Vedanta Society of Toronto (Ramakrishna Mission) 120 Emmett Ave. Toronto, ON M6M 2E6 CANADA Tel.: 416-240-7262; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.vedantatoronto.ca Newsletter April 2020 Words to Inspire “The One who became and is now within this case (showing his body). But His advent this time is secret.” ----- Sri Ramakrishna Sri Ramakrishna’s visions The Master followed in Mahavir’s footsteps and practised the her no signs of a goddess, such as the possession of three Sadhana of the Dasya-bhava. The Master did not rest eyes, etc. But the extraordinary, spirited, and solemn satisfied with having only the vision of the divine Mother expression of that face, manifesting love, sorrow, during the first four years of his Sadhana. His mind was compassion, and endurance, was not generally seen even in naturally attracted towards Raghuvir, his family Deity, after the figures of goddesses. Looking graciously at me, that he had had the vision of the divine Mother when he was in goddess-woman was advancing from north to south towards the Bhavamukha state. Knowing that with the help of me with a slow, grave gait. I wondered who she might be, devotion it was possible to have, like Mahavir, the vision of when a black-faced monkey came suddenly, nobody knew Ramachandra, he engaged himself in Sadhana, assuming whence, and sat at her feet and someone within my mind Mahavir’s attitude, for the purpose of attaining perfection in exclaimed, ‘ , Sita who was all sorrow all her life, Sita the the Dasya-bhava. The Master said that, thinking of Mahavir daughter of king , Sita to whom Rama was her very incessantly at that time, he became so much absorbed that life!’ Saying ‘Mother’ repeatedly, I was then going to fling he forgot altogether for some time his separate existence myself at her feet, when she came quickly and entered this and individuality. “At that time,” said the Master, “I had to (showing his own body). Overwhelmed with joy and wonder, walk, take my food and do all other actions like Mahavir. I did I lost all consciousness and fell down. Before that, I had had not do so of my own accord, but the actions so happened of no vision in that manner without meditating or thinking. That themselves, I tied my cloth round my waist so that it might was the first vision of its kind. I have been suffering like her look like a tail and walked jumping; I ate nothing but fruits all my life perhaps because I saw first of all Sita, who was and roots, which again I did not feel inclined to eat when miserable from her birth.” The Master said to us in connection skinned. I spent much of my time on trees and always cried, with the topic of this vision, “It is true that I had that vision ‘Raghuvir, Raghuvir’, with a deep voice. Both my eyes and it is also true that the Brahmani said so when she heard assumed a restless expression like those of the animals of of it. But how can I say what the real meaning of it is?” From that species, and it is marvellous that the lower end of the these words of the Master regarding that vision of his, we backbone lengthened at that time by nearly an inch.”1 When think that at this time the Master got some clear indication we heard the last mentioned fact, we asked, “Sir, does that that identified with his body and mind, some ancient soul part of your body continue to be so even now?” He said, “No, known to the world for very long ages was dwelling here with in course of time it assumed slowly its previous natural size a view to accomplishing some important purpose. It seems when the mastery of that mood over the mind had ceased.” that the extraordinary indication he had about his individuality An extraordinary vision and experience came to pass in the with the help of these visions and experiences clearly life of the Master when he practised the Dasya-. That convinced him in course of time that the One, who vision and experience was so novel, so different from his manifested Himself in and Vrindavan as Sri previous ones, that it was deeply imprinted on his mind and Ramachandra, dear to Janaki, and Sri Krishnachandra, the was always fresh in his memory. He said, “One day at that beloved of , respectively, for the purpose of time I was sitting under the Panchavati—not meditating, establishing religion in past ages, has incarnated Himself merely sitting—when an incomparable, effulgent female once more as Sri Ramakrishna in a human body in order to figure appeared before me illumining the whole place. It was impart a new ideal of religion to India and the world”. not that figure alone that I saw then, but also the trees and From the book “Sri Ramakrishna The Great Master” by plants of the Panchavati, the and all other objects. I Swami Saradananda. saw that the figure was that of a woman; for, there were in

