var  thePix = {"photos":[
{"filename":"md1","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Prabuddhananda, Swami Ishtananda, Brother Phap Ho and Brother Phap Dien stand in front of the Memorial Day meeting Tent.  Brothers Phap Ho and Phap Dien belong to the Plum Village Tradition of Vietnamese Buddhism.  Phap Ho is a disciple of the Zen Master Thic Nath Han.","link":""},
{"filename":"md2","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The women's choir of the Vedanta Society singing the welcoming song for the Memorial Day Festival.","link":""},
{"filename":"md3","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Brother Phap Ho listening to Swami Ishtananda's lecture.  Brother Phap Ho is now the head of the Deer Park Buddhist monastery in Escondido, California.","link":""},
{"filename":"md4","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Vedananda, the swami in charge of the Olema Retreat takes delight in introducing the speakers at the celebration.","link":""},
{"filename":"md5","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Brother Phap Dien sounds the bell in preparation for meditation at the Retreat.","link":""},
{"filename":"md6","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Brother Phap Ho speaks on practical spiritual life as Swamis Prabuddhananda and Ishtananda listen on.","link":""},
{"filename":"md7","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"A close up of Brother Phap Ho with his warm disposition while speaking to the attendees of the Memorial Day Spiritual Retreat.","link":""},
{"filename":"md8","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Spiritual aspirants and curious onlookers listen intently to the monks discourses on spiritual practice.","link":""},
{"filename":"md10","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Ishtananda listening carefully to questions from the audience.","link":""},
{"filename":"md13","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The lunch bell rings, summoning the 800 attendees to lunch provided by the Vedanta Society.  It was a great day to picnic on the yard.","link":""},
{"filename":"md14","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"In the shade of the men's retreat house, the attendees are served lunch.","link":""},
{"filename":"md15","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Fresh fruit from the orchard is laid out for everyone to enjoy.","link":""},
{"filename":"md16","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Lunch and an evening meal are served by members of the Vedanta Society.","link":""},
{"filename":"md17","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Books on many of the world's religions and religious thought are available in the bookshop tent for the day.","link":""},
{"filename":"md18","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Vedananda speaks with some of the guests during a break from the lectures.","link":""},
{"filename":"md19","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Mahayogananda salutes some devotees outside the men's retreat house.  The monks are available for discussion throughout the day.","link":""},
{"filename":"md20","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Caleb Kushing, Brother Phap Dien, Brother Phap Ho, Swami Ishtananda and Swami Mahayogananda submit to a photo op.","link":""},
{"filename":"md21","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Houston Smith is always an honored guest for the festival.  Everyone was glad to see him make it to the event this year.","link":""},
{"filename":"md22","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The Society's men's choir belts out an afternoon song to prepare for the afternoon sessions.","link":""},
{"filename":"md23","topic":"Memorial Day","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Prabuddhananda leads the quiet meditation in the afternoon.  It is a time for thinking of the divine in one's own way.","link":""},


{"filename":"sa01","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Prabuddhananda is doing the worship in the original meditation cabin.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa02","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Prabuddhananda is speaking to the attendees about the struggle to find the divine.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa03","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The swamis and devotees gather on the meadow for a picnic in the afternoon.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa04","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swamis Sarvadevananda and Prapannananda enjoy the shade of an old oak tree together.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa05","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Vedananda leads the historical tour of the ashram every year.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa06","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Another photo of Swami Prabuddhananda during his teaching of the scriptures.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa07","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Mahayogananda addresses the devotees at the ashram for the first time.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa08","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"A beautiful vista of the San Antonio Valley from the Ashram.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa09","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The devotees and swamis offer flowers to their chosen ideal.  The photo is of Sri Ramakrishna, the origin of the monastic order at the Vedanta Society.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa10","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Mahayogananda, Santosha, Ryan and Kevin share a moment outside the kitchen cabin.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa11","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"A view from the original Om Tree meditation site toward the original cabins still standing after 100 years!","link":""},
{"filename":"sa12","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"This is where the old barn used to stand.  It is looking much more beautiful these days with the spring flowers.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa13","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The spring wild flowers blanketed the ashram this year because of the late rains.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa14","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"A large meeting tent is built outside the original meditation cabin for the lectures and devotional singing.  It is constructed the week before by members of the monastery and devotees.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa15","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"A closeup of those yellow flowers that carpet the valley.  Their faces follow the sun across the sky each day.  I think the word is heliotropic. (Sw. Vedananda told me.  grin)","link":""},
