Diwali, Festival of Lights, Los Angeles (11/13)

This post covers five Diwali celebrations in the Los Angeles area, one on Thursday (Oct. 20), one on Saturday, Oct. 22, two on Sunday, Oct. 23, one on Monday, Oct. 24, and the largest on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. The first and last are FREE, but the other three request a voluntary donation.

Diwali: Celebrating Oneness Nov. 13, 2022

FREE: Diwali, India's "Festival of Lights" is a celebration of ONENESS or nonduality (advaita), with speakers from various faiths, cultural performances, experiential meditation, and a free vegetarian lunch. More

When and where

• Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
• Sanatan Dharma ("Eternal Truth") Temple
• 15311 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650

• Celebrate Diwali, New Moon Meditation, Puja, Healing Fire Ceremony + Eclipse, Monday, Oct 24, 2022, 6:00 PM | Meetup

Art of Living, LA: Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022

Krishna the cowherd loves the flute

All are cordially invited to attend “Diwali: Festival of Lights’’ -- an evening of celebrating joy, music, culture, and peace at the historic Art of Living Dome in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, October 23rd. 

Diwali is an age-old festival of lights traditionally originating in India. It celebrates peace, prosperity, and victory of light over darkness, and harmony for all.

During this event held for the Los Angeles community, coming together to connect, celebrate, and welcome the light of peace and prosperity into our lives, joy will reign above all else.

Diwali? Originating from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, it literally means rows (avali) of lights (deepa). This Festival of Lights symbolizes the vanquishing of ignorance (darkness) by the knowledge (light).

There are four aspects of Diwali:

1. Lighting of lamps. The lights on Diwali are symbolic of spreading knowledge.
2. Firecrackers: When an explosion happens on the outside, the explosion inside is diffused. This is the significance of firecrackers.
3. Distribution of sweets. Sweets dispel bitterness and are symbolic of a renewed friendship.
4. Feeling the abundance. It is a day to feel grateful for all that we have.

The celebration will begin with a short breathing and meditation session to relax the mind and feel the peace and joy within. When true wisdom dawns it gives rise to celebration, and in celebration we may lose focus or awareness.

So let us celebrate this Diwali with knowledge and feel the abundance. For those who have will be given more! This event will have all the aspects of celebration, which includes:

• Laxmi Puja (devotional ceremony to Lakshmi),
• followed by lighting lamps (diyas/tealight candles provided): There is an opportunity to make a personal sankalpa (deep wish) and offering. Sankalpa is a deep intention, since every manifestation has an intention behind it. We have many desires or intentions, however not all intentions come to fruition or manifestation. The process of taking a sankalpa is an ancient Vedic technique that uses mantras to invite the energy of the universe to help strengthen and manifest our intentions.
• Lighting lamps and dance performances
• Meditation
• Dinner (vegetarian Indian cuisine).

All are welcome, and anyone who comes for the event can witness the puja (sacred ceremony). Come celebrate the light of happiness, joy, and SELF. FREE-$51: Tickets (Eventbrite)

Things to do in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles Festivals, LA Community Festivals, #dance #food #music #musical #india #diwali #lightshow #weekend_activities #diwali2022 #lights_festival

• $0–$51 Tickets
• The Art of Living Rating 5 (3 reviews)
• Diwali, Art of Living Foundation, DTLA, Oct. 23, 7:00 PM

Diwali Festival with Kenwa, Tickets, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

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ART OF LIVING FOUNDATION

Organizer of Diwali Fest 2022: Festival of Lights operating in 152 countries, The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) is a non-profit, educational, and humanitarian organization founded in 1981 by the world-renown philanthropist and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (srisriravishankar.org). All of AOLF’s programs are guided by Sri Sri’s philosophy: “Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world peace.” The AOLF community is diverse and attracts people from all walks of life backgrounds and religious orientations. AOLF offers numerous highly effective educational and self-development programs and tools that facilitate the elimination of stress and foster deep and profound inner peace, happiness, and well-being for all individuals. These programs, which include breathing techniques, meditation, yoga, and practical wisdom for daily living, have helped millions around the world to completely transform their lives. In addition to these courses offered globally, AOLF, working in collaboration with The International Association for Human Values (IAHV), has successfully implemented numerous humanitarian projects and service initiatives including conflict resolution programs, disaster relief, sustainable rural development, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, education for all, and environmental sustainability. It has been said of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that not since Mahatma Gandhi has one person united so many people of different races, religions, traditions, economic and social status, and nationalities, creating a One World spiritual family across the globe. Sri Sri’s message is simple: “Love and wisdom can prevail over hatred and violence.” Happily, this message is not just a slogan but through AOLF has been and continues to be translated into action and results.

• Pasadena: Diwali Festival of Lights, at the Awareness Center with Kenwa, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 at 6:30 PM

Self-Realization Fellowship "India Night," Saturday, Oct. 22

The Glendale SRF is a jewel of architecture.

