Vedanta Societies are, as the name implies, societies organized for the practice, study, and furtherance of the principles of Vedanta, generally as they were first espoused in the late nineteenth century by Swami Vivekananda during his historic visits to the United States. They are under the spiritual guidance of the Ramakrishna Order.
The first Vedanta Society was formed in New York in 1894; the second, in New York, was established in 1899. These centers, along with the general interest in Swami Vivekananda’s writing and speeches, paved the way for the subsequent American interest in yoga.
United States
Ramakrishna Vedanta Society, Boston
Website: https://vedantasociety.net/
Highly recommended, even if you are not in the Boston area.
Vedanta Society of New York
Website: https://www.vedantany.org/
Vedanta Society of Greater Houston
Website: https://www.houstonvedanta.org/vedanta/
Vedanta Society of Southern California
Website: https://vedanta.org/
Vedanta Society of Northern California
Website: https://sfvedanta.org/
Vedanta Society of Tucson
Website: https://vedantatucson.org/
Europe
Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre U.K.
Website: https://www.vedantauk.org/
India
Not technically a Vedanta Society because it is located in India, the Ramakrishna Mission was established by Swami Vivekananda in 1897.
Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission (HQ)
Website: https://belurmath.org/
PO Belur Math
Dist Howrah
West Bengal
India
A Word of Caution
Despite its similar name, the International Vedanta Society, founded in 1989, has no connection to the Vedanta Society founded by Swami Vivekananda. Please do not be misled.
You make yourselves suffer, you make good and evil, and it is you who put your hands before your eyes and say it is dark. Take your hands away and see the light; you are effulgent, you are perfect already, from the very beginning.
— Swami Vivekananda