{"filename":"sa16","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami offers light at the shrine in the meditation cabin during the main worship.  Swami Sarvadevananda from Hollywood center meditates in the background.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa17","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The shrine as it is decorated by the nuns of the convent.  Incidentally it marks the spot where Swami Turiyananda would sit when the original aspirants would gather for meditation.  Pictured are Sri Ramakrishna (center), Swami Vivekananda (left) and Sri Sarada Devi (right).","link":""},
{"filename":"sa18","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Sarvadevananda, Swami Mahayogananda, Swami Prabuddhananda and Swami Prapannananda indulge the photographer with a kodak moment on the meadow.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa19","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"A photo from inside of the tent during the program.  The sides were removed because of the exceptionally beautiful weather this year.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa20","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Gopa and Ardendu Raha singing a beautiful traditional Indian song during the day.  Prakash is absorbed in playing the cymbals just behind the microphone.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa21","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Prapannananda of the Sacramento society offers a few devotional words to urge the aspirants onward.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa22","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Sarvadevananda tries to give words to the indescribable as he teaches the essence of Vedanta.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa23","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"Swami Prabuddhananda.","link":""},
{"filename":"sa24","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"events","special":"","caption":"The Sacramento choir leads the devotional singing in the afternoon.","link":""},


{"filename":"nt01","topic":"New Temple","album":"nt","special":"","caption":"The main shrine for the Vedanta Society of Northern California.  The images (from right to left) are Jesus, Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Buddha.","link":""},
{"filename":"nt02","topic":"New Temple","album":"nt","special":"","caption":"The temple for the Vedanta Society of Northern California at the corner of Filmore and Vallejo in San Francisco.","link":""},
{"filename":"nt03","topic":"New Temple","album":"nt","special":"","caption":"The Sri Sarada Library on the top floor of the Vedanta Temple.  It houses a collection of over 10,000 books from many of the worlds religions and sciences.","link":""},
{"filename":"nt04","topic":"New Temple","album":"nt","special":"","caption":"The Sri Sarada Library offers a wonderful setting for study and reading of spiritual topics.  It is open Sundays and by appointment.","link":""},
{"filename":"nt05","topic":"New Temple","album":"nt","special":"","caption":"Vivekananda Hall in the New Temple.  Devotional concerts, weekly Gospel readings, special celebrations and monthly devotional singing are all held here.","link":""},
{"filename":"nt06","topic":"New Temple","album":"nt","special":"","caption":"The Vedanta Society bookshop offers and excellent selection of spiritual writings from the world&#8217s traditions.  They also offer holy pictures, incense, music and many other things.  The catalog is on this website.","link":""},
{"filename":"nt07","topic":"New Temple","album":"nt","special":"","caption":"A view of the Vedanta Society in San Francisco, established in 1900.  That is the Golden Gate bridge in the background.","link":""},
{"filename":"ot01","topic":"Old Temple","album":"ot","special":"","caption":"The Old Temple of the Vedanta Society of Northern California.  It was completed in 1906 and survived the famed earthquake.","link":""},
{"filename":"ot02","topic":"Old Temple","album":"ot","special":"","caption":"The main shrine of the Old Temple.  Swami Trigunatita (a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna) spoke from this pulpit.","link":""},
{"filename":"ot03","topic":"Old Temple","album":"ot","special":"","caption":"The rooftop of the Old Temple.  The corner turret was originally used as a shrine.  Each tower represents a different world religious tradition.","link":""},
{"filename":"ot04","topic":"Old Temple","album":"ot","special":"","caption":"A photo from an original postcard of the old temple, circa 1908.  Modern day Vedantists will be impressed by all the available parking in the photo.  ;-)","link":""},
{"filename":"ret01","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"The entrance avenue to the Vedanta Retreat in Olema.  Please drive 20mph and close the gate behind you.  grin.","link":""},
{"filename":"ret02","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"The men&#8217s retreat house in Olema.  Guests may stay several days a month for spiritual practices in their own tradition.  There is a small library and meditation room on the first floor open to both men and women.","link":""},
{"filename":"ret03","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"The road leading to the old quarry.  It is an excellent trail for walking meditations and loops back to the retreat house.","link":""},
{"filename":"ret04","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"The women&#8217s retreat house in Olema.  The perfect place for a few spiritual moments away from it all.","link":""},
{"filename":"ret05","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"Another view of the women&#8217s retreat house.  Each room has its own outdoor access and looks across this great meadow often filled with deer and turkeys.","link":""},
{"filename":"ret06","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"The back of the women&#8217s retreat house with a patio coming off of the living room area.","link":""},
{"filename":"ret07","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"The men&#8217s retreat house close up.  The Memorial Day spiritual retreat is held on this lawn.","link":""},
{"filename":"ret08","topic":"Shanti Ashram","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"A moody picture of the Shanti Ashram in the San Antonio Valley.  Come on the pilgrimage in April!","link":""},
{"filename":"ret09","topic":"Olema Retreat","album":"retreats","special":"","caption":"A quiet spot for meditation outside of the women&#8217s retreat house.  You can climb the hill behind you to the temple site.","link":""},
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