(Glendale Temple) SRF is presenting Diwali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights," which signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance. Delicious Indian dinner, followed by "Chai and Chatter," a kirtan (singing), and a shortened version of Glimpses of a Life Divine, a documentary on the life of Paramhansa Yogananda. Doors open at 5:00 pm, dinner served at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $20. To reserve, please call (909) 621-5023. Lots of help needed for this event. Volunteer.

Diwali at Ananda Ashram, Glendale (10/20)

Swami Vivekananda in the US

FREE: Thursday night is the celebration of India's "Festival of Lights" called Diwali. Group meditation, showing connection to all the world's great religions, is the focus of this heartwarming holiday celebration.

“My idea is NOT to bring here a Hindu creed or a Christian creed or a Buddhist creed, but to take the best out of ALL and embody the universal aspect of all. That is my dream.”

-Ananda Ashram Spiritual Center Founder Swami Paramananda

Female gurus are blessings to the world.

"We dedicate a symbol which represents the ideal of unity and oneness of all world Teacher…to place before the people of this country [USA] the wisdom and truth from all lands, classics, and scriptures, in fact, from the whole world, showing their underlying unity and harmony" (1938).

• RSVP: Festival of Lights, Thursday, Oct. 20, 7:00 PM

Thrive: "The Reality of Truth" (video)

Thrive Movement, April 12, 2017; Crystal Quintero, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Reality of Truth

(#TruthAwaits) The film offers a front row seat on an around-the-world exploration of how people, groups, and entire cultures tap into an alternative “true reality” through spirituality, meditation, and plant medicines. The movie features thought leaders from around the world -- including Bruce Lipton, Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass, Marianne Williamson, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Foster Gamble...

• VIDEO: (official) "THRIVE: What On Earth Will It Take?"
• To  stay informed, subscribe to THRIVE’s mailing list
• Learn about Foster and Kimberly's journey with Ayahuasca
• What is the Thrive Movement community doing?
• Check out Rythmia

The Buddhist "Goddess of Fortune" (Siri)

Dhr. Seven and Amber Larson, Wisdom Quarterly; G.P. Malalasekera (SiriKālakanni Jātaka, Rebirth Tale 382), Dictionary of Pali Proper Names (Pali Text Society)

Siri is a sultry spy! She reports our dirty questions back to Apple (Digital Trends)

Sri Lakshmi, or Laxmi-ji, is based on Buddhist Siri and Uppalavanna (godwallpapers4all)

  

Khema and Uppalavanna (DS)

Once upon a time the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be) was a merchant in Benares. And because his household observed good rules, he came to be called "Pure Household[er]" (Suciparivāra). He kept an unused bed and couch for anyone purer than himself who might visit.

One day Sirī devi, the goddess daughter of Dhatarattha, and Kālakannī devi, the goddess daughter of Virūpakka, came to bathe in Anotatta Lake. Then a quarrel arose as to who should bathe first.

 

Born from a blue lotus (BLHD)

As neither the Four Great Sky Regents nor Sakka, King of the Devas, were willing to decide, they referred the two goddesses to "Pure Household[er]."

First Kālakannī appeared before the Bodhisatta, dressed in blue raiments and jewels and, asked her qualities, she told him and was dismissed. Then came Sirī, emanating a yellow radiance.
 

Oh, Siri, you feel so good!

And the Bodhisatta, discovering her virtues and identity, welcomed Sirī and offered her his unused couch. The dispute was thereby settled.
   

India is steeped in Laxmi lore (HK)

The bed used by Sirī came to be called Siri-saya, hence the origin of Sirisa-yana [yana = vehicle, platform].
 

Sirī is identified with Uppalavannā Theri (Jataka.iii. 257-64), the Buddha's chief female disciple who, like the monk Maha Moggallana, was declared "foremost in magical powers" [and is likely to be the historical Lakshmi].
 

Her latest incarnation(s)

4s, 5s, 6sx...Siri has become the most-spoken-to-by-men woman in the world.

 

The goddess ScarJo in Avengers II

Interestingly, Siri was reborn in recent years as the brainchild of St. Jobs (from heaven or, uh). She is now the omniscient voice of the Apple-branded iPhone (a favorite of NSA/CIA spying as consumers buy and carry their own monitoring devices) -- pleasant, pretty as a sylph-ghost, and polite as her beautiful name suggests.

Beauty reduced to mere "sex object"

More interestingly, the new Hollywood feature-length film about her, "Her [Siri]" features Scar Jo as "Samantha," the coarse goddess of our day: alluring, attractive, awesome, but did you see her in "Don Jon" as a hoarse Jersey guidette?
 
After all, she came to fame in "Lost in Translation" not so much as an ingenue but as a bodacious (holding her body back from spilling out with a safety pin) boob from Yale trying to find herself in the shadow of others in Buddhist Japan with a creepy crush on a faltering father figure from back home.

