ISSUE No. 8786 OCT ISSUE – DEC No. 201 865 OCT – DEC 2015
RAMAKRISHNA MISSION RAMAKRISHNASINGAPORE MISSION MCI SINGAPORE(P) 009/09/2015 MCIISSN0218 (P) 009/09/201-7183 5 ISSN0218-7183
State of Spiritual enlightenment or illumination. Nirvana releases humans from Pearls of Wisdom the cycle of birth, suffering, death and all forms of worldly bondage.
In this issue... Uddhava Gita Translated by Swami Madhavananda
Pearls of Wisdom 1 Śrī bhagavān uvāca from Uddhava Gita
Editorial 2 The Lord said:
The Real 'I' and the phantom I 4 Those who discarding these three ways of devotion, knowledge, and work taught by Me, feed through their Swami Muktirupananda restless organs their petty desires, pass on from birth to death. Sri Rama and Sri Ramakrishna 9 The steadfastness to the duties of one's particular sphere Jayasekhar is described as merit, and the reverse is defect. This is the criterion about them. Sri Krishna as Banke Bihari 12 With a view to test the fitness of things, purity and A devotee, Sri Sarada Devi Ashram, South Africa impurity, merit and defect, as well as conduciveness to well-being and its opposite are enjoined even with regard Cultivation of Strength and Fearlessness 17 to things of the same group, for the sake of piety, of practice, and of the manitenance of life respectively Swami Budhananda O sinless one, for those to whom piety is but a burden, News & Notes 22 I have laid down the above rule of conduct.
(To be continued) Uddhava Gita 16 (1 - 4)
Edited and Published by Swami Muktirupananda,Vimokshananda, President,President, RamakrishnaRamakrishna Mission,Mission, 179 Bartley Road, Singapore 539784 Tel: 6288 9077 Fax: 6288 5798. email: [email protected], Website: www.ramakrishna.org.sg Print Production: EAZI Printing Pte Ltd
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1 State of Spiritual enlightenment or illumination. Nirvana releases humans from Pearls of Wisdom the cycle of birth, suffering, death and all forms of worldly bondage.
In this issue... Uddhava Gita Translated by Swami Madhavananda
Pearls of Wisdom 1 Śrī bhagavān uvāca from Uddhava Gita
Editorial 2 The Lord said:
The Real 'I' and the phantom I 4 Those who discarding these three ways of devotion, knowledge, and work taught by Me, feed through their Swami Muktirupananda restless organs their petty desires, pass on from birth to death. Sri Rama and Sri Ramakrishna 9 The steadfastness to the duties of one's particular sphere Jayasekhar is described as merit, and the reverse is defect. This is the criterion about them. Sri Krishna as Banke Bihari 12 With a view to test the fitness of things, purity and A devotee, Sri Sarada Devi Ashram, South Africa impurity, merit and defect, as well as conduciveness to well-being and its opposite are enjoined even with regard Cultivation of Strength and Fearlessness 17 to things of the same group, for the sake of piety, of practice, and of the manitenance of life respectively Swami Budhananda O sinless one, for those to whom piety is but a burden, News & Notes 22 I have laid down the above rule of conduct.
(To be continued) Uddhava Gita 16 (1 - 4)
Edited and Published by Swami Muktirupananda,Vimokshananda, President,President, RamakrishnaRamakrishna Mission,Mission, 179 Bartley Road, Singapore 539784 Tel: 6288 9077 Fax: 6288 5798. email: [email protected], Website: www.ramakrishna.org.sg Print Production: EAZI Printing Pte Ltd
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1 The Real ‘I’ and the phantom I Editorial Swami Muktirupananda Ceaseless Cosmic Worship wami Vivekananda delivered the silent one. As long as this Slectures on Jnana-Yoga in familiar ‘I’ plays its active role and Once Swami Brahmananda visited the Bose Research Institute. London and New York in 1896. occupies the centre stage the He saw how the plants were sensitive to external stimuli. The One of the lectures was on The silent I lies hidden and does not whole day his thoughts centred round on the plant life. While real and the apparent man. The reveal itself. In other words, talking to Boshi Sen, he said, “There was a time when Thakur real man is the essence of our when one is present the other is (Sri Ramakrishna) could not step on the grass, but would jump being and what he appears absent. It reveals to one who from one bare spot to another to avoid hurting the grass. At that externally is false one. There is a cares to know about it and not to time, we simply didn’t believe that a grass could be sensitive! difference between the two like others. From what I saw today, I realised how infallibly true his light and its shadow. The real perceptions were!” man is light and the apparent one The Mundaka Upanishad is his shadow – insubstantial. compares these two selves to two Later, while staying in Bhubaneshwar Math, he said to the monks Swamiji some-times calls them birds and how they behave. One there: “Trees have life. If you serve them you will feel it. They lower self and higher self. What eats the bitter and sweet fruits will never become ungrateful. He who serves them will receive are these two selves in a simple and experiences pleasure and flowers and fruits in return.” way we will discuss. pain and the other silently watches. So also Katha Seeing the striking roses in the Bangalore Lalbaug garden, he All of us as human beings have Upanishad dwells on this subject. remarked, “Look, the celestial maidens are laughing!” Pointing at two ‘I’s or two selves inside us. the green lawn, he would say, “as if the Divine Mother has Other living beings whether birds I What is the first fact of life? All spread green velvet!” or animals have only one self. It human beings also including is the unusualness of human other living beings are aware of I once asked my revered Gurudev Sri Swami Nirvananandaji beings to possess two entities. one’s existence or the feeling of Maharaj how was his Gurudev Swami Brahmanandaji would view Another strange fact is only a few being alive. When a person is the entire cosmos. He said to me that his Gurudev would ‘feel’ are aware of this and the majority conscious of his existence he with his mystical eyes that cosmic worship was always on. remain ignorant of it. The says, “I am alive, I exist.’ About characteristics of these two this self-evident thing nobody has He one day, saw a new brahmacharin plucking flowers for selves are different. One I is true, to tell us nor we have to learn Master’s worship. He rebuked him sharply: silent and unchanging and from anyone. It is effortless. another I, is a phantom, None makes any attempt to know “What are you doing? Do you want to make that tree devoid of chattering and constantly the existence of oneself. To flowers? You think Sri Ramakrishna is seated only in the shrine changing. The phantom I is know the other things of the world and does not come to the garden? Pick those flowers only which assertive, dominant and dictates we need efforts and help from are hidden behind the leaves and always leave some flowers all the activities of the body and others. But not this fundamental outside in each tree.” To Brahmananda Maharaj, those trees mind. Everyone is familiar with fact of life. We use ‘I’ or ‘I am’ to also were worshipping the cosmic God with their blossoms! this aggressive self and not with refer to oneself as an individual or
1 1 2 3 The Real ‘I’ and the phantom I Editorial Swami Muktirupananda Ceaseless Cosmic Worship wami Vivekananda delivered the silent one. As long as this Slectures on Jnana-Yoga in familiar ‘I’ plays its active role and Once Swami Brahmananda visited the Bose Research Institute. London and New York in 1896. occupies the centre stage the He saw how the plants were sensitive to external stimuli. The One of the lectures was on The silent I lies hidden and does not whole day his thoughts centred round on the plant life. While real and the apparent man. The reveal itself. In other words, talking to Boshi Sen, he said, “There was a time when Thakur real man is the essence of our when one is present the other is (Sri Ramakrishna) could not step on the grass, but would jump being and what he appears absent. It reveals to one who from one bare spot to another to avoid hurting the grass. At that externally is false one. There is a cares to know about it and not to time, we simply didn’t believe that a grass could be sensitive! difference between the two like others. From what I saw today, I realised how infallibly true his light and its shadow. The real perceptions were!” man is light and the apparent one The Mundaka Upanishad is his shadow – insubstantial. compares these two selves to two Later, while staying in Bhubaneshwar Math, he said to the monks Swamiji some-times calls them birds and how they behave. One there: “Trees have life. If you serve them you will feel it. They lower self and higher self. What eats the bitter and sweet fruits will never become ungrateful. He who serves them will receive are these two selves in a simple and experiences pleasure and flowers and fruits in return.” way we will discuss. pain and the other silently watches. So also Katha Seeing the striking roses in the Bangalore Lalbaug garden, he All of us as human beings have Upanishad dwells on this subject. remarked, “Look, the celestial maidens are laughing!” Pointing at two ‘I’s or two selves inside us. the green lawn, he would say, “as if the Divine Mother has Other living beings whether birds I What is the first fact of life? All spread green velvet!” or animals have only one self. It human beings also including is the unusualness of human other living beings are aware of I once asked my revered Gurudev Sri Swami Nirvananandaji beings to possess two entities. one’s existence or the feeling of Maharaj how was his Gurudev Swami Brahmanandaji would view Another strange fact is only a few being alive. When a person is the entire cosmos. He said to me that his Gurudev would ‘feel’ are aware of this and the majority conscious of his existence he with his mystical eyes that cosmic worship was always on. remain ignorant of it. The says, “I am alive, I exist.’ About characteristics of these two this self-evident thing nobody has He one day, saw a new brahmacharin plucking flowers for selves are different. One I is true, to tell us nor we have to learn Master’s worship. He rebuked him sharply: silent and unchanging and from anyone. It is effortless. another I, is a phantom, None makes any attempt to know “What are you doing? Do you want to make that tree devoid of chattering and constantly the existence of oneself. To flowers? You think Sri Ramakrishna is seated only in the shrine changing. The phantom I is know the other things of the world and does not come to the garden? Pick those flowers only which assertive, dominant and dictates we need efforts and help from are hidden behind the leaves and always leave some flowers all the activities of the body and others. But not this fundamental outside in each tree.” To Brahmananda Maharaj, those trees mind. Everyone is familiar with fact of life. We use ‘I’ or ‘I am’ to also were worshipping the cosmic God with their blossoms! this aggressive self and not with refer to oneself as an individual or
