February 2011 - Volume 09 Number 02

Monthly Calendar z Thus Spake z "God is in all men, but all men are not in God; that is why we suffer."

… Sri

“You are the Self, the infinite Being, the pure, unchanging Consciousness, which pervades everything. Your nature is bliss and your glory is without stain. Because you identify yourself with the ego, you are tied to birth and death. Your bondage has no other cause.” … Shankaracharya

January 2011 Zushi Retreat The Holy Mother, Sri ’s Birth Anniversary Celebration Birthdays On January 16, the Vedanta Society of Japan celebrated the birth Swami Brahmananda anniversary of Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother at its monthly Zushi Saturday, Feb 05 Retreat. The day-long schedule began at 6AM with mangalaraty, Swami Monday, Feb 07 chanting and bhajans with a meditation from 6:30 to 7:30, followed by a Swami breakfast attended mainly by volunteer devotees that had stayed either Friday, Feb 11 at the Ashram/Center or at Holy Mother House accommodations for Sri Sri Ramakrishna Deva females and children. Flowers, fruits, baked goods and other articles for Sunday, Mar 06 worship and offering were then prepared. Zushi Retreat Celebration Sunday, 20 Mar At 11AM Swami Medhasananda conducted arati worship with the entire congregation then offering flowers (pushpanjali). Once all were seated Kyokai Events again the swami led Vedic peace chants. This was followed by selected readings of Holy Motherʼs spiritual message in both English and • January Zushi Retreat • Japanese. Swami then gave a brief talk entitled “Holy Motherʼs Method of Teaching” in English with translation by Ms. Yoko Sasaki before [con’t page 2] Sunday, Feb 20 Mangalariti, Chanting, Bhajan 6 AM Puja, Food Offering, Flower • The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi’s Offering, Reading from 11 AM In This Issue: Method of Teaching … page 3

‘The Power of the Teachings • Monthly Calendar … page 1 • Thought of the Month … page 4 of Swami Vivekananda’ • Thus Spake … page 1 Talk by Swami Medhasananda • A Story to Remember … page 6 • January 2011 Zushi Reteat Lunch / Afternoon Session The Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi’s • Swami Talks at Sophia University All, are welcome to attend! Birth Anniversary Celebration… page 1 … page 6 nnn

The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - February 20101 Vol. 09 No. 02 Page 1 of 10 Holy Mother Celebration [from page 1] before breaking for a prasad lunch.

The afternoon session continued with more readings from Holy Mother’s message. Swami Medhasananda then shared some lesser-known stories exemplifying Holy Mother’s unique nature and approach as a spiritual leader and teacher. Swami then invited Mr. Samudra Datta Gupta to sing a devotional song in his rich baritone voice and Lonnie then offered a few original devotional compositions in English including “Lord, Lord, Lord” from the Hollywood Men’s Choir of the 70s written by Rabindra Danks.

This was followed by tea at 4:30 PM with invitation to participate in evening vespers beginning at 6:15 PM. •

The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - January 20101 Vol. 09 No. 01 Page 2 of 10 January 2011 Zushi Retreat The Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi Birth Celebration

Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi’s Method of Teaching Morning and Afternoon Session Commentary by Swami Medhasananda