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Why is red? Hanuman always wanted to serve his Prabhu Lord Sri Rama. prabhu. She very well knew Hanuman’s pure love towards One day when Sita mata was entering into Rama’s bedroom, Rama. Hanuman now understood the secret of this sindur. Hanuman also followed her. Then Lord Rama said that he He immediately went to the market in search of sindur and cannot enter into the room. Hanuman said that when Sita found one shop. He ran there and asked. The shopkeeper Mata can enter into the room, why can’t he enter the room. gave him little sindur in a small box. Hanuman said that it is He is having such an innocent devotional service towards not enough. He just went into the shop, opened all the sacks Lord Rama. Just to convince Hanuman, Rama said that Sita of sindhur and poured all over his body. He poured some is having a sindur on her forehead, so she can enter the sindhur on the street and rolled over to cover his whole body, room. After hearing that, Hanuman came out and thought for from head to toe with sindur. Then he came to the palace. a while. Then Hanuman concluded that sindur is the Rama saw Hanuman and enquired what happened. On qualification required to enter into Lord Rama’s bedroom. So seeing Hanuman Sita mata started laughing loudly. She he decided to ask more about this sindur to Sita Mata. Next understood and told Rama that the previous day she told day when Sita was in the dressing table, she was trying to Hanuman that the sindhur will increase the lifespan of his keep sindhur, there came Hanuman. Sita Mata treated prabhu. Hanuman thought if a small amount of sindur on Sita Hanuman as her son because Sita and Rama did not have matha’s forehead can increase the lifespan of Rama, then children for a long time. Then Hanuman asked Sita about the how much it will increase if he puts all over his body. He purpose and value of sindur. She understood what he wanted thought that Rama can live eternally because of this sindur and smiled. She said that she learnt from elders that if she applied throughout his body. This is the pure love Hanuman keeps sindur, it will elongate the life span of his prabhu. Sita had for Rama. mata did not mention her prabhu but she said Hanuman’s Hanuman and the Pearl necklace Great rejoicings and festivities followed the return of Sri Sri Hanuman was behaving like a monkey. Was it the Rama to Ayodhya and his crowning as the King. Lord Rama monkey mind? Sita asked Hanuman, "O mighty Hero! What distributed gifts to all the monkeys who had served as are You doing? Why do You break the pearls?" warriors in his army. Sri Rama noticed his fervent devotee, Hanuman said, "O venerable Mother! It is the most valuable Hanuman and asked: "O mighty hero how am I to necklace, indeed, as it has come to me through Thy holy compensate you for all you have done for me and my hand. But I want to find out whether any of the pearls family?" Many would have wanted wealth, name or fame, contains my beloved Lord Rama. I do not keep a thing devoid approbation or recognition or VIP line in return for their of Him. I do not find Him in any of the pearls." services. But Hanuman was above all these: "I desire At this, one of the assembly members ironically remarked, nothing, Prabhu!" Then, Sita mata removed a valuable "You would not wear anything that has not got in it the name necklace of pearls from her neck and offered it to the humble of Rama. Well, You are wearing your body. You are carrying Hanuman. Hanuman received the necklace with great it about with you. Prove to us that you have Rama in it." respect from Sita mata but began to break the pearls with His Hanuman laughed aloud; he said, "I shall prove, Behold!" teeth. Sita, and other ministers who were sitting in the Sri Hanuman then tore his chest open with his mighty hands council-hall, were quite astonished at this queer act of Sri and Lo! Sri Rama and Sita mata were seated in his heart! Hanuman. Some wondered why the noble and great warrior Hanuman in the In the Mahabharata, when the Pandavas went on exile in Arjuna’s travel to Rameshwaram, Hanuman appeared to the forest, Draupadi desired to have the Sougandhika him, as a small talking monkey. Arjuna was wondering why flowers. Bhima goes in search of them and due to his rough Rama had to take the help of monkeys to build a bridge of approach, he disturbed the denizens of the forest. He stones, rather than building a bridge of arrows, to cross over entered a field where Hanuman, appearing as a weak and to to rescue Sita. At this moment, Hanuman aged monkey, was lying with his tail blocking the way. challenged Arjuna to build a bridge capable of bearing him Bhima, unaware of his identity, told him to move his tail out alone. Arjuna, unaware of the 's true identity, of the way. Hanuman asked him to move it, since he was proceeded to build the bridge of arrows. Hanuman too old to move it himself. Bhima was very proud of his repeatedly destroyed the bridges. Krishna who was immense strength and had become arrogant. He tried to witnessing this, then placed his divine ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ move the tail but was unable, despite his great strength. beneath the bridge, and this time Hanuman could no longer Then Bhima realized that this was no ordinary monkey, break it. Krishna then revealed Hanuman’s identity and bowed down humbly, and inquired as to Hanuman's identity. asked Arjuna to bow before Hanuman and ask his Hanuman revealed himself as Bhima’s elder brother and forgiveness. Hanuman also recognized that Krishna was assumed his huge form. He then assured Bhima that during Rama reincarnated and bowed to Him. Then Krishna asked the great war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, He Hanuman to protect the Pandavas. Hanuman agreed to would be there to protect the Pandavas. Thereafter during occupy the flag on Arjuna’s chariot and strengthen it.