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a separate person. This is the relatives but life is the one replied, “O Sage, even in this it undermines life itself. Being is common name of all and our precious thing none wants to worm life, I have sufficient love replaced by greedy having and myriad personal names, given to lose. Not only humans but all and regard for myself and am having more. us by our parents, come later. So living beings instinctively cling to satisfied with my pleasures and I or I am implies my existence or life. This is the one fundamental pains. Though mean and IV The fourth fact of life is that my being. characteristic of all living beings. wretched in your eyes, I am not this burning ambition to become Patanjali in yogasturas calls it so in my own view. That is why I somebody important has been The universal word ‘I’ is useful abhinivesha, love of life. am anxious to protect my life.” To transmitted from generation to and necessary. Wherever there an insect its life is worth generation. It facilitates our is life the preserving. We can’t kill easily an communication. struggle to ant, or a fly or a mosquito. As children we had been very Otherwise using continue it goes happy with the awareness of just one’s personal on. We think III The third fact of life comes being alive with no thought of name in ordinary only the human when we find our life is safe and past or future. Whether poor or conversations life is worthy and secure and one need not be wealthy, beautiful or ugly, able or creates a lot of the rest is anxious about it and take it for disabled we had felt great joy and complications. worthless. It is a granted. We feel discontentment spontaneity in living. We did not Suppose one’s mistaken idea of and are not satisfied with just have any idea that the little things name is Rama. If human beings. living, being alive, but we want to of this world brought value and he says every use life as a means to achieve meaning to life. We were unable time Rama is Sage Vyasa was some external end. In other to tell anything about ourselves thirsty, Rama is once walking words, we try to become except our names as we did not hungry or Rama through a field in someone in society. So we have any ideas about us. But as is tired. People Kurukshetra, struggle to enrich life to adorn it we grew we not only acquired get confused and when he saw a and to fill it up with as many knowledge about the world but want to know little worm material things as possible. It about us also. As youth we had a who is this Rama and where is crawling away as fast as it could may be money, knowledge, lot to tell about us. How has this he. The use of ‘I’ clears the at the sound of his feet so as not power or social status. None like knowledge been gathered? We confusion and makes the matters to get crushed under them. The the idea that he is nobody, a non- were given a name and told about easy. Therefore everyone sage smiled and said to himself, entity in the world. Everyone our family, caste, race, religion, accepts the use of this common “We regard these worms as desires to add a few adjectives tradition, country and so on by name ‘I’ for oneself. worthless and despicable but look about oneself i.e. I am so and so our elders. At home and at at its anxiety to preserve its life! and such and such. Without that school we were told that we II The second fact of life is, one’s Ah, what a wonder!” Then, by we think life is vain and should be like this or that. The existence is dearest to all. Who is virtue of his yogic powers he gave meaningless. We believe seeds of ambition, competition, there who does not love and try to the worm power of speech and external things give meaning to success and comparison were preserve his or her life? One may asked, “How is it that having got life. The simple sense of “I am’ sown and carefully nourished. lose everything in the world, this wretched worm-life you are gets burdened with I am so and Gradually we learnt to identify money, possessions, status and anxious to save it?” The worm so. It becomes so important that and evaluate ourselves with
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a separate person. This is the relatives but life is the one replied, “O Sage, even in this it undermines life itself. Being is common name of all and our precious thing none wants to worm life, I have sufficient love replaced by greedy having and myriad personal names, given to lose. Not only humans but all and regard for myself and am having more. us by our parents, come later. So living beings instinctively cling to satisfied with my pleasures and I or I am implies my existence or life. This is the one fundamental pains. Though mean and IV The fourth fact of life is that my being. characteristic of all living beings. wretched in your eyes, I am not this burning ambition to become Patanjali in yogasturas calls it so in my own view. That is why I somebody important has been The universal word ‘I’ is useful abhinivesha, love of life. am anxious to protect my life.” To transmitted from generation to and necessary. Wherever there an insect its life is worth generation. It facilitates our is life the preserving. We can’t kill easily an communication. struggle to ant, or a fly or a mosquito. As children we had been very Otherwise using continue it goes happy with the awareness of just one’s personal on. We think III The third fact of life comes being alive with no thought of name in ordinary only the human when we find our life is safe and past or future. Whether poor or conversations life is worthy and secure and one need not be wealthy, beautiful or ugly, able or creates a lot of the rest is anxious about it and take it for disabled we had felt great joy and complications. worthless. It is a granted. We feel discontentment spontaneity in living. We did not Suppose one’s mistaken idea of and are not satisfied with just have any idea that the little things name is Rama. If human beings. living, being alive, but we want to of this world brought value and he says every use life as a means to achieve meaning to life. We were unable time Rama is Sage Vyasa was some external end. In other to tell anything about ourselves thirsty, Rama is once walking words, we try to become except our names as we did not hungry or Rama through a field in someone in society. So we have any ideas about us. But as is tired. People Kurukshetra, struggle to enrich life to adorn it we grew we not only acquired get confused and when he saw a and to fill it up with as many knowledge about the world but want to know little worm material things as possible. It about us also. As youth we had a who is this Rama and where is crawling away as fast as it could may be money, knowledge, lot to tell about us. How has this he. The use of ‘I’ clears the at the sound of his feet so as not power or social status. None like knowledge been gathered? We confusion and makes the matters to get crushed under them. The the idea that he is nobody, a non- were given a name and told about easy. Therefore everyone sage smiled and said to himself, entity in the world. Everyone our family, caste, race, religion, accepts the use of this common “We regard these worms as desires to add a few adjectives tradition, country and so on by name ‘I’ for oneself. worthless and despicable but look about oneself i.e. I am so and so our elders. At home and at at its anxiety to preserve its life! and such and such. Without that school we were told that we II The second fact of life is, one’s Ah, what a wonder!” Then, by we think life is vain and should be like this or that. The existence is dearest to all. Who is virtue of his yogic powers he gave meaningless. We believe seeds of ambition, competition, there who does not love and try to the worm power of speech and external things give meaning to success and comparison were preserve his or her life? One may asked, “How is it that having got life. The simple sense of “I am’ sown and carefully nourished. lose everything in the world, this wretched worm-life you are gets burdened with I am so and Gradually we learnt to identify money, possessions, status and anxious to save it?” The worm so. It becomes so important that and evaluate ourselves with
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external things. The joy of living escape. All of them have said, A person may lose everything The King: When the sun and the was lost the day a child was “Before this encounter with death property, status, family and moon both have set? grilled that it should become I did not realize the worth of life. I relatives due to unfortunate The Sage: The fire (lamp) serves someone in the eyes of the world. took it for granted. I would get natural calamities. He laments as his light. This is the story of every child. upset by petty problems and petty he has lost everything and The King: When the sun, the worries. I used to think that I must nothing remained. But one thing moon both have set and the fire We all know to survive in the get this and I must get that. My remains his own existence, his has gone out? world we need a certain skill or outlook was narrow, ego-centred. own self. One may lose all The Sage: Speech (sound – some knowledge. We have to To me now every moment is external things but one cannot human or animal) serves as his earn our living, our physical worth living. This overwhelming lose oneself, the real I. He is a light. If a sound is uttered it acts maintenance. It is quite justified. feeling of being alive is everything lucky person who realizes that as a guide. Unfortunately it does not stop and nothing else matters.” nobody and no external things The King: When all these external there but it takes ugly forms. outside oneself add value or lights have gone, what serves as Because money, power and The ‘I’ which is striving to show meaning to life. Though the real I a light for a person? status have become the pillars of that it is superior to and better does not possess anything it is The Sage: The Atman (Self) our acquisitive society. So one than others is the phantom I, in everything, it is the light and serves as his light. It is through has to compete with others, fight common language, it is the ego- fullness of life. The awareness of the light of the Self one sits, goes tooth and nail to possess one of self. The false I is artificial and ‘I am” is true and I am this and out, works and returns. them and become important in carefully constructed and wears a that I am so and so is untrue, it is the eyes of others. If we can’t get mask to present itself before the a ghost. The real I is our real Even for a moment we do not alas life is not worth living. Life world. People try to impress upon nature, we will never lose it. To experience our non-existence. In has become a battleground to others by hiding behind it. Putting remember always this is total darkness we do not need have things which are fleeting. on all the time this mask imposes meditation, it is religion. any external light to know that we Sri Ramakrishna cautioned, tremendous strain on the person exist. “Some people pride themselves and it takes away his freedom. It In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad on their riches and power, their is, as it were, walking a tight rope. (IV-3-2) an illuminating dialogue God and Self or existence are not wealth, honour and social It becomes clear that this ego-self takes place between a sage and different. Swamiji in his lecture – position. But these are only or false I is mind-made or a king. Is Vedanta the future religion, transitory.” fabricated when we mix and play said, “God is our own Self. He is with children and visit saints. The king asks the first question: man’s very Self. “ God is called V Fifth fact is, life is a rare gift. Children do not need any ego– sat – chit – ananda. Sat – Squandering it on trivial things is mask or pretension. They are What serves as the light for man? existence, chit – awareness of it – foolishness. A few people who open and natural as they are. So The Sage: The light of the sun, it the result is bliss. In the Gita also have luckily escaped from the we also throw away this painful is through the light of the sun one it is stated Om-Tat-Sat. There is jaws of death fully understand the cross and return to our natural sits, goes out, works and returns. no other way to peace and joy gift of life. Their entire state. Saints are free from ego. The King: When the sun has set than to come back to oneself or perspective altered and mind So we also feel joy and freedom what serves him as his light? one’s own existence. The funny underwent a change. Many of keeping aside our self-imposed The Sage: The moon serves as thing is that which nearest is least them have left their accounts of millstone. his light. observed.