Why ‘Holy’ Mother? Someone once asked Swamiji why he was drinking Ganga water and he answered that he Welcome to Holy Mother’s birthday celebration. would not dare to face Holy Mother if there was One may wonder why we call her Holy Mother, or any impurity in him, so he drank Ganga water to sometimes Divine Mother, and not simply Sarada completely purify himself. Devi, or Mother Sarada Devi? Is this just a way to show respect to her or there is some other Why ‘Divine’ Mother? justification? While this demonstrates her holiness, why is she The very name Sarada means “one who gives sometimes called the Divine Mother? Some the essential things of our life”. In India it is a considerations are now needed. Do you think tradition to call an elderly lady “Mother”. Do we that God, who has created the universe and is then call Sarada Devi mother simply because worshipped by millions and millions of devotees, she was the wife of Sri Ramakrishna? Believing has done all this for egotistic reasons or pride? that she had no Do you think that the particular millions and millions uniqueness, some of devotees casual observers worshipping Jesus would think that she through the ages possessed no special make him egotistic? spiritual height of her Obviously not, and own. They simply that is why God is thought that since God and Jesus is a she was the wife of God-man. Holy Sri Ramakrishna, Mother was always devotees addressed the same serene, her like that out of calm, quiet being, respect. Well, no, she even though was a great woman devotees literally saint by her own worshipped her. This right, and by her own moment she would right she should receive the worship receive our respect. of devotees, the next moment she would rush to the kitchen and cook Holiness means purity, and a holy person is a for them, and after they had been fed she would person who is free from lustful acts or thoughts. then wash their dishes. That is of course true, but there is also a deeper meaning. Purity also means one free from greed, One devotee observed that the greatest proof of pride, jealousy, delusion, and all these vices. The Holy Mother’s divinity is that she is completely Holy Mother was free from all these vices from free from ego even though hundreds upon her very birth. hundreds of devotees literally worship her. These were not always ordinary people, as some were Generally speaking, a holy man acquires his famous scholars, or those in high government holiness after a great deal of struggle and posts or simply renown for their success or spiritual practice. But Holy Mother was not like wealth. We call her ‘Divine Mother’ because of that; she was not only pure, she could impart this egolessness. purity to others. She was the very embodiment of purity. We all know how pure and spiritual Additionally, can ordinary holy personages Swami Vivekananda was, but when he would go transform people? And can such holy people to meet and pay his respects to Holy Mother he take on the sufferings of others? The answers would drink Ganga water again and again. [con’t page 4] The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - February 20101 Vol. 09 No. 02 Page 3 of 10 Mother’s Method [from page 3] the most spiritually advanced could recognize. In fact, some of these great swamis, being fully are no and no. Yet we see in Holy Mother’s life aware of the divinity of the Mother would tremble how many devotees she transformed, while or become ecstatic when approaching her, very assuming their sufferings. Spiritual giants like unlike their behavior when meeting an ordinary Brahmanandaji and Premanandaji would say that person. From this we can understand why she is those people they could not spiritually entertain called The Divine Mother. due to the depth of their impure or negative samskaras, Mother would accept and transform Finally, after giving up the body, ordinary sages them. What better proof of the divine power of cannot reappear to teach devotees. Yet we see Holy Mother than this? Who can love all and love such reappearances in the lives of Jesus and all equally; whether man, woman or animal? No Krishna who are called God-men. This same ordinary sage can do that. Only God or a God- phenomenon we see in Holy Mother’s life and man can do that. No humanist and no member many attest to the fact that she would appear in of a common cause or rights group can love all answer to earnest prayer or in times of unusual equally. Again we see throughout Holy Mother’s trouble. She in fact declared, “My child if you life how she loved all and loved all equally. have any trouble, remember always that you have Mother, and I will be with you and I will take Another consideration care of your is that we can neither problems.” What scale the height nor great assurance for fathom the depth of humanity! her spirituality. Only a