VIVEKANANDA COTTAGE

Vivekananda Cottage is a Victorian cottage and grounds on Wellesley Island, Thousand Island Park, New York.  Thousand Island Park is a remote area about 360 miles from New York City, on the St. Lawrence River, near the Canadian border.  The cottage was owned originally by Elizabeth Dutcher, an artist.  Vivekananda visited the cottage from June 18 to August 6, 1895.  He was invited there by Ms. Dutcher, who had attended his spiritual classes in New York City.

The property was purchased by The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center in 1947 as a spiritual retreat.  Since then it has been used as a summer retreat by the various leaders of the Center, Swami Nikhilananda, then Swami Adiswarananda, and currently Swami Yuktatmananda.  The second floor bedroom of the cottage where Swami Vivekananda studied and wrote is maintained as a shrine to him and a place for contemplation. A rock and tree about a quarter mile back of the cottage is the site where Vivekananda meditated and taught.

During most of the summer there are no classes or lectures at the Vivekananda Cottage, but devotees may attend the afternoon vespers (arati) and meditation at the Cottage at 4:30 PM. The exception to this is when Swami Yuktatmananda conducts his "seminar classes,” usually in late summer.  During the seminar days, the program includes morning meditation followed by Swami’s discourse and discussion, afternoon vespers (arati) and meditation, and evening readings and discussion. Those who wish to attend the classes are requested to seek permission from the Center in advance.