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external things. The joy of living escape. All of them have said, A person may lose everything The King: When the sun and the was lost the day a child was “Before this encounter with death property, status, family and moon both have set? grilled that it should become I did not realize the worth of life. I relatives due to unfortunate The Sage: The fire (lamp) serves someone in the eyes of the world. took it for granted. I would get natural calamities. He laments as his light. This is the story of every child. upset by petty problems and petty he has lost everything and The King: When the sun, the worries. I used to think that I must nothing remained. But one thing moon both have set and the fire We all know to survive in the get this and I must get that. My remains his own existence, his has gone out? world we need a certain skill or outlook was narrow, ego-centred. own self. One may lose all The Sage: Speech (sound – some knowledge. We have to To me now every moment is external things but one cannot human or animal) serves as his earn our living, our physical worth living. This overwhelming lose oneself, the real I. He is a light. If a sound is uttered it acts maintenance. It is quite justified. feeling of being alive is everything lucky person who realizes that as a guide. Unfortunately it does not stop and nothing else matters.” nobody and no external things The King: When all these external there but it takes ugly forms. outside oneself add value or lights have gone, what serves as Because money, power and The ‘I’ which is striving to show meaning to life. Though the real I a light for a person? status have become the pillars of that it is superior to and better does not possess anything it is The Sage: The Atman (Self) our acquisitive society. So one than others is the phantom I, in everything, it is the light and serves as his light. It is through has to compete with others, fight common language, it is the ego- fullness of life. The awareness of the light of the Self one sits, goes tooth and nail to possess one of self. The false I is artificial and ‘I am” is true and I am this and out, works and returns. them and become important in carefully constructed and wears a that I am so and so is untrue, it is the eyes of others. If we can’t get mask to present itself before the a ghost. The real I is our real Even for a moment we do not alas life is not worth living. Life world. People try to impress upon nature, we will never lose it. To experience our non-existence. In has become a battleground to others by hiding behind it. Putting remember always this is total darkness we do not need have things which are fleeting. on all the time this mask imposes meditation, it is religion. any external light to know that we Sri Ramakrishna cautioned, tremendous strain on the person exist. “Some people pride themselves and it takes away his freedom. It In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad on their riches and power, their is, as it were, walking a tight rope. (IV-3-2) an illuminating dialogue God and Self or existence are not wealth, honour and social It becomes clear that this ego-self takes place between a sage and different. Swamiji in his lecture – position. But these are only or false I is mind-made or a king. Is Vedanta the future religion, transitory.” fabricated when we mix and play said, “God is our own Self. He is with children and visit saints. The king asks the first question: man’s very Self. “ God is called V Fifth fact is, life is a rare gift. Children do not need any ego– sat – chit – ananda. Sat – Squandering it on trivial things is mask or pretension. They are What serves as the light for man? existence, chit – awareness of it – foolishness. A few people who open and natural as they are. So The Sage: The light of the sun, it the result is bliss. In the Gita also have luckily escaped from the we also throw away this painful is through the light of the sun one it is stated Om-Tat-Sat. There is jaws of death fully understand the cross and return to our natural sits, goes out, works and returns. no other way to peace and joy gift of life. Their entire state. Saints are free from ego. The King: When the sun has set than to come back to oneself or perspective altered and mind So we also feel joy and freedom what serves him as his light? one’s own existence. The funny underwent a change. Many of keeping aside our self-imposed The Sage: The moon serves as thing is that which nearest is least them have left their accounts of millstone. his light. observed.
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Sri Rama and Sri Ramakrishna elsewhere. My mind is, however, An ocean of difference lies Jayasekhar free from sorrow and pain, as I between the mentality of ordinary find that Ramlala lives happily men and that of Sri Ramakrishna. (Continued from the previous issue) with you, playing and sporting all Which of us can say that he has day long. I feel beside myself with pined sincerely for God? The Sri Ramakrishna continued: “On place (meaning himself). The bliss to see it. I am now in such a world is full of much talk and no some days the holy Baba would Baba too could not go away state that I feel happy at His practice. Yes! God can be seen cook food to offer it to Ramlala but leaving behind Ramlala whom he happiness. Therefore, I can now more intensely than we see the could not find him. Wounded at had loved so long. Now it leave Him with you and go world. Sri Ramakrishna saw God heart, he would then run up here happened one day that, dissolved elsewhere. Knowing that He is because he applied himself to the (to the Master’s room) and find in tears, the Baba came to me happy with you, I too shall feel task with wonderful sincerity, him playing in the room. With a and said, ‘Ramlala has shown happy.’ So saying, he gave renunciation, patience and single- feeling of wounded love, he would himself to me in the way I wanted Ramlala to me, and departed. minded zeal. There is no record in then scold him, saying, ‘I took so to have his vision and has thus Ramlala has been here since spiritual history to equal it. much trouble to cook food for you fulfilled my life’s aspiration. then.” and am searching for you here Moreover, He said He would not Divine love is unconditioned. God and there, but without the least go from here, for He does not like The disciples of the Master were is near but our vision is blurred by consideration for all that, you are to leave you behind and go dumbfounded on hearing these thousands of petty desires. lingering here. Ah! words of his. Said Swami Human love is but a faint reflection That has ever been Saradananda: “Looking at the of Divine love. Did not the sages your way. You have image with awe, we hopefully of the Upanishads declare their no kindness or wondered if we too could see him realisation thus? affection. You left living and moving. But alas! We behind your father saw nothing but cold metal. And Raso vai saḥ. Rasa hyevāyam how could it be otherwise? We and went to the labdhvā ānandī bhavati. forest; and though had not got that loving attraction your poor father died for Ramlala. The affection for Ko hyevānyāt kaḥ prāṇyāt Ramachandra had not been so weeping for you, you yadeṣa ākāśa ānando na syāt. never returned to intensified in our minds as to show yourself to produce in us the eye of love as in him.’ With these and the Master's case, to enable us to “He is verily Bliss. Man verily is similar words, he see the living Ramlala within blissful by getting this Bliss. Who used to drag oneself and outside. We see a would have lived, who would have Ramlala to his place small image only and think, ‘Could breathed, if this infinite expanse of and feed him. Time what the Master said have Bliss were not there?” (Taittiriya passed in that way. happened or can it ever happen?’ Upanishad II-7) The sadhu remained It is so with us regarding here for a long time, everything relating to the spiritual The episode of Ramalala is one of for Ramlala did not realm.” the most inspiring in the life of Sri like to leave this
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Sri Rama and Sri Ramakrishna elsewhere. My mind is, however, An ocean of difference lies Jayasekhar free from sorrow and pain, as I between the mentality of ordinary find that Ramlala lives happily men and that of Sri Ramakrishna. (Continued from the previous issue) with you, playing and sporting all Which of us can say that he has day long. I feel beside myself with pined sincerely for God? The Sri Ramakrishna continued: “On place (meaning himself). The bliss to see it. I am now in such a world is full of much talk and no some days the holy Baba would Baba too could not go away state that I feel happy at His practice. Yes! God can be seen cook food to offer it to Ramlala but leaving behind Ramlala whom he happiness. Therefore, I can now more intensely than we see the could not find him. Wounded at had loved so long. Now it leave Him with you and go world. Sri Ramakrishna saw God heart, he would then run up here happened one day that, dissolved elsewhere. Knowing that He is because he applied himself to the (to the Master’s room) and find in tears, the Baba came to me happy with you, I too shall feel task with wonderful sincerity, him playing in the room. With a and said, ‘Ramlala has shown happy.’ So saying, he gave renunciation, patience and single- feeling of wounded love, he would himself to me in the way I wanted Ramlala to me, and departed. minded zeal. There is no record in then scold him, saying, ‘I took so to have his vision and has thus Ramlala has been here since spiritual history to equal it. much trouble to cook food for you fulfilled my life’s aspiration. then.” and am searching for you here Moreover, He said He would not Divine love is unconditioned. God and there, but without the least go from here, for He does not like The disciples of the Master were is near but our vision is blurred by consideration for all that, you are to leave you behind and go dumbfounded on hearing these thousands of petty desires. lingering here. Ah! words of his. Said Swami Human love is but a faint reflection That has ever been Saradananda: “Looking at the of Divine love. Did not the sages your way. You have image with awe, we hopefully of the Upanishads declare their no kindness or wondered if we too could see him realisation thus? affection. You left living and moving. But alas! We behind your father saw nothing but cold metal. And Raso vai saḥ. Rasa hyevāyam how could it be otherwise? We and went to the labdhvā ānandī bhavati. forest; and though had not got that loving attraction your poor father died for Ramlala. The affection for Ko hyevānyāt kaḥ prāṇyāt Ramachandra had not been so weeping for you, you yadeṣa ākāśa ānando na syāt. never returned to intensified in our minds as to show yourself to produce in us the eye of love as in him.’ With these and the Master's case, to enable us to “He is verily Bliss. Man verily is similar words, he see the living Ramlala within blissful by getting this Bliss. Who used to drag oneself and outside. We see a would have lived, who would have Ramlala to his place small image only and think, ‘Could breathed, if this infinite expanse of and feed him. Time what the Master said have Bliss were not there?” (Taittiriya passed in that way. happened or can it ever happen?’ Upanishad II-7) The sadhu remained It is so with us regarding here for a long time, everything relating to the spiritual The episode of Ramalala is one of for Ramlala did not realm.” the most inspiring in the life of Sri like to leave this
8 9