diamond dealer can God as Mother appreciate the true value of a diamond. When we combine Only a great sage can her holiness, her recognize the egolessness, her spirituality of another power to transform sage, and from the others, her love for all statements of great equally, her great sages such as spiritual height and Vivekanandaji, her reappearances to Brahmanandaji, give spiritual Turiyanandaji and guidance, we can Saradanandaji we understand why Sri can understand Holy Sarada Devi is called, Mother’s greatness. not only The Holy Mother, but The Divine Mother. Swami Turiyanandaji once made a comment about Sarada Devi’s spiritual heights by using Power and Popularity the analogy of the chakras. As envisioned by the , the seven chakras of the body are It appears that Holy Mother has become more muladhara, swadhisthana, manipura, anahata, powerful than Sri Ramakrishna around the world vishuddha, ajna and sahasrara. The fifth chakra in recent years. Swami Vivekananda once at the throat is vishuddha, with the seventh being jokingly commented, “My Father has to always sahasrara, or the seat of the Supreme Reality. It [con’t page 5] takes tremendous struggle and power of mind to reach even the chest or anahata chakra. Turiyanandaji said that they, the monks, put ● Thought of the Month ● tremendous effort to reach vishuddha, yet Holy Mother brings her mind down from sahasrara to ajna and then to vishuddha so that she may talk Everything that irritates us about others to and serve the devotees. So the struggle of the can lead us to an understanding about sages is to raise the mind, while the Holy ourselves. Mother’s struggle was to bring the mind down, - Carl Jung otherwise she would remain in sahasrara united with the Supreme Reality. This is something only The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - January 20101 Vol. 09 No. 01 Page 4 of 10 Mother’s Method [from page 4] Unlike Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother would never introduce spiritual topics to her devotees. obeys my Mother.” Sri Ramakrishna said that it is In the Gospel, Sri Ramakrishna himself is through the power of the Holy Mother that he introducing topics, giving examples, quoting would teach humanity. One reason for Mother’s scripture, explaining, etc. Holy Mother never did popularity in the West is feminists asking why the same. It was not necessary either. Her life God is only looked upon as the father. This is was her message. Every moment of her life she absolutely true; why not mother? would impart some teaching, some message to those who could realize it. She would impart Of course, in the final sense God is beyond all spirituality, the most important thing in spiritual gender considerations, but when we seek a life, to the devotees. With a dewdrop the personal relationship rosebud blossoms. with God, why should Silently she would we always approach shower spirituality such a relationship as onto the devotees Father? If we and transform them. compare, we will find When a devotee we are, in fact, more would come with a comfortable with our particular spiritual mother than our problem, she would, father. We take more of course, would liberties with our always reply. Such mother than with our instruction would be father. As with the old brief, simple and Japanese proverb profound. “jishin, kaminari, kaji, oyaji” meaning A monk once said, "earthquakes, “Mother, sometimes thunderbolts, fires, it is so difficult to fathers" regarding the control our minds. four things to be Especially when we awed. In Christianity, become sick, our as in all the Semitic whole mind rushes to traditions, God is the body. How can looked upon as we fix our mind upon Father, but this the God.” Holy Mother first time in the West replied, “My child, that God is divide your mind into introduced as Mother two parts. With the through Hinduism. sentient, wise part of This idea is much the mind, control that appreciated in the part which is wicked, West, as it is both naughty and fickle.” rational and quite This is a very natural and should be practical teaching. so. On another occasion Why do I explain all Holy Mother said, this about the Holy “Love all, and love all Mother? Because in hearing of Her greatness, equally.” Hearing this a girl asked, “Mother, how you may be drawn to Her. You will study about can I love all equally?” The answer the Holy Her. You will accept Her. Then you will take Mother gave is not for this child alone, it is for all shelter in Her and every desire in your life will be of us. She said, “My child, never ask anything fulfilled. So now it is up to you. from others. Never expect anything from others. Then alone can you learn to love all equally.” The Method of Teaching moment we ask and receive we will be pleased and feel obliged to that person, but we will feel [con’t page 6]

