the berkeley vedanta society

the berkeley vedanta society is on 2455 bowditch - 3 blocks away from school. i went there last evening, to avail of the 6-7pm open hour for meditation. since this was my first time, i was let in by the swamiji who resides there. he also showed me around briefly, then let me be. the place is well-maintained, and has a grand appeal. the meditation room there is large, warm, and peaceful. it is perhaps a multi-purpose room where they also have regular discourses.

the peace and calm that comes from meditation is addictive. as i struggled with decision-making yesterday, a friend reminded me that any restlessness i felt was within the mind, not external. i used to know that, but how easy it is to forget when the mind plays truant. abandoning all other thought processes, i strove to slow down the mind, and sure enough - peace had regained its coveted spot. after spending almost an hour there, i was picked up by a friend i was to eat dinner with. he said i seemed intoxicated (read calm) the entire evening. the effects of meditation, no doubt. the world becomes purer everyday. after all, it is but a projection of what lies within.