Shabari, the great devotee of Rama There was a young woman named Shabari who was a is wandering in the forest, he can help us, let’s go to him daughter of a hunter. She wasn’t a good looking woman, and pray him to purify this lake”. but her heart was pure gold. Before the day of her Rama came upon their request to Pama sarovar, it was wedding she saw 1000s of goats and sheep that her red everywhere, were all standing around him. father had brought to sacrifice, as it was a custom among Rama asked “What can I do for you now?” “Lord, touch of the hunters of that time. She couldn’t bear to see those your feet will change this into water back” said the rishis. animals being killed, so she ran away into the forest in the Rama walked into the lake but the water still remained red early morning to avoid the killing of those animals.She with blood. went to many teachers and asked them to take her as Rama asked them the reason their disciple and teach her ‘true wisdom’ ( One of the rishis said “There was a sage living here, he Jnana), all the teachers rejected her because she was of had an outcaste disciple Shabari, he has died but she still a low caste and wasn’t worthy to learn Brahma Jnana. lives, she came to fetch water from this lake, a person Sage Matanga welcomed her and took her as his threw a stone at her, it injured her and a drop of her blood disciples, other rishis and condemned him for taking fell into the river, it turned all the water into blood”. Rama an outcaste as the disciple, they criticized him, called him on hearing the name of Shabari placed both of his hands fallen, impure. Sage Matanga told Shabari “Oh my on his heart and said “Oh rishis that was not Shabari’s daughter, stay in my , clean the place, take care blood, that was the blood from my heart, I cannot clean of the chores, serve, it will do good to you.” this. I have come to see her”. “But other rishis in the forest are not happy about you One of them went to Shabari and said “Lord Rama has taking me as your disciple” says Shabari. “You have come and he is requesting you”. Shabari on hearing Lord come to me seeking the greatest, I’ll give you shelter” Rama’s name came running to see him. The soil from her Sage was firm in his decision. She was living peacefully feet fell into the water as she was running and the blood in the Ashram, doing her daily duties, taking cows to the turned back into water. Lord Rama said “Did you see, pastures and so on. Those rishis who were still ignorant dust from Shabari’s feet has purified the lake”. rejected Shabari’s , calling him an impure one. Shabari prayed to Lord Rama “Please come to my hut One day when Sage Matang was very old he called his Lord, I have decorated it with flowers for you, I have disciple Shabari and said “My Daughter, I’m leaving this brought sweet berries for you”. Rama and Lakshman body, is there anything you want me to do for you?” followed her to her hermitage, she brought them sweet Shabari prayed “Lord take me with you to the highest berries.“Lord I have selected only the sweet berries for abode you are going. I cannot live without you”.Sage you, I tasted every berry to make sure I have only brought Matanga said “Dear, One day Lord Rama will come to see the sweetest berries, please take it my Lord”. you, until then stay alive, after that you can come to me”. When Rama was about to take a berry Lakshman said Shabari stayed alive in anticipation of Lord Rama. She “Brother these are half eaten, no good to eat”. Rama took would get up early morning every day and go to the forest a fruit and ate it, he said to Lakshman “Brother, these to collect the berries to serve Lord Rama, she didn’t know berries are so sweet, I have never tasted berries as sweet when Rama would come, she would go to the forest and as Shabari’s berries. Whomsoever offers a fruit, a leaf, a collect berries every day. In that manner she spent many flower or water with love, I take it with great joy”. Rama years. was touched by her love, and asked her for any boon. There was a beautiful and grand lake called Pampasar Shabari prayed only for pure devotion to Lord Rama“. near her Guru’s Ashram. Shabari who was now very old Rama blessed her and delivered the nava-vidha bhakti went to the lake with her pot to collect water. A person (ninefold devotion) to Shabari. This includes Shravanam– from another hermitage saw this and thought “This low Hearing the names and glories of the Lord; Keertanam– caste woman is making the water impure for our use”. He Chanting the glories of God; Smaranam– Remembering threw a stone at her in anger, it hit her leg and a drop of the Lord; Padasevanam– Serving the Lord’s feet; blood fell into the lake. Immediately all the water in the Archanam– Worshiping the Lord; Vandanam– Offering lake became red with blood. Now the Rishis had no water obeisance unto the Lord; Daasyam– Serving the Lord as to drink or to use for the sacred rites. They started his Servant; Sakhyam– Developing friendship with God; chanting purification mantras, doing Yagnas but nothing Aatma Nivedanam – Total surrender of oneself to the helped. Then someone said, “Lord Rama has come, he Lord. After this darshan of Rama, Shabari left her body and entered the eternal abode of Sri Rama.

Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin; to say that you are weak, or others are weak. The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed. May He who is the Brahman of the Hindus, the Ahura-Mazda of the Zoroastrians, the Buddha of the Buddhists, the Jehovah of the Jews, the Father in Heaven of the Christians give strength to you to carry out your noble idea. ARISE! AWAKE! AND STOP NOT UNTIL THE GOAL IS REACHED. ….Swami Vivekananda

Self-Surrender Reprinted from Vedanta , January 1978 – Lecture by Swami Vireswarananda

Sometimes we hear people saying, “I have surrendered voice immediately said, ‘My son, you are free this moment.’ myself to the Lord and I have nothing to do.” But self- So that determination in him pleased the Lord and He made surrender is not that easy. It is very difficult to attain. It also him free at once, while the other person became very requires a very long, life-long practice to actually come to a dejected because he had to go through four more lives. point of self-surrender. We cannot come to self-surrender There is the other story of two birds, showing how grace unless we go through intense struggle. It is only when we comes. The two birds laid their eggs on the seaside and have gone through a life of struggle, when we have exercised when they went out for food and returned, they found that in all our strength and power to realize God, and find that we the meanwhile the eggs had been washed away by the are nowhere, it is only then that we are able to surrender waves and carried into the sea. They were very much upset, ourselves and it is then that God's grace comes. But without and they resolved to empty the sea by removing the water. our personal efforts we cannot expect God's grace. As Sri They took a little water in their beaks and threw it on the Ramakrishna used to say, “We are always to be at His door sands. In this way they were going on throughout day and and then His grace may come.” It is our duty to be at His door night. Then , the Lord of the Sea, wanted to know i.e., we must always be thinking of Him and be very near Him, what the matter was. He came and asked the birds, “What then the chances of getting His grace are great indeed, are you doing?” They replied, “The sea has washed away though that will not in any way give us the right to demand our eggs, so we are trying to empty the sea so that we may His grace. Grace depends upon His own free will, but if we get them back.” Varuna was very much pleased at their are always near His door, the chances are that we may get determination and he gave back the eggs to the birds. So it. So though we might practice Sadhana or do lots of , without effort, without struggle, no grace will come, that is we cannot say that so much of Sadhana, so much of Japa, certain. It is only when we put our maximum effort that we such and such austerity will bring us God-realization. After are capable of having that grace. Otherwise we can never all our efforts are put forth to the extreme, it is finally God's expect His grace to come, simply because we think we are grace that helps us to realize Him. So without personal effort surrendering ourselves to Him. We simply cannot surrender we cannot get Him, but then there is no guarantee that by ourselves so easily. Self-surrender is very, very hard. You personal effort we will realize Him, for that depends upon His have to go through great Sadhana. Afterwards when you say grace. It is God's grace that helps us to know Him in His real that you have surrendered yourself, then there will be nothing nature. You may remember the story Sri Ramakrishna used for you to do thereafter. Your will no longer will be yours. to tell: The Divine Mother is born as the daughter of Himalaya There is the example of King Janaka. He went to Ashtavakra and she was in his house moving about like a daughter. One for spiritual instruction and Ashtavakra gave him instructions, day Himalaya told her, “I know you only as my daughter, but and the king was about to get on his horse-back and return, I would like to know your real nature.” Then Mother told him, one leg was already on the stirrup, when Ashtavakra said. “Well father, to know my real nature, you will have to perform “Where is my Gurudakshina (offering to the Guru), you have Sadhana (spiritual practice) like the sages who performed not given me that.” Janaka said, “I give everything to you. My Sadhana for lives together before they understood my real whole kingdom, myself and everything I possess I give to you nature. You cannot have it simply because I am your as an offering.” Ashtavakra accepted it. The king remained daughter.” This is the truth in our spiritual life. We must put in that position with one leg on the stirrup. He could not get all our effort, then only divine grace comes, otherwise it does up on the horse. After some time, Ashtavakra asked him, not come. You may also remember another parable of Sri “What is the matter? Why are you not getting on the horse Ramakrishna: “Once Narada was going to the abode of the and going back to ?” Janaka replied, “How can I? I Lord and on his way he met two spiritual aspirants and each have given everything to you and there is nothing I can call of them requested him, ‘Please ask the Lord how many lives mine. There is no will left in me. I have not the power to get I have to go through before I attain freedom.’ When Narada up on this horse and go back to Mithila.” Then Ashtavakra returned, he came by the same path and one of the two gave back everything and said, “On my behalf you rule the aspirants asked him, 'Did you ask the Lord?' He said , 'Yes, kingdom.” This is real self-surrender. It is no joke to surrender I asked the Lord.' 'What did He say?’ That you have four yourself. You also know the life of Girish Babu who gave the more lives to go through before you get freedom.' He became power of attorney to Sri Ramakrishna. He used to say, “It sorely dejected when he heard that he had to go through four would have been easier for me to practise Sadhana than to more lives. Then Narada came to the other aspirant have given this power of attorney. Because I have given the (Sadhaka) and he too asked him, 'Did you ask the Lord about power of attorney, every moment I find I have nothing to do. me?’ ‘Yes’, said Narada. 'Then how many lives have I to go If I go to do anything, at once I am reminded that I cannot do through?' 'Do you see the tamarind tree nearby and the that. It is for Sri Ramakrishna to settle. And it has been a leaves of that tree? You have to go through as many lives as great source of trouble to me to go through this ordeal.” So there are leaves on that tamarind tree, before you attain self-surrender is not a very easy thing to attain. We must put freedom.’ ‘This Sadhaka was so glad that he would get our maximum effort and try to realize God and then only will freedom after so many lives and he began to dance in joy. A His grace come.

UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Events Date & Time Ram Navami Celebration Cancelled

Buddha Jayanti May 10 11.00am (birthday celebration of Bhagavan Buddha) Annual Retreat July 4 & 5 9.00am by Swami Vimohananda, Head, Vivekananda Vedanta Society of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

REGULAR PROGRAMMES

SCRIPTURE CLASS: Friday Scripture Classes begin DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK: Daily Bread Food Bank at 7:30 pm, following the regular evening prayer at 6:00 has actively started. We would like to encourage people pm. The class, held at the centre, is open to all interested to donate. persons. For details, please see the ‘Calendar of Events’ on the next page. INTERVIEWS/INSTRUCTION: Swami Kripamayananda will be happy to give Interviews VIGIL: A vigil consisting of japa and meditation will be to those interested in knowing more about Vedanta and observed, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, for date kindly see meditation. Individual interviews are also given for ‘Calendar of Events’, on next page. To participate, please Spiritual instructions. Appointments for interviews should call the centre @416-240-7262. be made in advance with the Swami at 416-240-7262. RAM NAM: For the date and time of the monthly DAILY MEDITATION: Meditation is done at the Centre Ramnam, please see the ‘Calendar of Events’ on the every morning from 6:00 am to 7:00 am. Devotional next page. singing and meditation time in the evenings is from 6:00 BOOK STORE: The Book Store has re-opened and pm to 7:30 pm. books are available for purchase. SOUP KITCHEN: Soup Kitchen has now started at the Vedanta Society, please see the ‘Calendar of Events’ on the next page for details.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF VEDANTA SOCIETY OF TORONTO CAMPUS AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE

We are all aware of the impact of the Covid-19 causing Corona virus on society. Keeping the health and safety concerns of our devotees and well-wishers in mind,

Vedanta Society of Toronto has decided to temporarily close all the activities at least until April 30, 2020.

We will try to telecast the Friday Scripture Classes & Sunday Lectures live OR post them on the website for you to access later. More details will be posted on the website.

Vedanta Society will keep you updated about future developments, and ALL are encouraged to check our website for updates.

Thank you and Pray you all keep safe! Swami Kripamayananda

Vedanta Society of Toronto Minister and Teacher- Swami Kripamayananda, Ramakrishna Order of India CALENDAR OF EVENTS April 2020 **ALL ACTIVITIES TEMPORARILY CANCELLED TILL APRIL 30, 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 7:30pm Online Scripture class: ‘Vivekachudamani

5 11:00am 6 7 8 9 10 11 Online Lecture: 7:30pm 'Rama Bhakti’ Online Scripture class: ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’ 12 11:00am 13 14 15 16 17 18 Online Lecture: 7:30pm ‘The Resurrection’ Online Scripture class: ‘Vivekachudamani

19 11:00am 20 21 22 23 24 25 Online Lecture: 7:30pm 'The Unique Ramakrishna' Online Scripture class: ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’ 26 11:00am 27 28 29 30

Online Lecture: 'From the to Vedanta’

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