A little known organization is owner of 4-acre property at 108th & Wornall

The 4-acre property at 108th and Wornall was purchased by the Vedanta Society. Photo Cates Auction. 

Vedanta Society is purchaser of 108th & Wornall property

By Jill Draper

The Vedanta Society of Kansas City was the top bidder for a ranch house on 4 acres at 10808 Wornall Rd., just south of the Village Cooperative. Vedanta comes from Hinduism, and recognizes universal spiritual laws that exist throughout the cosmos just like gravity, said Linda Prugh, secretary for the local society.

Prugh said the society plans to work with city officials to achieve new zoning and ADA-compliance for the property, which will be used for religious assembly and as a minister’s residence. She expects they also will need to improve the driveway for a better entrance and exit.

According to Cates Auction & Realty Co., the top bid for the 3,000+-square-foot stone and stucco home was $620,400. It includes a three-car garage, a finished basement, a tennis court, an outbuilding and a parking area in the back.

Vedanta is a worldwide nonprofit with 20 societies in the United States. One of the oldest (and some say broadest) spiritual philosophies, it is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. The Kansas City group has been located in a former house converted to a church at 8701 Ward Parkway since 1985. Parking has always been a problem, said Prugh, and since their activities are open to the public, they’ve been looking for a bigger space for years. She had no target date for the move.

A typical Vedanta service starts with time in the prayer room, followed by meditation and a program on a particular topic, Prugh said. She noted that many people who are involved with Vedanta also attend other churches, and the society honors holidays like Christmas, Easter and July 4th, because one of the founding monks, Swami Vivekananda, loved democracy and freedom. He came to the U.S. in 1893 and toured the country for three years, lecturing and holding classes.

Prugh, a former schoolteacher, was introduced to Vedanta when she was a teenager and asked her ballet teacher, whom she found to be unusual and energizing, about her philosophy of life. She was handed a book on Vedanta. “It goes with whatever faith you have. It helps to deepen spiritual practice,” she said.

The KC Vedanta Society is presenting a talk by interfaith minister Philip Goldberg and Swami Chetanananda on “India’s Impact on America’s Spiritual Landscape” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. The talk will be in Regnier Hall on the KU Edwards Campus, 12600 S. Quivera Rd. in Overland Park. The event is free and includes a reception and music. Contact info@vedantakc.org or 816-444-8045.