Ramakrishna. It shows us that remained without spiritual light. Sri Krishna as Banke Bihari God can be seen and talked to Ramakrishna’s life was an object- A Devotee, Sri Sarada Devi Ashram. South Africa and played with. God Himself lesson in Ahimsa. His love knew comes down to the level of the no limits, geographical or o devotees of Sri Brindavan. He was a great devotee and reveals Himself. But otherwise. May his divine love be T Ramakrishna, Brindavan and devotee of Sri Krishna and lived a it requires complete surrender of an inspiration to all who read the the Banke Behari Temple have a very saintly life. Once, during the all worldly values on our part. The following pages.” very special significance. When Mogul invasion, a priest buried an devotee should absolutely give the Master made a pilgrimage to image of Sri Krishna to protect it. himself over to the Lord. Surely References Brindavan, he visited the temple of After a few days, Haridas was then He will appear in the form in Banke Bihari and had a vision of passing through the area and which He is worshipped. 1. Ramayana by C. Rajagopalachari, Sri Krishna. This vision was so decided to rest there. In a dream, published by Bharatiya Vidya vivid and intense, that the Master Lord Krishna told Haridas where It is befitting to end this story with Bhavan, Bombay ran toward the altar wanting to His image was buried. On waking, the observation of one of the 2. Sundara Kandam by Swami embrace the Haridas dug the greatest of Indians. Gandhiji Tapasyananda, published by Sri deity. The spot and found Ramakrishna Math, Madras Master could the image, himself says in his foreword to the 3. Lectures on the Ramayana by the “Life of Sri Ramakrishna”: Rt. Hon. V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, not go to the which he then published by Madras Samskrit altar so the installed in what “The story of Ramakrishna Academy Lord came is now the Paramahamsa’s life is the story of 4. The Ramayana of Valmiki (three down and Banke Bihari religion in practice. His life enables volumes) translated by Dr. Hari embraced the Temple. us to see God face to face. No Prasad Shastri, published by Master. Sri Traditionally, one can read the story of his life Shanti Sadan, London. Ramakrishna this holy place is without being convinced that God 5. Sri Ramakrishna, The Great went into where Sri alone is real and that all else is an Master by Swami Saradananda, samadhi and Krishna has his Published by Sri Ramakrishna experienced Ras lila - where illusion. Ramakrishna was a living Math, Madras embodiment of godliness. His 6. Life of Sri Ramakrishna, with Banke Behari he dances and sayings are not those of a mere foreword by Mahatma Gandhi, merging into sings with the learned man but they are pages Published by Advaita Ashrama, Him. The gopis. It is from the Book of Life. They are Calcutta Master also considered so revelations of his own experience. 7. More About Ramakrishna by took some sacred that after They, therefore, leave on the Swami Prabhananda, Published sand from Nidhuvan and spread it sunset no one remains there. reader an impression which he by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras in the Panchavati, saying ‘from Brindavan is also associated with cannot resist. In this age of 8. Sri Ramakrishna, A Prophet for the today onwards, this place has Sri Krishna's childhood. scepticism Ramakrishna presents New Age by Richard Schiffman, become Brindavan!’ Published by Ramakrishna Sri Krishna is said to be an an example of a bright and living Mission Institute of Culture, faith which gives solace to Calcutta Haridas, one of the greatest awakened deity in this temple. thousands of men and women 9. All slokas are based on Srimad musicians that India has Devotees have observed that who would otherwise have Valmiki Ramayanam in Sanskrit. produced, established the Banke when praying in certain temples Bihari Temple in Niduvan, their prayers were answered
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Ramakrishna. It shows us that remained without spiritual light. Sri Krishna as Banke Bihari God can be seen and talked to Ramakrishna’s life was an object- A Devotee, Sri Sarada Devi Ashram. South Africa and played with. God Himself lesson in Ahimsa. His love knew comes down to the level of the no limits, geographical or o devotees of Sri Brindavan. He was a great devotee and reveals Himself. But otherwise. May his divine love be T Ramakrishna, Brindavan and devotee of Sri Krishna and lived a it requires complete surrender of an inspiration to all who read the the Banke Behari Temple have a very saintly life. Once, during the all worldly values on our part. The following pages.” very special significance. When Mogul invasion, a priest buried an devotee should absolutely give the Master made a pilgrimage to image of Sri Krishna to protect it. himself over to the Lord. Surely References Brindavan, he visited the temple of After a few days, Haridas was then He will appear in the form in Banke Bihari and had a vision of passing through the area and which He is worshipped. 1. Ramayana by C. Rajagopalachari, Sri Krishna. This vision was so decided to rest there. In a dream, published by Bharatiya Vidya vivid and intense, that the Master Lord Krishna told Haridas where It is befitting to end this story with Bhavan, Bombay ran toward the altar wanting to His image was buried. On waking, the observation of one of the 2. Sundara Kandam by Swami embrace the Haridas dug the greatest of Indians. Gandhiji Tapasyananda, published by Sri deity. The spot and found Ramakrishna Math, Madras Master could the image, himself says in his foreword to the 3. Lectures on the Ramayana by the “Life of Sri Ramakrishna”: Rt. Hon. V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, not go to the which he then published by Madras Samskrit altar so the installed in what “The story of Ramakrishna Academy Lord came is now the Paramahamsa’s life is the story of 4. The Ramayana of Valmiki (three down and Banke Bihari religion in practice. His life enables volumes) translated by Dr. Hari embraced the Temple. us to see God face to face. No Prasad Shastri, published by Master. Sri Traditionally, one can read the story of his life Shanti Sadan, London. Ramakrishna this holy place is without being convinced that God 5. Sri Ramakrishna, The Great went into where Sri alone is real and that all else is an Master by Swami Saradananda, samadhi and Krishna has his Published by Sri Ramakrishna experienced Ras lila - where illusion. Ramakrishna was a living Math, Madras embodiment of godliness. His 6. Life of Sri Ramakrishna, with Banke Behari he dances and sayings are not those of a mere foreword by Mahatma Gandhi, merging into sings with the learned man but they are pages Published by Advaita Ashrama, Him. The gopis. It is from the Book of Life. They are Calcutta Master also considered so revelations of his own experience. 7. More About Ramakrishna by took some sacred that after They, therefore, leave on the Swami Prabhananda, Published sand from Nidhuvan and spread it sunset no one remains there. reader an impression which he by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras in the Panchavati, saying ‘from Brindavan is also associated with cannot resist. In this age of 8. Sri Ramakrishna, A Prophet for the today onwards, this place has Sri Krishna's childhood. scepticism Ramakrishna presents New Age by Richard Schiffman, become Brindavan!’ Published by Ramakrishna Sri Krishna is said to be an an example of a bright and living Mission Institute of Culture, faith which gives solace to Calcutta Haridas, one of the greatest awakened deity in this temple. thousands of men and women 9. All slokas are based on Srimad musicians that India has Devotees have observed that who would otherwise have Valmiki Ramayanam in Sanskrit. produced, established the Banke when praying in certain temples Bihari Temple in Niduvan, their prayers were answered
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quickly. These are temples where peeping or have a quick glance. notice. After some time the The girl then asked, ‘What kind of the deity is awakened. The Kali Why did this unusual practice garland seller lost hope. She was a Lord are you that you don't have Temple of Dakshineshwar is said begin? overwhelmed by grief. One day any freedom?’ The Lord smiled to be a temple where the deity is she went into the temple and and said, ‘Ok, I will make some awakened. That is attributed to the All great teachers taught through began crying. She started arrangement. Why don't you come Master’s presence there and His stories. When we listen to stories speaking with Sri Krishna, like we back tonight when the priests are worship of Mother Kali there. The and reflect on them they have a do when we go to a temple. We not here.’ The girl asked, ‘The temple of Simhavahini Devi in deep message for us. We then may not speak aloud but we pour temple will be locked. How would I Jayramabati where Holy Mother have to ask, 'What have I learnt out our hearts' wishes, desires or be able to come inside?’ Sri prayed and worshipped is another from this story? agony. Krishna says, ‘I will manage that. such temple. After Holy Mother Bring your offerings and you can worshipped there people found So, let us listen to a story relating The little girl said, ‘Lord, I have worship me to your hearts that whoever prayed there, had to Banke Behari Krishna: been sending you an extra content.’ The girl was delighted. their prayers answered. When garland every day. The priests She went home and collected the extraordinary souls or enlightened 10 garlands were required each didn’t notice and I can understand best flowers to make an exquisite beings offer a prayer in a certain day for the worship of Lord Banke it as a human failing, but what garland, the best fruit and sweets place they infuse that place with Behari. The priests of the temple about You? Nothing remains to offer to The Lord. In the some power and the deity gave the contract of supplying the hidden from you. You know evening, with her offerings in one becomes awakened. God or the garlands to an orphaned girl aged everything. How is it that you did hand and a lamp in the other she Divine responds to our prayers 11 or 12. This girl sold flowers not notice?' She wept bitterly. set off for the temple. more quickly in these places. So outside the temple so supplying Suddenly she heard the voice of as we can imagine, the Banke the garlands for the worship was a Banke Behari Krishna saying, ‘Of When she arrived at the temple it Bihari Temple is very crowded good source of income for her. course I knew that you were was dark and the temple doors throughout the year. This girl however was also a great sending an extra garland.’ The girl were closed. As soon as she devotee of Sri Krishna. One of her asked, ‘What is the point of simply touched the doors, they Banke means bent. The traditional greatest desires was to garland Sri knowing that I was sending the miraculously opened. She entered posture of Sri Krishna is a very Krishna herself. In many Indian garland? Why didn't you do the temple and went to the beautiful appearance - He is bent temples the general procedure is something about it? You know the sanctum. She was thrilled that in three places and is playing his the priest makes the offering to the desire of my heart. Why can't you now she could start worshipping melodious Flute. Behari is another deity on behalf of the devotee. arrange that I can garland you?’ the Lord. But Sri Krishna said, name of Sri Krishna, which means ‘Wait, the people in the village one who enjoys playing his music. So, our little garland seller began Lord Krishna said, ‘I wouldn't mind know that the temple is closed. A very unique feature of this sending 11 garlands to the temple. but unfortunately I am not able to They will see your light and will temple is that the deity is not She hoped that the priests would let you do that. The girl said, 'But I suspect that somebody has visible for darshan continuously. notice the extra garland and might thought that you are the Lord of entered the temple. So, it is not There is a curtain in front of the enquire why she was sending the the Universe. I thought there was safe to worship me here. It is best deity that is being opened and garland. She would tell them about nothing impossible for you.' The to go to your home. You lead the closed every 30 seconds to a her desire and perhaps they may Lord replies, ‘In the temple the way and I will follow you. There minute. The local word for this allow her to go and put the garland priests decide what I should do, so you can worship to your heart's practice is 'Jhaki'. 'Jhaki' means on the Lord. But the priests didn't I do not have much freedom.’ content.’ The girl agreed. She has
