retreat draws on, all under the same Society founded in 1925.

Founding & leadership

A century in Portland

The Vedanta Society of Portland was established on October 6, 1925, by Swami Prabhavananda, who came from San Francisco at the invitation of interested Portland residents. It was incorporated in 1928, and is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, headquartered at Belur Math, India. A year‑long Centenary Celebration, eighteen monthly sessions hosting monastics from across the Order, opened on October 4, 2025 and concludes with this Convention.

1925Swami Prabhavananda founds the Society on October 6; incorporated 1928.
1932–54Swami Devatmananda serves through the Depression and expands the Society's facilities and programs, including the Retreat.
1955–96Swami Aseshananda introduces the structured daily worship still kept today.
1968The Society purchases its current home at 1157 SE 55th Avenue.
1981–83Holy Mother's House and Sri Sarada House are established for women devotees.
2016Swami Chandrashekharananda becomes the Society's current spiritual head.

The shrine room at the City Temple — The shrine room, Vedanta Temple

This week

Daily & weekly schedule

ServiceWhenFormat

Daily Worship8:30–9:30amIn person, every day

Vesper Service6:30–7:30pmSinging, reading, and meditation

Guided MeditationSundays, before vespersOpen sitting

Sunday LectureSundaysClasses on the Bhagavad Gita and related topics

Ramanama SingingSundays, after AaratiGroup devotional singing

Weekly ClassesThrough the weekUpanishads, Vedanta philosophy, Holy Lives, Sanskrit

Fortnightly ClassesAlternating weeksAt the temple and in the Bethany area

Exact days shift with the season and the visiting monastic calendar — call (971) 302-6918 to confirm before you visit.

Visit

Locations & hours

Main Temple

1157 SE 55th Ave
Portland, OR 97215

Mon–Sat, 10:30am–2:00pm
& 4:00–6:00pm

Holy Mother's House

7207 SE Salmon St
Portland, OR 97215

(503) 254‑1915

Practice & participation

Activities

The four yogas, lived weekly

Karma yoga, study, youth programs, and membership — the ways of practicing that run alongside daily worship, at both the temple and the retreat.

Selfless service

Karma yoga

At the Vedanta Temple

Hands-on service around the temple grounds and community.

Second or third Saturdays

At the Vedanta Retreat

Grounds work and trail maintenance among the shrines, open to volunteers.

First Saturday · April–October · 10am–1pm

Practice

Yoga & study

Currently suspended

Free Yoga Classes

Previously held Mondays at no charge, donations welcome. Contact the Society to ask when they may resume.

Weekly

Study Classes

Upanishads, Vedanta philosophy, Holy Lives of saints, and Sanskrit, offered through the week at the temple.

For young people

Youth & children's programs

Framed as a continuation of Swami Vivekananda's own devotion to young people, the youth program addresses questions of purpose, duty, and spiritual identity through chanting, story, and study — online and in person.

ProgramWhenFormat

Veda Chanting & BhajanSundays, 8:30–9:45amOnline & in person

Awakening Vedantin4th Saturdays, 10am–1pmYouth conference & group meetings

Children's ProgramVariesVeda chanting group & singing

Belonging

Membership

Membership supports both the temple and the retreat, and comes with library borrowing, a bookstore discount, voting rights at the Board's annual October meeting, and access to guest rooms at the retreat for personal stays.

Annual Membership

$60 / person / year

Life Membership

$1,200 / person

To join, contact the Minister in Charge at vedantapdx@gmail.com. Dues can be paid by PayPal, Venmo, check, or employer matching programs.

Through the year

Pujas & nature programs

Outside the centenary weekend, these are the gatherings that recur every year at the temple and the retreat.

ObservanceWhenWhere

Kali PujaAnnualVedanta Temple

Durga PujaAnnualVedanta Temple

Holy Mother PujasAnnualVedanta Temple

Swami Vivekananda CelebrationAnnualVedanta Temple

Interfaith Freedom FestJuly 4thRetreat

Antar‑Yoga3× yearly, 10am–5pmRetreat

Unwind in Nature2× yearlyRetreat

Beyond the convention

The Retreat & the Society

One hundred years, two homes

The centenary belongs to a Society that has kept a city temple on SE 55th and a 289-acre forest sanctuary in the Scappoose hills since 1925. Here's the rest of it.

The Vedanta Society of Portland, on SE 55th Avenue — Vedanta Temple, Portland · SE 55th Avenue · since 1968

The Main Temple at the Vedanta Retreat, Scappoose — The Main Temple · Vedanta Retreat, Scappoose · 1953

Where to begin

Explore the Society

Study & media

Resources

Texts, talks, and recordings

Books, bulletins, hymns, and the Society's video and audio archive — most held on the Society's own site, linked here rather than copied.

Reading

Texts & teaching

Watch & listen

Media & recordings

Video

Lectures, pujas, and retreat footage on the Society's YouTube channel.

Audio

Talks and chanting archived on SoundCloud.

Zoom

Live remote access to select classes and services.

Documented pujas include Kali Puja, Durga Puja, Holy Mother Pujas, and the Swami Vivekananda Celebration. Links live on the Society's own Media page. For the Centenary Song, video archive, and photographs from the year‑long celebration, see this site's own .

Reach the Society

Contact & FAQ

Questions, answered plainly

Convention logistics first, then the questions people most often ask about Vedanta itself.

Convention questions

Before you come

Is the convention at the Scappoose retreat?+

No. All three days are held at HECSA Portland Balaji Temple in Portland's west hills, not on the retreat grounds in Scappoose.

What's included in my ticket?+

Standard tickets (Adult/Senior/Student) include 3 lunches and 2 dinners across the weekend. Donor registrations include all meals and refreshments, plus time with the visiting monastics.

Where should I stay?+

Two Beaverton hotels — the Hilton Garden Inn Portland/Beaverton and the EVEN Hotel Portland–Beaverton — carry pre‑negotiated rates for the weekend. See the Venue & Travel page.

Who do I ask about registration?+

pdxvedantaconvention@gmail.com handles convention-specific questions; the Society's general line below covers everything else.

Get in touch

Contact

Convention

pdxvedantaconvention
@gmail.com

Society (general)

(971) 302‑6918
(971) 331‑1449
vedantapdx@gmail.com

Vedanta Temple, Portland

1157 SE 55th Ave
Portland, OR 97215

Vedanta Retreat, Scappoose

23000 NW Gilkison Rd
Scappoose, OR 97056

Common questions

About Vedanta

What is Vedanta?+

A combination of "Veda" (knowledge) and "anta" (its end, or essence) — the pursuit of Self-knowledge and the path to God, drawn from the end portions of the Vedic scriptures.

Are Hindus polytheistic?+

No. Practitioners are understood as monotheistic; God is held to manifest in many aspects and forms suited to each seeker, from the personal to the impersonal.

Who is God, in this teaching?+

Described as Sat‑Chit‑Ananda — Absolute Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss — dwelling within every heart as divine consciousness.

What is central to the practice?+

The Four Yogas: Karma Yoga (service), Raja Yoga (meditation), Jnana Yoga (knowledge), and Bhakti Yoga (devotion) — different paths to the same end, and the theme of four sessions at this year's convention.

What do they teach about the afterlife?+

"The Self never dies; it goes from one body to another" — a continuous spiritual journey rather than a single life and judgment.

How does ethics factor in?+

Through the Yamas (restraints, such as truthfulness and nonviolence) and Niyamas (observances, such as cleanliness and contentment) shared across yogic traditions.