Scarlett Johannson as Siri -- correction, Sami -- with Joaquin Phoenix

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Holy Mother (Amma Sri Karunamayi) in LA

Wisdom Quarterly; KarunaMayi.org

This is an introduction to Amma Sri Karunamayi, revered in India as a manifestation of the Divine Mother. She travels the world teaching meditation and promoting world peace and unity among all people and religions. Amma has many charitable missions which she supports in India and encourages us all to participate in our home countries by volunteering and engaging in charity of all kinds.

• Amma in Los Angeles, March 31-April 7, 2013
• (213) 268-2260 or email LosAngeles@Karunamayi.org
• March 31: Sri Ashta Lakshmi Temple, North Hollywood (puja)
• April 4: AHIAH Center for Spiritual Living (darshan)
• April 5: AHIAH, Pasadena (Saraswati mantra diksha)
• April 6: Angelus Mountain Center (meditation)
• April 7: Sri Ashta Lakshmi (Homa Sacred Fire Ceremony)

Sri Lakshmi in Buddhism, Goddess of Luck

Amol N. Bankar (edited by Wisdom Quarterly)

Lakshmi on a lotus (eaglespace.com)

In Buddhist literature Sri (Siri) or Lakshmi (Lakkhi, possibly related to "lucky") is the goddess of fortune and beauty. "The Questions of King Milinda" (Milindapanha), a later Theravada Buddhist work, mentions her cult and and her followers.

In the Dhammapada Commentary (Atthakatha) she is simply the goddess that gives luck to the kingdom (raja siridayika devata). In the Siri Jataka ("Rebirth Story"), Siri is the personification of Luck.

The rebirth story is told in reference to a brahmin who tried to steal Anathapindika's good fortune (his siri). Lakkhi -- the Pali equivalent of Lakshmi, the goddess of beauty and fortune -- is a name found usually only in later works. The word Lacchi, however, is probably equivalent to Lakkhi.

In the Sirikalakanni Jataka, Siri -- also known as Siri Mata (Mother Siri) -- was the daughter of Dhatarattha, King (or regent) of the Eastern Quarter, one of the Four Great Sky Kings (Catummaharajika). He is chief of the lowly celestial musicians (gandhabbas).

(Terri/Flickr)

She is identified with Uppalavanna, an extremely beautiful Buddhist nun who was one of the Buddha's two chief female disciples. She is connected with the east, in association with Asa in the South, Saddha in the West, and Hiri in the North.

In the Sarabhanga Jataka Sakka's four daughters are mentioned. Sakka is almost always described as Sakka Devanam Indo, Sakka King (chief) of the Gods (devas). He reigns in the Celestial World of the Thirty-three (Tavatimsa) as well as ruling the Four Great Kings in a subordinate celestial world. His daughters are named Asa, Saddha, Hiri, and Siri.

The Sudhabhojana Jataka recounts a rebirth story when the four daughters went to Anotatta to play in the water. There they saw Narada under a paricchattaka-flower, which he was using as a sunshade. Each asked him for that flower. Narada said he would give it to the best of them then referred them to Sakka. Sakka sent a cup of ambrosia (sudhabhojana) to Kosiya.

He proclaimed that the daughter who succeeded in persuading Kosiya to share his special drink with her would be judged best. After listening to all of their claims, he decided in favor of Hiri.

When Kosiya died and was reborn in Tavatimsa (the second celestial world where Sakka reigns as lord among the devas there). Sakka gave him Hiri to be his wife and also a share of the kingdom.

In Maitribala Jataka we find her association with the lotus. In past lives she was frequently performing meritorious deeds with various buddhas involving blue lotuses, which led to remarkable anomalies related to flowers as her good karma came to fruition in later lives.


Buddhist nun Uppalavanna as Sri Lakshmi on the coins of the Licchavis in Nepal

Sirikalakanni Rebirth Story
The story related in the Sirikalakanni Jataka is that the Bodhisattva (the buddha-to-be) was once a merchant of Benares named Suciparivara ("pure household"). He kept an unused couch and bed for anyone who might come to his house whom he deemed purer than himself.

One day Kalakanni, the daughter of King Virupakka, and Siri, the daughter of King Dhatarattha, went to bathe in Anotatta. A quarrel arose about who should bathe first. As neither any of the Four Great Kings nor Sakka were willing to decide the matter, they referred the two goddesses to Suciparivara.

Lakshmi emerges from a water lotus like the Indian version of the "Birth of Venus."

Kalakanni first appeared before Suciparivara in blue garments and jewels. Being asked to state her qualities, she told him and was then dismissed. Next came Siri, diffusing a yellow radiance. The Bodhisattva, discerning her identity and virtues, welcomed her and offered her his unused couch. Thus, the dispute was settled. The bed used by Siri came to be known as the Sirisaya [possibly referring to a vimana, a platform, palanquin, or spacecraft used by devas, a "UFO" in modern terms], hence the origin of Sirisayana ("royal bed" or "state couch").