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quickly. These are temples where peeping or have a quick glance. notice. After some time the The girl then asked, ‘What kind of the deity is awakened. The Kali Why did this unusual practice garland seller lost hope. She was a Lord are you that you don't have Temple of Dakshineshwar is said begin? overwhelmed by grief. One day any freedom?’ The Lord smiled to be a temple where the deity is she went into the temple and and said, ‘Ok, I will make some awakened. That is attributed to the All great teachers taught through began crying. She started arrangement. Why don't you come Master’s presence there and His stories. When we listen to stories speaking with Sri Krishna, like we back tonight when the priests are worship of Mother Kali there. The and reflect on them they have a do when we go to a temple. We not here.’ The girl asked, ‘The temple of Simhavahini Devi in deep message for us. We then may not speak aloud but we pour temple will be locked. How would I Jayramabati where Holy Mother have to ask, 'What have I learnt out our hearts' wishes, desires or be able to come inside?’ Sri prayed and worshipped is another from this story? agony. Krishna says, ‘I will manage that. such temple. After Holy Mother Bring your offerings and you can worshipped there people found So, let us listen to a story relating The little girl said, ‘Lord, I have worship me to your hearts that whoever prayed there, had to Banke Behari Krishna: been sending you an extra content.’ The girl was delighted. their prayers answered. When garland every day. The priests She went home and collected the extraordinary souls or enlightened 10 garlands were required each didn’t notice and I can understand best flowers to make an exquisite beings offer a prayer in a certain day for the worship of Lord Banke it as a human failing, but what garland, the best fruit and sweets place they infuse that place with Behari. The priests of the temple about You? Nothing remains to offer to The Lord. In the some power and the deity gave the contract of supplying the hidden from you. You know evening, with her offerings in one becomes awakened. God or the garlands to an orphaned girl aged everything. How is it that you did hand and a lamp in the other she Divine responds to our prayers 11 or 12. This girl sold flowers not notice?' She wept bitterly. set off for the temple. more quickly in these places. So outside the temple so supplying Suddenly she heard the voice of as we can imagine, the Banke the garlands for the worship was a Banke Behari Krishna saying, ‘Of When she arrived at the temple it Bihari Temple is very crowded good source of income for her. course I knew that you were was dark and the temple doors throughout the year. This girl however was also a great sending an extra garland.’ The girl were closed. As soon as she devotee of Sri Krishna. One of her asked, ‘What is the point of simply touched the doors, they Banke means bent. The traditional greatest desires was to garland Sri knowing that I was sending the miraculously opened. She entered posture of Sri Krishna is a very Krishna herself. In many Indian garland? Why didn't you do the temple and went to the beautiful appearance - He is bent temples the general procedure is something about it? You know the sanctum. She was thrilled that in three places and is playing his the priest makes the offering to the desire of my heart. Why can't you now she could start worshipping melodious Flute. Behari is another deity on behalf of the devotee. arrange that I can garland you?’ the Lord. But Sri Krishna said, name of Sri Krishna, which means ‘Wait, the people in the village one who enjoys playing his music. So, our little garland seller began Lord Krishna said, ‘I wouldn't mind know that the temple is closed. A very unique feature of this sending 11 garlands to the temple. but unfortunately I am not able to They will see your light and will temple is that the deity is not She hoped that the priests would let you do that. The girl said, 'But I suspect that somebody has visible for darshan continuously. notice the extra garland and might thought that you are the Lord of entered the temple. So, it is not There is a curtain in front of the enquire why she was sending the the Universe. I thought there was safe to worship me here. It is best deity that is being opened and garland. She would tell them about nothing impossible for you.' The to go to your home. You lead the closed every 30 seconds to a her desire and perhaps they may Lord replies, ‘In the temple the way and I will follow you. There minute. The local word for this allow her to go and put the garland priests decide what I should do, so you can worship to your heart's practice is 'Jhaki'. 'Jhaki' means on the Lord. But the priests didn't I do not have much freedom.’ content.’ The girl agreed. She has
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a tiny hut at the outskirts of the image again. The priests accused the girl lived in the village so it was Second when we begin the village and they soon arrived her of stealing the image. easy to bring the Lord back. But practice of prayer and meditation there. what if a person from a distant we may experience something like But the girl protested, ‘No I did not place comes and pours out his jhaki darshan. In meditation we try Sri Banke Behari said, ‘You may steal Him. He called me. He heart to Lord Krishna? The Lord to visualize our deity in our heart. begin your worship but remember suggested I bring Him here. He might follow them to that distant Initially we close our eyes and see that I have to be back at the walked by Himself.’ Naturally the place! He will then be lost forever. darkness. So the curtain is closed. temple before the priests arrive to priests did not believe her. One Like the little girl when we repeat perform the morning worship. said, ‘My great grandfather, my One of the priests came up with the mantra with one-pointedness, When I am with my devotees I grandfather, my father and I have this original idea. He said, ‘The with real intensity of heart, when lose all sense of time. I may not worshipped in this temple but reason Krishna's heart is filled with we focus our attention on the deity remember so it is your none have ever heard Banke compassion is that he listens to to the exclusion of every other responsibility to ensure that I am Bihari talk - yet you want us to the prayers of his devotees and idea, every other thought, then at back in the temple on time." believe that He walked with you.’ It his heart melts looking at their love some point suddenly the curtain was getting late so the head priest and devotion. Once the Lord's opens. It could be for a nano The girl lovingly worshipped Sri suggested they take the Lord back heart melts there is no knowing second; it could be for a few Krishna. She fed him with the fruit to the temple, begin the worship what He will do. So we must seconds. Even that very tiny and sweets. She sang songs and and not let anybody know what somehow find a way by which he glimpse for a fraction of a second they danced. It was a wonderful had happened. will not be able to melt into strengthens our faith. We know experience. But, they both forgot compassion.’ He suggested that that there is someone behind the the time! Suddenly they heard a The head priest then told the girl they install a curtain between the curtain. We continue our practice knock at the door. There was a that if she left the village no action Lord and the devotees. When the and the curtain will open again. loud shout, ‘Open the door.’ The would be taken against her. The curtain is opened for a quick priests had gone into the temple girl agreed. Now, the head priest moment there will be multitudes of This could take days, months or and found the Lord missing. They was a little mature and after some people waiting to have darshan so even years. That is why an searched everywhere and reflection he was intelligent the Lord won't be able to focus on essential quality for success in eventually found footprints outside enough to recognise that the any one person and listen to what spiritual life is patience and the temple, which led them to the image was really too heavy for the the person is saying. perseverance. Eventually the girl's hut. little girl to carry. Also the temple curtain will open more frequently. locks were not broken. So, he That's how this tradition of The more the curtain opens the The terrified girl told Sri Krishna, believed that Sri Krishna might continually opening and closing more robust our meditation ‘You please open the door’. He have really gone with the girl. the curtain began! As interesting becomes. said. ‘No, it’s your house so you as the story is we might ask, ‘what open the door.’ She reluctantly That afternoon the priests held a do we learn from it?’ Some There is no curtain for opened the door knowing that she meeting. There was a dilemma important lessons that we learn incarnations. They are constantly was going to be in great trouble. before them. The head priest said are: aware of God being always there What happened next was more that since the girl was a sincere for them. The Master was thus surpraising. The priests barged in devotee; Sri Krishna was filled First, when our devotion is sincere able to see the Divine Mother and when the girl turned around with compassion and went to her and genuine the Lord always everywhere. He felt it was her the living Krishna has become an home. They were fortunate that responds. grace.
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a tiny hut at the outskirts of the image again. The priests accused the girl lived in the village so it was Second when we begin the village and they soon arrived her of stealing the image. easy to bring the Lord back. But practice of prayer and meditation there. what if a person from a distant we may experience something like But the girl protested, ‘No I did not place comes and pours out his jhaki darshan. In meditation we try Sri Banke Behari said, ‘You may steal Him. He called me. He heart to Lord Krishna? The Lord to visualize our deity in our heart. begin your worship but remember suggested I bring Him here. He might follow them to that distant Initially we close our eyes and see that I have to be back at the walked by Himself.’ Naturally the place! He will then be lost forever. darkness. So the curtain is closed. temple before the priests arrive to priests did not believe her. One Like the little girl when we repeat perform the morning worship. said, ‘My great grandfather, my One of the priests came up with the mantra with one-pointedness, When I am with my devotees I grandfather, my father and I have this original idea. He said, ‘The with real intensity of heart, when lose all sense of time. I may not worshipped in this temple but reason Krishna's heart is filled with we focus our attention on the deity remember so it is your none have ever heard Banke compassion is that he listens to to the exclusion of every other responsibility to ensure that I am Bihari talk - yet you want us to the prayers of his devotees and idea, every other thought, then at back in the temple on time." believe that He walked with you.’ It his heart melts looking at their love some point suddenly the curtain was getting late so the head priest and devotion. Once the Lord's opens. It could be for a nano The girl lovingly worshipped Sri suggested they take the Lord back heart melts there is no knowing second; it could be for a few Krishna. She fed him with the fruit to the temple, begin the worship what He will do. So we must seconds. Even that very tiny and sweets. She sang songs and and not let anybody know what somehow find a way by which he glimpse for a fraction of a second they danced. It was a wonderful had happened. will not be able to melt into strengthens our faith. We know experience. But, they both forgot compassion.’ He suggested that that there is someone behind the the time! Suddenly they heard a The head priest then told the girl they install a curtain between the curtain. We continue our practice knock at the door. There was a that if she left the village no action Lord and the devotees. When the and the curtain will open again. loud shout, ‘Open the door.’ The would be taken against her. The curtain is opened for a quick priests had gone into the temple girl agreed. Now, the head priest moment there will be multitudes of This could take days, months or and found the Lord missing. They was a little mature and after some people waiting to have darshan so even years. That is why an searched everywhere and reflection he was intelligent the Lord won't be able to focus on essential quality for success in eventually found footprints outside enough to recognise that the any one person and listen to what spiritual life is patience and the temple, which led them to the image was really too heavy for the the person is saying. perseverance. Eventually the girl's hut. little girl to carry. Also the temple curtain will open more frequently. locks were not broken. So, he That's how this tradition of The more the curtain opens the The terrified girl told Sri Krishna, believed that Sri Krishna might continually opening and closing more robust our meditation ‘You please open the door’. He have really gone with the girl. the curtain began! As interesting becomes. said. ‘No, it’s your house so you as the story is we might ask, ‘what open the door.’ She reluctantly That afternoon the priests held a do we learn from it?’ Some There is no curtain for opened the door knowing that she meeting. There was a dilemma important lessons that we learn incarnations. They are constantly was going to be in great trouble. before them. The head priest said are: aware of God being always there What happened next was more that since the girl was a sincere for them. The Master was thus surpraising. The priests barged in devotee; Sri Krishna was filled First, when our devotion is sincere able to see the Divine Mother and when the girl turned around with compassion and went to her and genuine the Lord always everywhere. He felt it was her the living Krishna has become an home. They were fortunate that responds. grace.
