Fridays at 7:00 PM

Meditation and Arati

We have Meditation and Arati every Friday, led by different people.

When Namadeva is in town, he will teach the Gayatri nyasas/disciplines, teaching how to do the mantra touching the fingers, eyes, head, shoulders for protection. We will sing bajans to begin, then Gayatri Meditation and Arati - one hour and a half.

Gayatri Mandir/Temple. See directions listed below.
RSVP for this event by email.
For regular notices of events at the temple, please join the online Gayatri Temple Meetup group.

July 20th, 2:00 pm

Panduranga Yagna/Fire Ceremony Organized by Thomas Ashley-Farrand (Founder, Acharaya, Priest)

Panduranga is the avatar in a white-light body. He is the Kalki Avatar, the last to come to aid humanity, after which we will be evolved enough spiritually not to need outside help but to generate our own high teachers. Panduranga and Rukmini will incarnate together at the end of Kali Yuga (spiritual winter), end the darkness and bring humanity into spirtual spring. We will be chanting 1000 Names of Panduranga, Vijaya Vittala, as we offer ghee/oil into the fire. We will be getting rid of karma, while coming away peaceful and highly energized.

Gayatri Mandir/Temple. See directions listed below.
RSVP for this event by email.
or online at the Gayatri Temple Meetup group.

Cost: Love donation for Dharma Satsang,
suggested amount is $15, Pay with PayPal

Gayatri Mandir/Temple

    12020 SW 1st Street **
    Beaverton, OR 97005
    Contact: 503-627-0215, or email Satyabhama.
    RSVP for any events by email or online at the Gayatri Temple Meetup group.

    ** The Gayatri Temple is located on the corner of 1st & Lombard, 1 block south of Farmington (10), and just west of the 217. Parking lot entrance is on 1st, just west of the front door. Max stop is Beaverton Transit Center, walk south on Lombard to 1st St. (Lombard stops at Canyon and picks up again 1 block south.)

    The temple schedule will include pujas, yagnas, workshops, mantra classes, spiritual movies (Tukaram, Ramayana, etc..) and we have books, CDs, DVDs by Namadeva to share.

Our Vision

The name Sanatana Dharma Satsang is a Sanskrit phrase that, loosely translated, means the ancient law/right path gathering of people together to learn and share spiritual teachings.

More specifically, Sanatana Dharma Satsang is a nonprofit organization that teaches and promotes:

  • The practice of ancient wisdom techniques, including especially mantra and meditative disciplines from the Vedic and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. The goals of such practice include enlightenment, prosperity, and healing on all levels of the body, mind and spirit. Another important goal is the ability to help other people to also experience such benefits.
      
  • Respect and understanding for all the world's great spiritual traditions, in the sure faith that although their specific doctrines may differ, their deepest essence comes from the same divine well of inspiration. In the words of Sadguru Sant Keshavadas, "Truth is One, many are the names."

Leadership

Sanatana Dharma Satsang's founder and president is Thomas Ashley-Farrand, one of the Western world's foremost authorities on the application of Sanskrit Mantra to life's problems. Since 1968, Mr. Ashley-Farrand has been studying and intensively practicing spiritual techniques of the East.  In 1972, he received Kriya initiation from the Self Realization Fellowship. Mr. Ashley-Farrand began practicing extensive mantra-based spiritual disciplines in 1973. From 1973-1984, he was the priest for the Temple of Cosmic Religion (Sanatana Vishwa Dharma) in Washington, D.C., first as priest-in-residence where he performed ancient Sanskrit ceremonies (pujas) twice daily, and later as traveling priest based in Southern California. In 1974, he received initiation from Sadguru Sant Keshavadas into the universal mantra for spiritual illumination, the Gayatri Mantra, and other mystical formulas. He also studied with Christian mystic Dr. Leon Wright of Howard University. In 1975, he received Tibetan spiritual empowerments from the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa.

In 1978, Mr. Ashley-Farrand journeyed to India where he met a wide variety of spiritual teachers both famous and unknown. There, he astonished swamis, pundits, shastris and others with his intonation and pronunciation of complex Sanskrit mantras, slokas and spiritual formulas. A highlight of his trip there came as he was blessed by two of the most prominent spiritual personages in all of India, each having spiritual authority over more than 150 million people, H. H. Pejor Math Swami, and Sri Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati Maha Swamigal.

Since 1982, when he moved to California, he has conducted meditations and ceremonies in people's homes, local colleges and for various religious organizations. He and his wife, Satyabhama, received empowerments from Kalu Rimpoche, the Dalai Lama and Sakya Jetsun Chiney Luding (Jetsun Ma), an eminent woman Lama from Tibet.They have recently moved to Portland, Oregon.

Temple Project

The Gayatri Temple is located at 12020 SW First Street, Beaverton, OR 97005. Telephone: 503/627-0215. Email: satyabhama@dharmasatsang.org.

The temple schedule will include pujas, workshops, mantra classes, spiritual movies (Tukaram, Ramayana, etc.), and we have books, CDs, DVDs by Thomas Ashley-Farrand/Namadeva to share.

All are invited to join hindu.meetup.com/79 to receive regular announcements of events at the Gayatri Temple, and give us some information on what you would like to experience at the temple. Please take the poll at the Meetup.

Next, we plan to obtain 15-25 acres in the Willamette Valley on which to build a Gayatri Temple, with alters to other deities. The land will have dome homes and dormatory facilities for workshop attendees. We plan to grow herbs, vegetables and fruits, and use as much renewable energy as possible. Part of the space would be used to host several different types of healers.

Please note that the Temple Project will not replace Thomas's ongoing practice of conducting pujas at the homes of devotees. These "home style" pujas have been a powerful experience for all concerned, and aside from generating special blessings for the host/hostess, also provide a nice family atmosphere for all who attend.

Mantra Teacher Training Program

We are now offering certification as a minister through Sanatana Dharma Satsang, which will show your level of expertise and provide a shelter for spiritual counseling. This certification will be awarded after learning the materials and being tested by a written test and an oral test in person. The materials and a full explanation of the course can be found on our Sanskrit Mantras and Spiritual Power website.

Pujari and Priest Training Program

Once the Temple is established, we plan to train and ordain priests in the practice of Puja and Yajna (Fire Ceremony). Baby blessings, weddings, funerals (obsequis) and other standard activities will be part of the training. Right now, two levels of certification are envisioned: Pujari and Priest. The training that is envisioned will be rigorous, in line with the principles of higher education. A combination program of mail or Internet lessons together with on-site learning and residency requirements is being considered.

How You Can Help

  • The sages have often said that seva, or selfless service, is the most powerful practice for spiritual advancement. If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity for service, you can assist the Temple Project in any of the following ways:
      
  • Send tax-deductible contributions in the form of checks or money orders, made out to Sanatana Dharma Satsang. The address is 

Sanatana Dharma Satsang
3300 NW 185th Avenue, #92
Portland, OR 97229-3406

  • Make an online donation using PayPal. You may use your regular credit/debit card at PayPal. Click on the donation button below.

For Further Information

For further information about publications and programs lead by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, refer to the Sanskrit Mantras and Spiritual Power website.

2008 Sanatana Dharma Satsang