The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - February 20101 Vol. 09 No. 02 Page 5 of 10 ● A Story to Remember ● Happiness “I am in desperate need of help--or I'll go crazy,” said the villager. “We’re living in a single room--my wife, my children and my in-laws. So our nerves are on edge, we yell and scream at one another. The room is a hell.”

“Do you promise to do whatever I tell you?” said the Master gravely.

“I swear I shall do anything.”

“Very well. How many animals do you have?”

“A cow, a goat and six chickens.” said the man.

“Take them all into the room with you,” instructed the Master. “Then come back after a week.”

The disciple was appalled, but he had promised to obey! So he took all the animals indoors. A week later he came back a pitiable figure, moaning, “I’m a nervous wreck. The dirt! The stench! The noise! We're all on the verge of madness!”

“Go back now,” said the Master, “and put the animals out.”

The man ran all the way home. And came back the following day, his eyes sparkling with joy. “How sweet life is! The animals are out. The home is a Paradise–so quiet and clean and roomy!”

Fr. Anthony de Mello

Mother’s Method [from page 5] eastern side) like me.” “He is an American, I am a Japanese.” I am an American and he is an piqued or dissatisfied with the person who Indian.” refuses our request. Then we cannot love all equally. Naturally, I have some opportunities to travel abroad. Passing through airport immigration, I Mother’s last message was on getting inner sometimes see signs for ‘foreigners’ to go this peace. She would say, “My daughter, if you want way or that, while in some countries these signs to find peace, don’t find fault with others, but say ‘visitors’. I really like it when such signs say find fault with yourself. No one is a stranger. ‘visitors’. When I stand with others in a line that Everyone is your own.” Most important here is says ‘foreigners’, immediately I feel I can’t finding fault with others. This mind set that says, identify with the people here or even those “I am different. Others are different. I have my standing with me, that they will treat me as a own people and those other people are not my foreigner, an outsider. But when it says ‘visitor’ I people.” To think in terms of difference; to think feel much more welcomed, although the intent in terms of selfishness makes us unhappy. “He is from authorities may be the same. The difference not my family. He is from kansai (the western between these two terminologies conjures side of Honshu Island) , not from kanto (the [con’t page 7] The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - January 20101 Vol. 09 No. 01 Page 6 of 10 Mother’s Method [from page 6] A: Yes, in that way is Holy Mother and Shiva is Sri Ramakrishna. Mahamaya creates this feelings within. The mind running to these universe, sustains this universe and destroys this differences is one deep source of our mental universe; Mahamaya makes people bound and peacelessness. also she liberates people: these are all functions, qualities and characteristics of Mahamaya. In In Japan, for example, I do not look upon the that way we can see Sri Ramakrishna as devotees and visitors here as foreigners. I do not Brahman and Holy Mother is Mahamaya, Prakriti think in that way, and would hope to not be or Shakti, or primordial energy. looked upon as a foreigner either. God did not create all these barriers. Our minds create these Q: What was the purpose of Holy Mother’s barriers within marriage? barriers, becoming so narrow and causing A: It has several so much peaceless- meanings. The first ness. This is why we meaning is that should always although Sri remember Mother’s Ramakrishna was a wonderful message, monk, as he had “No one is a stranger. practiced Vedanta Everyone is my own. and formally became Everyone is my a monk; he outwardly relative.” How simple, remained a yet profound if we householder. really ponder it. That Householders have was the beauty of to keep some Holy Mother’s routines and method of teaching; traditions and one of often it was silent and them is marriage, so when it was vocal, it Sri Ramakrishna also was brief, to the point married and took and profound. - end of Sarada Devi as his AM Session wife. The second meaning is that it Afternoon Session shows that is Q&A possible to lead a spiritual life even Q: Are there any while leading a particular comments householder’s life. from Holy Mother or This marriage took place in order to Sri Ramakrishna show that example. regarding previous incarnations of Householders may Sarada Devi? say that as a monk or a nun, living alone, it A: On some special is very easy to talk of occasions Holy renunciation; never Mother made some having experienced statements, mostly unconsciously and not very the troubles and problems of a householder’s clearly, that in previous incarnations she had life. Householders experience how hard it to face been Sita, the wife of Rama, and Durga, the their many problems and at the same time to call daughter of the King of the Himalayas. on God. Holy Mother set an example that even leading a householder’s life with all the problems, Q: I am reading now that Sri Ramakrishna troubles, responsibilities, works and duties from considered her his spiritual consort, his Shakti. morning till night, it is possible to call on God.