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Cultivation of Strength and Fearlessness Upanishad, Swami Vivekananda develop tremendous spiritual Swami Budhananda gives us the equation: "true strength. There are any number spirituality is strength, and true of such cases in Hindu legends (Continued from the previous issue) strength is spirituality. That and history. Take only the human strength which does not aspect of the character of Sita, The practice of the following even mental strength. It is the eventually lead us to the the well-known heroine of the Vedic prayer can be greatly spiritual strength. There is no attainment of illumination is not epic Ramayana, who stood alone helpful to the followers of all faiths strength higher or greater than true strength but an illusion of it. against all the evil forces that in cultivating strength on all spiritual strength. Spiritual Without moving towards reality surrounded her after she was levels, physical, mental and strength may therefore be said to step by step we cannot have real kidnapped by Ravana, by the spiritual: "O Lord, Thou art the be the ultimate strength. The strength. Those who seek God sheer power of her chastity. embodiment of infinite energy; do indestructible and real element in may appear to be very innocent Chastity is the most valued idea Thou fill me with energy. Thou art man is the Atman, which is the people. In reality they constitute in the householder's way of the embodiment of infinite virility; reservoir of all power and the most enduring strength of a spiritual life in India. Swami Thou art the embodiment of splendour. Therefore strength society." Vivekananda says in one place, infinite strength; do Thou bestow born of the realization of Atman, unless in a society married strength upon me. Thou art the or one's experienced relationship One basic factor in cultivating people live chaste lives for many embodiment of infinite power; do with God, is the greatest and the spiritual strength is the generations, that society cannot Thou grant power unto me. Thou most abiding strength. Once observance of continence. produce great monks and nuns. art the embodiment of infinite gained, it cannot be lost. It only Maximum spiritual strength can When the spiritual strength comes courage; do Thou inspire me with increases. Strength of body and never be developed without to one after the attainment of the courage. Thou art the mind are almost nothing in absolute continence. The gap in vision of God or realization of the embodiment of infinite fortitude; comparison to the strength born continence will be reflected in the Atman, then he stands do Thou give me fortitude." This of realization of God or Atman. It gap in spiritual strength. metamorphosed. Through Him prayer should be especially is the attainment of such strength Therefore the highest type of courses a superhuman strength taught to children at home so that which enabled the Sikh Guru Tej spiritual they may grow not only with a Bahadur Singh to declare: "I have strength is penchant for strength and given my head but not my valued always seen fearlessness but also for faith in treasure, my dharma." among great the divine response to their monks and earnest prayers. True spiritual life becomes the nuns. Married conduit for the expression of the men and Methods of Cultivating Spiritual power of reality itself. The women - when Strength Upanishad teaches: "The Atman they live cannot be realized by one who is perfectly chaste While mental strength is superior devoid of strength." Again, lives and live a to physical strength, there is a elsewhere the Upanishad truthful life in strength which is higher than says:"Through realization of the the righteous Atman one attains strength." On the basis of such teachings of the path -can
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Cultivation of Strength and Fearlessness Upanishad, Swami Vivekananda develop tremendous spiritual Swami Budhananda gives us the equation: "true strength. There are any number spirituality is strength, and true of such cases in Hindu legends (Continued from the previous issue) strength is spirituality. That and history. Take only the human strength which does not aspect of the character of Sita, The practice of the following even mental strength. It is the eventually lead us to the the well-known heroine of the Vedic prayer can be greatly spiritual strength. There is no attainment of illumination is not epic Ramayana, who stood alone helpful to the followers of all faiths strength higher or greater than true strength but an illusion of it. against all the evil forces that in cultivating strength on all spiritual strength. Spiritual Without moving towards reality surrounded her after she was levels, physical, mental and strength may therefore be said to step by step we cannot have real kidnapped by Ravana, by the spiritual: "O Lord, Thou art the be the ultimate strength. The strength. Those who seek God sheer power of her chastity. embodiment of infinite energy; do indestructible and real element in may appear to be very innocent Chastity is the most valued idea Thou fill me with energy. Thou art man is the Atman, which is the people. In reality they constitute in the householder's way of the embodiment of infinite virility; reservoir of all power and the most enduring strength of a spiritual life in India. Swami Thou art the embodiment of splendour. Therefore strength society." Vivekananda says in one place, infinite strength; do Thou bestow born of the realization of Atman, unless in a society married strength upon me. Thou art the or one's experienced relationship One basic factor in cultivating people live chaste lives for many embodiment of infinite power; do with God, is the greatest and the spiritual strength is the generations, that society cannot Thou grant power unto me. Thou most abiding strength. Once observance of continence. produce great monks and nuns. art the embodiment of infinite gained, it cannot be lost. It only Maximum spiritual strength can When the spiritual strength comes courage; do Thou inspire me with increases. Strength of body and never be developed without to one after the attainment of the courage. Thou art the mind are almost nothing in absolute continence. The gap in vision of God or realization of the embodiment of infinite fortitude; comparison to the strength born continence will be reflected in the Atman, then he stands do Thou give me fortitude." This of realization of God or Atman. It gap in spiritual strength. metamorphosed. Through Him prayer should be especially is the attainment of such strength Therefore the highest type of courses a superhuman strength taught to children at home so that which enabled the Sikh Guru Tej spiritual they may grow not only with a Bahadur Singh to declare: "I have strength is penchant for strength and given my head but not my valued always seen fearlessness but also for faith in treasure, my dharma." among great the divine response to their monks and earnest prayers. True spiritual life becomes the nuns. Married conduit for the expression of the men and Methods of Cultivating Spiritual power of reality itself. The women - when Strength Upanishad teaches: "The Atman they live cannot be realized by one who is perfectly chaste While mental strength is superior devoid of strength." Again, lives and live a to physical strength, there is a elsewhere the Upanishad truthful life in strength which is higher than says:"Through realization of the the righteous Atman one attains strength." On the basis of such teachings of the path -can
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and this distracted world is spiritual strength. After a few years of life in a Swami Vivekananda's life is vitalized with a new power. Such retreat, where she had the another object-lesson of what a man may be physically sick, his St. Paul-what was he? An experience of the mystic spiritual strength can achieve. He position in the world may not be obscure Roman citizen, without marriage, she emerges from the lived only for thirtynine years. The of any account, he may have no money, influence or even good cell of self-knowledge to dominate power-potency of his teachings learning, but with the influx of health. But when, through the politics of Italy. has already not only influenced in spiritual strength he will do things spiritual realization, it came to be depth the spiritual thought-current not possible to be done by the case of 'not I, but Christ in Such examples can be multiplied. of the world, but his global muscular men, generals, dictators me,' he went forth into the world Let me give you only two ministry has also been quietly or intellectuals. alone to set the colossal examples from India. Sri Sankara, "helping to prepare the way for foundations of the great Roman the great mystic philosopher of the united pilgrimage of mankind Thus we find manifest in some of Catholic Church. India, died at the age of thirty-two. towards self-understanding and the mystics of the world an But by that age the work he had peace." By the strength of his amazing superabundant vitality, a St. Joan of Arc was a child of a done was just fantastic. After spirituality he introduced in the 'triumphing force' over which peasant class. But suddenly we attaining the highest spiritual life-stream of the West a saving circumstance has no power. It so find her leaving her sheepfold to realization of the identity of Atman power, that is Vedanta. In India happens to them sometimes by a lead the armies of France. How and Brahman, he wrote he galvanized the whole nation certain alchemy of realization. did this happen? We are told that commentaries on the and set it on the path of new Their erstwhile passivity drops off she was propelled by the voice Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, adventures and attainments. His and they enter into history like from above. She felt herself and the Brahmasutras. Besides life-work has just begun to fructify. rivers of power, and transform the charged with a superhuman these he composed many hymns future of man. The lives of St. power. Having become united and other original treatises on the Methods of Cultivating Paul, St. Joan of Arc, St. Teresa, with infinite life, that is divinity philosophy of nondualism. This Fearlessness St. Catherine of Siena, itself, she became the medium of itself would have taken several Sankaracarya, Vivekananda, and its mighty expression. lives of an ordinary person. But The concept of strength is a host of others will bear Sankara did many things more intimately associated with the testimony to this fact. A St. Teresa was a chronic invalid, which left an indelible impress on idea of fearlessness. Fear superabundant vitality, an then over fifty years of age. But the history of Hinduism. He impedes the inflow and outflow of enthralling enthusiasm, invincible when the inward voice prompted crisscrossed India a couple of strength. Want of strength again will, all these can issue only from her to go forward on the path of times on foot, propagated the causes fear. Nothing can degrade spiritual strength. These are destiny, she unexpectedly left the message of Vedanta - for which a man so much as fear. There is beyond the reach of mere mental convent and started a startlingly he had to fight many a battle with not a single sin or crime which or physical strength. Just as a new life, coursing through Spain other contending philosophies - men cannot commit out of fear. river attains its fulfilment when it and reforming a great religious set right the methods of worship, Out of fear civilized human beings flows into the ocean, in like order in the teeth of the and organized Hindu monastic can become thoroughly manner streams of physical and ecclesiastical world. orders, trained disciples to carry barbarized, and commit the worst mental strength attain their More surprising was the life of St. forth his work, and passed even of crimes. When this is done oceanic fulfilment when they flow Catherine of Siena, an illiterate before he was fully young, so to collectively, we may call it a war - into and become one with woman of humble extraction. say. such acts might even be called as
