Who We Are
The Institute of Living Universal Values (LUV), the Northern Colorado Vedanta Society, is a nonprofit organization incorporated January 1, 2004, dedicated to the development of universal moral and spiritual values and to promoting interfaith education and cooperation. We would like to create a spiritual center where people of like minds may come and find a spiritual home or resource. The "Golden Rules" and the "Four Yogas" are important aspects of the universal teachings.
The special guardians of LUV are Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda of Hindu Vedanta origins. Revered Swami Sarvagatananda of Boston/Providence defined modern Hindu Vedanta thus: "Vedanta means spiritual Wisdom. It is a way of living and realizing. It gives full freedom to each individual to evolve morally and spiritually according to his or her own faith and conviction." This is the special interpretation which LUV endeavors to practice. There are many websites which tell more about Vedanta such as www.vedanta.org
Sri Ramakrishna, the great mystic and great embodiment of the Four Yogas, taught through conversation, parables, song and dance, such wonderful teachings as, "There are errors in all paths (religions). God to whom the whole world belongs takes care of that. Everyone thinks his watch alone is right, but as a matter of fact, no watch is absolutely right. As far as possible, correct your watch with the help of a holy person." (The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna pp. 673, 559)
Sri Sarada Devi, as already described on the Home Page, was the Mother of one and all, even a poor Muslim who sometimes supported his family by stealing. She once prepared a sweet dish for sharing at a Mosque. There was no compulsion in her to convert anyone, just to see the potential value of all. She was the first disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, and also his wife. They bore no children, but Holy Mother did raise up two young girls, was the oldest sister to an extended family and was the spiritual Mother to countless others from around the world.
Swami Vivekananda has been credited with first bringing the wisdom of "the yogas" to the West. The story of his questioning of Sri Ramakrishna, his wandering around all of India after Sri Ramakrishna's death, and his coming to the USA in 1893 to become the Hindu representative at the first Parliament of World Religions is remarkable. He taught, "Although a person has not studied a single philosophy; although he does not believe in any God—if the simple power of good actions has brought him to that state where he is ready to give up his life and all else for others, he has arrived at the same point to which the religious person will come through his prayers. All meet at one point—unselfishness." (Complete Works of Vivekananda I:86)
The Insititue of Living Universal Values was first organized by Pravrajika (Wandering Sister). Akhanda-prana, Mrs. Sivea Key and Mrs. Melissa Shay, with the blessings of revered Swami Sarvagatananda and revered Swami Swahananda. Pr. Akhanda-prana has been a nun at the Vedanta Society of Southern California for 30 years and has been actively working with children and members there. She first learned about Vedanta while living in Boston. She now also helps to manage the Ramakrishna Vedanta Ashrama of Phoenix, Arizona and lives there much of the time.
Sivea Key or "Seva" of Fort Collins is a mom, wife, computer programmer, and has experience teaching pre-school, as an Odyssey of the Mind coach and as a group moderator. Melissa Shay is a mom, junior college counselor, and teacher of relaxation techniques and meditation techniques to junior college students.