[con’t page 8] The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - February 20101 Vol. 09 No. 02 Page 7 of 10 Mother’s Method [from page 7] Holy mother set this example for the householders and that is why her marriage was Sometimes I speak to householders devotees necessary. The householders could see Holy and they complain that is it very difficult for them Mother coping with so many problems and still to take care of their family and children, to attend keeping calm, serene and peaceful: they could to their work: there is no time, no energy and no then refer to her example to face their own motivation to pray to God and to do Japam. This problemsand feel then that they also have hope is indeed a very common problem. Look at Holy for themselves by studying Holy Mother’s life. Mother’s life, with all the troubles that her relatives created for her! But in spite of all that Q: I find many troubles in my householder life she would always maintain her mental peace, resulting from trying to lead a spiritual life at the equanimity and same time. Is this calmness of the common? mind. She would call on God, pray to A: There is no God and do Japam. contradiction Swami between spiritual Saradanandaji took life and care of Holy Mother householder’s for many years and secular life. was also the Definitely these two reputed biographer can be adjusted and of Sri Ramakrishna. harmonized. If some He used to say that problems occur sometimes monks, regarding even those having combining and led the life of a harmonizing them, monk for decades, then some mistake get irritated and definitely must have become angry if been made in the something happens way spiritual not up to their liking. practice is But look at how performed. So it is calm, quite, serene necessary to and peaceful Holy discover such Mother was in the mistakes, midst of the performing deep environment she self-introspection, lived in. She would or consult some not complain about experienced some of her spiritual teacher to relatives who were find out and correct so troublesome. She what went wrong. would love and serve them, even In order to persons like her harmoniously niece Radhu who combine work and was so often spiritual practice, it unmanageable and is important to do exacting. She would that with some declare that she was able to break her pragmatism. It is not advisable, for instance, to “attachment” to Radhu any time she wanted and combine a full day’s work with long night hours that is the difference between her and common of Japam and meditation in order to accelerate people who cannot detach themselves from the the achievement of one’s spiritual goal. In that objects of their attachment. She would say that way one only jeopardizes one’s health without this is the ideal, “Outward attachment and achieving one’s goal. One should always absolute inner detachment.” remember the limitations of one’s body and [con’t page 9] The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - January 20101 Vol. 09 No. 01 Page 8 of 10 Mother’s Method [from page 8] the devotee realized that Holy Mother was aware of his thoughts. power, if one wants to avoid the possibility of physical or mental problems while trying to Holy Mother had the appearance of an ordinary perform hard spiritual practice. village widow. Once a lady visitor mistook Golap- Ma, who had an impressive, aristocratic bearing, Stories about The Holy Mother for Holy Mother. Holy Mother made a lot of fun out of that incident, but Golap-Ma reprimanded There are many stories about Holy Mother. Some the visitor for not recognizing the divinity in Holy of these real-life stories show how Holy Mother Mother’s face. Like in the quote from the Bible was able to read other people’s mind (in Sanskrit ("He who has eyes to see, let him see, and he this is called Antaryamitra). This is not simply who has ears to hear, let him hear.") only some thought or mind reading: it goes beyond that and could recognize Holy Mother’s unique divine is a characteristic of great spiritual leaders. They features. access others’ minds with no purpose of acquiring name or fame or money. Their purpose Once some visitors where talking amongst is only to help others. themselves as they made their way to to visit the Holy Mother. They agreed Once a young man came to know about Holy they would be very glad if they were served a Mother and wanted to see her and receive certain special Indian cake upon reaching Holy initiation and spiritual Mother’s place, but, instructions from her. of course, they He then went from agreed that they Calcutta to her native should not openly village of Jayrambati express such a wish despite the fact that to Holy Mother. When in those days such they finally reached trip was very difficult Jayrambati they were for lack of efficient invited to join in communications. He lunch. They were was very much amazed to see that disappointed when the very first item he finally saw Holy served to them was Mother. He thought that very Indian cake that Holy Mother that they had been would look elegant hoping to receive. and beautiful, but then he saw her dark On another occasion, complexion and some devotees unimpressive aging figure. So Holy Mother told discussed among themselves that they would him: “My child, I really looked pretty before. But take initiation from Holy Mother if they were then I performed spiritual practices, including satisfied that she possessed some special being encircled by fire for three days from powers–there are many types of devotees and morning to dusk: since then my complexion some of them have some peculiar ideas. On the became dark.” Hearing this the devotee felt very way to Jayrambati the idea came to them that it much ashamed and apologized repeatedly to would be nice to offer some lotus flowers to Holy Holy Mother. Mother upon their arrival and as they approached the village they came across a quiet One devotee came from East Bengal, a part of pond with lovely lotus blossoms. As they the country where people are used to eating considered how to collect the flowers without large servings of rice. In West Bengal, on the soiling their garments in the pond an elderly contrary, rice was usually served in smaller woman appeared. Upon hearing that the pair portions. When the devotee received his rice for were hoping to offer these lotus blossoms to lunch he thought that he was being served a very Sarada Devi, she explained that she was a local small portion, but refrained from asking for more. woman and volunteered to fetch the flowers for Just then Holy Mother told the person serving them. She refused any compensation from the the food to give more rice to the devotee. At that pleased travelers, who proceeded on [con’t page 10] The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - February 20101 Vol. 09 No. 02 Page 9 of 10 Mother’s Method [from page 9] provided as proof of the Mother’s special powers. and were able to meet the Holy Mother and have There are many other such instances in the their wish fulfilled in offering the lotuses. Later, reminisces of the life of the Holy Mother, but while on a stroll they returned to the same significantly, Sri Sarada Devi never gave any location, but no pond was to be found. Moreover, special emphasis to, nor claimed to posses or having thought they’d lost their way, they asked practice, any such miraculous powers, but while some local villagers who knew nothing of a lotus advising devotees would put the emphasis on the pond anywhere in the area. At this, they were cultivation of qualities like purity and devotion to satisfied that the pond and lotuses had been God. •