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and this distracted world is spiritual strength. After a few years of life in a Swami Vivekananda's life is vitalized with a new power. Such retreat, where she had the another object-lesson of what a man may be physically sick, his St. Paul-what was he? An experience of the mystic spiritual strength can achieve. He position in the world may not be obscure Roman citizen, without marriage, she emerges from the lived only for thirtynine years. The of any account, he may have no money, influence or even good cell of self-knowledge to dominate power-potency of his teachings learning, but with the influx of health. But when, through the politics of Italy. has already not only influenced in spiritual strength he will do things spiritual realization, it came to be depth the spiritual thought-current not possible to be done by the case of 'not I, but Christ in Such examples can be multiplied. of the world, but his global muscular men, generals, dictators me,' he went forth into the world Let me give you only two ministry has also been quietly or intellectuals. alone to set the colossal examples from India. Sri Sankara, "helping to prepare the way for foundations of the great Roman the great mystic philosopher of the united pilgrimage of mankind Thus we find manifest in some of Catholic Church. India, died at the age of thirty-two. towards self-understanding and the mystics of the world an But by that age the work he had peace." By the strength of his amazing superabundant vitality, a St. Joan of Arc was a child of a done was just fantastic. After spirituality he introduced in the 'triumphing force' over which peasant class. But suddenly we attaining the highest spiritual life-stream of the West a saving circumstance has no power. It so find her leaving her sheepfold to realization of the identity of Atman power, that is Vedanta. In India happens to them sometimes by a lead the armies of France. How and Brahman, he wrote he galvanized the whole nation certain alchemy of realization. did this happen? We are told that commentaries on the and set it on the path of new Their erstwhile passivity drops off she was propelled by the voice Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, adventures and attainments. His and they enter into history like from above. She felt herself and the Brahmasutras. Besides life-work has just begun to fructify. rivers of power, and transform the charged with a superhuman these he composed many hymns future of man. The lives of St. power. Having become united and other original treatises on the Methods of Cultivating Paul, St. Joan of Arc, St. Teresa, with infinite life, that is divinity philosophy of nondualism. This Fearlessness St. Catherine of Siena, itself, she became the medium of itself would have taken several Sankaracarya, Vivekananda, and its mighty expression. lives of an ordinary person. But The concept of strength is a host of others will bear Sankara did many things more intimately associated with the testimony to this fact. A St. Teresa was a chronic invalid, which left an indelible impress on idea of fearlessness. Fear superabundant vitality, an then over fifty years of age. But the history of Hinduism. He impedes the inflow and outflow of enthralling enthusiasm, invincible when the inward voice prompted crisscrossed India a couple of strength. Want of strength again will, all these can issue only from her to go forward on the path of times on foot, propagated the causes fear. Nothing can degrade spiritual strength. These are destiny, she unexpectedly left the message of Vedanta - for which a man so much as fear. There is beyond the reach of mere mental convent and started a startlingly he had to fight many a battle with not a single sin or crime which or physical strength. Just as a new life, coursing through Spain other contending philosophies - men cannot commit out of fear. river attains its fulfilment when it and reforming a great religious set right the methods of worship, Out of fear civilized human beings flows into the ocean, in like order in the teeth of the and organized Hindu monastic can become thoroughly manner streams of physical and ecclesiastical world. orders, trained disciples to carry barbarized, and commit the worst mental strength attain their More surprising was the life of St. forth his work, and passed even of crimes. When this is done oceanic fulfilment when they flow Catherine of Siena, an illiterate before he was fully young, so to collectively, we may call it a war - into and become one with woman of humble extraction. say. such acts might even be called as
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patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, News & Notes an act of fear is below the dignity examination; fear of losing what of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we A spiritual retreat was binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much so our very lives conducted on Friday 7 world of today. America is afraid appear to be relay-races of fears, August 2015 at Sarada of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined or undefined, real or Hall. Swami America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. And fear expresses Muktirupanandaji, the Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impresses itself in our lives in outgoing President Labour is afraid of management; an infinite variety of ways, and was felicitated by the management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost Monks and Devotees Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. on that occasion. people; white people are afraid of black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary The programme on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of started with Puja and social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care chanting of hymns at Sri Ramakrishna Temple in the morning. The religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. devotees assembled at the Sarada Hall where discourses were given difficulties and problems of And fear has to be removed from by the Swamijis. A bhajan presentation was also done. In his speech, mankind originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are Swami Muktirupananda explained in detail about the Prayer, its there alone. There is no fear mechanism and its effects. His speech was laced with humour which Fear leads to suspicion, suspicion hanging anywhere in the sky or made everyone happy. Swami Vimokshananda, the new President, to anger, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark spoke on a parable of Sri Ramakrishna exemplifying how a true violence to disaster. Fear can rob corner. Even the bomb which may devotee conducts himself. us of the finest qualities of our fall from the sky originates in the head and heart. It can destroy our fear of individual minds. National At the end of the Retreat many devotees including Mr Goh, Mr Prakash sanity, our capacity for right fears are but collectivized S Kamanat, Dr Kamal thinking and action, and make individual fears. If a fearless man Bose, Ms Kamala, Ms brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize N Pushpavalli and Ms enlightened self-interest, for a whole mass of national fears by Hema Gurnani were which we think any action is his personal example. This we expressing the long justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of association they had fear. Vivekananda which was later with Revered followed by Gandhiji. When the Muktirupanandaji and On the personal level how many Indian people lost fear of the his valuable odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets, the British had to contribution to the the known, fear of the unknown; leave India. growth of the fear of death, ghost, disease; fear (To be continued) Ramakrishna Mission of poverty or money, enemy or in Singapore. The friend; fear of darkness, fear of Reprinted from Prabuddha Retreat came to an light; fear of old age, past, Bharata, October 1972 end with Lunch Prasad.
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patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, News & Notes an act of fear is below the dignity examination; fear of losing what of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we A spiritual retreat was binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much so our very lives conducted on Friday 7 world of today. America is afraid appear to be relay-races of fears, August 2015 at Sarada of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined or undefined, real or Hall. Swami America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. And fear expresses Muktirupanandaji, the Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impresses itself in our lives in outgoing President Labour is afraid of management; an infinite variety of ways, and was felicitated by the management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost Monks and Devotees Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. on that occasion. people; white people are afraid of black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary The programme on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of started with Puja and social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care chanting of hymns at Sri Ramakrishna Temple in the morning. The religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. devotees assembled at the Sarada Hall where discourses were given difficulties and problems of And fear has to be removed from by the Swamijis. A bhajan presentation was also done. In his speech, mankind originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are Swami Muktirupananda explained in detail about the Prayer, its there alone. There is no fear mechanism and its effects. His speech was laced with humour which Fear leads to suspicion, suspicion hanging anywhere in the sky or made everyone happy. Swami Vimokshananda, the new President, to anger, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark spoke on a parable of Sri Ramakrishna exemplifying how a true violence to disaster. Fear can rob corner. Even the bomb which may devotee conducts himself. us of the finest qualities of our fall from the sky originates in the head and heart. It can destroy our fear of individual minds. National At the end of the Retreat many devotees including Mr Goh, Mr Prakash sanity, our capacity for right fears are but collectivized S Kamanat, Dr Kamal thinking and action, and make individual fears. If a fearless man Bose, Ms Kamala, Ms brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize N Pushpavalli and Ms enlightened self-interest, for a whole mass of national fears by Hema Gurnani were which we think any action is his personal example. This we expressing the long justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of association they had fear. Vivekananda which was later with Revered followed by Gandhiji. When the Muktirupanandaji and On the personal level how many Indian people lost fear of the his valuable odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets, the British had to contribution to the the known, fear of the unknown; leave India. growth of the fear of death, ghost, disease; fear (To be continued) Ramakrishna Mission of poverty or money, enemy or in Singapore. The friend; fear of darkness, fear of Reprinted from Prabuddha Retreat came to an light; fear of old age, past, Bharata, October 1972 end with Lunch Prasad.