Swami Talks at Sophia University Contributed by Fr. Veliath and Sw. Medhasananda

On January 20, 2011 Swami Medhasananda racial backgrounds. In fact, there were Americans, spoke on Indian Culture and Characteristics at Chinese, Russians, a few Britishers, Koreans, and Sophia University in Tokyo. The swami had been of course Japanese (some of whom had lived all invited to address Professor Fr. Cyril Veliath’s their lives in Japan and others who had been lecture class on Indian Mysticism. He is a Jesuit educated abroad). They all belonged to different Priest of Indian heritage who has been involved religious groups and among them were Jews, with inter-religious dialog for the Jesuit Assistancy Christians, Buddhists, and a few who were not of East Asia and Oceania for several years. quite sure where exactly they fitted in.

Fr. Veliath is a close and admired friend of the All listened with great attention to every word that Vedanta Society of Japan, serving on several of the swami had to say, and when the time came for the Society’s organizing committees over the questions, some of the most interesting questions years. Due to his exceptional command of the came from an Afro-American girl. What made it Japanese language, Fr. Veliath is often called upon very special for the students was the fact that they to assist in translating guest speaker addresses were listening to a genuine Hindu monk. What from Japanese to English and/or Japanese to the swami told them were very simple things, but English for events such as Swami Vivekananda’s everything he said had the ring of truth in it. yearly public celebration and last year’s 50th Golden Jubilee series of events. Another nice little gesture on swami’s part was the fact that he distributed some sweets to the students Among the 50-odd students whom Swami at the end of his talk, and gave them some Medhasananda addressed there were youngsters literature on Swami Vivekananda. All in all, the of diverse nationalities, as well as religious and program was a roaring success. •

Issued by: The Vedanta Society of Japan (Nippon Vedanta Kyokai) 4-18-1 Hisagi, Zushi-shi, Kanagawa-ken 249-0001 Phone: 81-46-873-0428 Fax: 81-46-873-0592

Website: http://www.vedanta.jp Email: [email protected]

The Vedanta Kyokai Newsletter - January 20101 Vol. 09 No. 01 Page 10 of 10