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patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, an act of fear is below the dignity examination; fear of losing what an act Farewellof fear is below to the Swami dignity Muktirupanandajiexamination; fear of losing what of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much so our very lives binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much so our very lives world of today. America is afraid appear to be relay-races of fears, world of today. America is afraid appear to be relay-races of fears, of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined or undefined, real or of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined or undefined, real or America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. And fear expresses America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. And fear expresses Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impresses itself in our lives in Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impresses itself in our lives in Labour is afraid of management; an infinite variety of ways, and Labour is afraid of management; an infinite variety of ways, and management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. people; white people are afraid of people; white people are afraid of black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. difficulties and problems of And fear has to be removed from difficulties and problems of And fear has to be removed from mankind originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are mankind originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are there alone. There is no fear Swami Muktirupananda led the Ramakrishnathere alone. Mission, There Singapore is no asfear Fear leads to suspicion, suspicion hanging anywhere in the sky or Fearits leadsPresident to suspicion, for a period suspicio of 17 yearsn hanging continuously. anywhere in the sky or to anger, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark to anger, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark violence to disaster. Fear can rob corner. Even the bomb which may violenceIn 2009, to disaster.the Belur FearMath canordained rob himcorner. as a Even spiritual the Gurubomb (Spiritual which may us of the finest qualities of our fall from the sky originates in the us Minister)of the finestthus authorisingqualities ofhim our to initiatefall from devotees the sky in the originates South East in the head and heart. It can destroy our fear of individual minds. National headAsian and countriesheart. It can formally destroy into our spiritualfear ofpractices individual as minds. their GuruNational. sanity, our capacity for right fears are but collectivized sanity,Several our devotees capacity were for benefited right asfears his disciples.are butOn thecollectivized top of it, thinking and action, and make individual fears. If a fearless man thinkinghe as aand counsellor action, and and mentor make for manyindividual seekers fears. in the If region.a fearless man brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize enlightened self-interest, for a whole mass of national fears by enlightenedSwami Muktirupananda self-interest, served for asa wholethe Head mass of of the national prestigious fears by RIMSE (Ramakrishna Institute of Moral and Spiritual Education). He which we think any action is his personal example. This we which we think any action is his personal example. This we also served as the Editor of Prabuddha Bharata, the English monthly justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of journal started by Swami Vivekananda. He was the Principal of the fear. Vivekananda which was later fear.Ramakrishna Mission College at VivekanandaNarendrapur forwhich twelve was years. later followed by Gandhiji. When the Before coming to Singapore, he servedfollowed in Udhagamandalam by Gandhiji. When Centre the On the personal level how many Indian people lost fear of the Onin the Tamil personal Nadu, Indialevel andhow also many Fiji CentreIndian in thepeople Pacific lost Ocean fear. of the odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets, the British had to odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets, the British had to the known, fear of the unknown; leave India. theHe known, led a veryfear austereof the unknown;life. He was leave a meditative India. monk with sterling fear of death, ghost, disease; fear (To be continued) fearqualities. of death, Hisghost, weekly disease; clas fearses were appreciated by(To thebe continued)sincere of poverty or money, enemy or of devoteespoverty orand money, his speeches enemy orwere unique due to its novelty in friend; fear of darkness, fear of Reprinted from Prabuddha friend;approach. fear of On darkness, the day offear his ofdeparture , monksReprinted and devoteesfrom Prabuddha saw light; fear of old age, past, Bharata, October 1972 light;him offfear at theof airportold age,with a heavypast, heart and badeBharata, him farewell October. 1972
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patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, an act of fear is below the dignity examination; fear of losing what an act of fear is below the dignity examination; fear of losing what of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much so our very lives binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much so our very lives world of today. America is afraid appear to be relay-races of fears, world of today. America is afraid appear to be relay-races of fears, of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined or undefined, real or of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined or undefined, real or America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. And fear expresses America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. And fear expresses Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impresses itself in our lives in Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impresses itself in our lives in Labour is afraid of management; an infinite variety of ways, and Labour is afraid of management; an infinite variety of ways, and management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. people; white people are afraid of people; white people are afraid of black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of The members of the RKM Old Boys Association with Swami social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care Abhiramananda on 2 September 2015 religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. difficulties and problems of And fear has to be removed from difficulties and problems of And fear has to be removed from mankind originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are mankind originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are there alone. There is no fear there alone. There is no fear Fear leads to suspicion, suspicion hanging anywhere in the sky or Fear leads to suspicion, suspicion hanging anywhere in the sky or to anger, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark to anger, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark violence to disaster. Fear can rob corner. Even the bomb which may violence to disaster. Fear can rob corner. Even the bomb which may us of the finest qualities of our fall from the sky originates in the us of the finest qualities of our fall from the sky originates in the head and heart. It can destroy our fear of individual minds. National head and heart. It can destroy our fear of individual minds. National sanity, our capacity for right fears are but collectivized sanity, our capacity for right fears are but collectivized thinking and action, and make individual fears. If a fearless man thinking and action, and make individual fears. If a fearless man brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize enlightened self-interest, for a whole mass of national fears by enlightened self-interest, for a whole mass of national fears by which we think any action is his personal example. This we which we think any action is his personal example. This we justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of fear. Vivekananda which was later fear. Vivekananda which was later followed by Gandhiji. When the followed by Gandhiji. When the On the personal level how many Indian people lost fear of the On the personal level how many Indian people lost fear of the A Tamil translation of a book “Stop not till the goal is reached” was odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets, the British had to odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets, the British had to released on 4 September 2015 by Mr Jayachandran, Chairman of Hindu the known, fear of the unknown; leave India. the known, fear of the unknown; leave India. Endowment Board. Swami Abhiramananda, Head of Coimbatore RKM fear of death, ghost, disease; fear (To be continued) fear of death, ghost, disease; fear (To be continued) Vidyalaya presided over the meeting. Dr. Maha Sinnathamby, a famous of poverty or money, enemy or of poverty or money, enemy or City Planner and Builder in Australia was the chief guest. The book friend; fear of darkness, fear of Reprinted from Prabuddha friend; fear of darkness, fear of Reprinted from Prabuddha narrates the hardships that Dr Sinnathamby faced and how he overcame with the inspiration of Swami Vivekananda’s 10 Teachings. The light; fear of old age, past, Bharata, October 1972 light; fear of old age, past, Bharata, October 1972 programme was facilitated by Swami Atmeshananda, Monk of Vedanta Centre of Sydney in Brisbane Chapter in Australia.
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patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, an act of fear is below the dignity examination; fear of losing what of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much(Seated so from our Left) very Swami lives world of today. America is afraid appear to beSatyalokananda, relay-races ofSwami fears, Muktirupananda, Swami of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined orVimokshananda undefined, (standingreal or America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. fromAnd fearLeft) expressesSwami Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impressesSamachittananda itself in our lives in Labour is afraid of management; an infinite Swamivariety Jitam ofanasananda ways, and management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. people; white people are afraid of black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. difficultiesSwami and problems of And fear has to be removed from mankindMuktirupananda, originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are the outgoing President with the there alone. There is no fear Fearmembers leads toof suspicion,the suspicion hanging anywhere in the sky or toAdvisory anger, Committee, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark violenceRamakrishna to disaster. Fear can rob corner. Even the bomb which may usMission, of the Singapore finest qualities of our fall from the sky originates in the head and heart. It can destroy our fear of individual minds. National sanity, our capacity for right fears are but collectivized thinking and action, and make individual fears. If a fearless man brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize enlightened self-interest, for a whole mass of national fears by which we think any action is his personal example. This we justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of The Hindu Centre of fear. VivekanandaSingapore which wasorganised later followed byRaksha Gandhiji. Bandan When festival theon On the personal level how many Indian people29 August lost 2015fear atof PGPthe odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets,Hall, theSingapore. British hadSwami to the known, fear of the unknown; leave India.Vimokshananda inaugurated the festival by fear of death, ghost, disease; fear lighting(To the be lamp. continued) The of poverty or money, enemy or festival was attended by 40 friend; fear of darkness, fear of ReprintedHindu fromorganisations Prabuddha of light; fear of old age, past, Singapore.Bharata, October 1972
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Her Excellency, Ms Vijay patriotic or heroic. But basically present or future; fear of taxation, Thakur Singh, the High an act of fear is below the dignity examination; fear of losing what Commissioner of India in of man. And there is such strange we have, of not getting what we Singapore visited our binding mutuality of fear in the want -so much(Seated so from our Left) very Swami lives centre on 29 July 2015. world of today. America is afraid appear to beSatyalokananda, relay-races ofSwami fears, She was taken around the Muktirupananda, Swami campus including Temple, of Russia; Russia is afraid of defined orVimokshananda undefined, (standingreal or Boys’ Home, Sarada America. Arabs are afraid of imaginary. fromAnd fearLeft) expressesSwami Kindergarten and Wings Jews; Jews are afraid of Arabs. and impressesSamachittananda itself in our lives in Counselling Centre. In the Labour is afraid of management; an infinite Swamivariety Jitam ofanasananda ways, and Sarada Kindergarten she had interesting interaction management is afraid of labour. saps our strength almost with class room children. Black people are afraid of white imperceptibly. people; white people are afraid of black people. Fear is cultivated Therefore it is a necessary on levels international, national, precondition for true cultivation of social, individual, racial, or strength that we take special care religious. At least half of the to eradicate fears from our minds. Here in this photo seen children Swami difficulties and problems of And fear has to be removed from who have won Muktirupananda, mankind originate in fear. individual minds for its roots are prizes in the the outgoing TAPAS Fancy President with the there alone. There is no fear Dress Competi- Fearmembers leads toof suspicion,the suspicion hanging anywhere in the sky or tion held on 4 toAdvisory anger, Committee, anger to violence, standing somewhere in a dark July 2015 at Ramakrishna violence to disaster. Fear can rob corner. Even the bomb which may Sarada Kinder- Mission, Singapore us of the finest qualities of our fall from the sky originates in the garten with head and heart. It can destroy our fear of individual minds. National Swamijis and sanity, our capacity for right fears are but collectivized Judges. thinking and action, and make individual fears. If a fearless man brutes of us. Even what we call arise in a nation he can volatilize enlightened self-interest, for a whole mass of national fears by which we think any action is his personal example. This we justifiable, is nothing but gilded saw in India in the example of The Hindu Centre of On 5 September 2015 fear. VivekanandaSingapore which wasorganised later during the Krishna Janma- followed byRaksha Gandhiji. Bandan When festival theon ashtami celebrations, the On the personal level how many Indian people29 August lost 2015fear atof PGPthe children of Saturday Hall, Singapore. Swami odd fears do we not have: fear of British bullets, the British had to Hinduism classes gave a Vimokshananda the known, fear of the unknown; leave India. cultural show of different inaugurated the festival by items like dance, speech, fear of death, ghost, disease; fear lighting(To the be lamp. continued) The drama and songs. of poverty or money, enemy or festival was attended by 40 friend; fear of darkness, fear of ReprintedHindu fromorganisations Prabuddha of light; fear of old age, past, Singapore.Bharata, October 1972
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TEMPLE PROGRAMME
DAILY 6.00 am Mangalarati 9.00 am Nitya Puja 7.00 pm Evening Arati and Bhajans
EKADASHI 6.15 pm Vishnu Sahasranamam 7.00 pm Ramakrishna Arati followed by Rama- nama Sankirtanam
DISCOURSES and CLASSES
SATURDAYS 5.00 pm Children’s Classes on Hinduism (Temple Hall – Level 1) 6.00 pm Question & Answer Forum 6.00 pm Discourse on Gita (Library) 7.00 pm Ramakrishna Arati followed by Bhajans
SUNDAYS 9.30 am Yoga Class (Sarada Hall) 2.30 pm Sanskrit Class (Sarada Hall) 5.00 pm Discourse on Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Temple Hall Level 1) 6.00 pm Discourse on Bhagavad Gita for Practical life (Sarada Hall) 7.00 pm Ramakrishna Arati followed by Bhajans