Motto: Atmano mokshartham jagad hitaya cha,

liberation and for the Newsletter of the Centres of welfare of the world.” Vedanta Centre of Sydney, 2 Stewart Street, Ermington, NSW 2115, Australia. Website: www.vedantasydney.org; e-mails: [email protected]; [email protected] Other websites: www.spiritualbookstore.org.au, www.spiritualbookstore.com.au Phone: (02) 8197 7351; Fax: (+612) 8197 7352.

Discrimination and Dispassion One is safe to live in the world, if one has Viveka (discrimination of the Real from the Unreal), and Vairagya (dispassion), and along with these intense devotion to God. — Sri Great sayings: Words of Sri Ramakrishna, and ; The R. M. Institute of Culture; ; p. 3. Steady the mind The mind is by nature restless. Therefore, at the outset, to make the mind steady, one may practise meditation by regulating the breathing a little. That helps to steady the mind. But one must not overdo it. That heats the brain. You may talk of the vision of God, or of meditation, but remember, the mind is everything. One gets everything when the mind becomes steady. What is the good in doing Japa for a whole day if there is no concentration of mind? Collectedness of one's mind is essential, then only His grace descends. — Sri Sarada Devi The front and side view of Sri Ramakrishna Temple at the Teachings of Sri Sarada Devi The Holy , Niralanagar, Lucknow, U.P. . Mother; Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai p. 49 and The Gospel of The Holy Mother – p. 242. Function Date Faith in God Purnima Friday, 31 July 2015 Whatever may be the position of Philosophy, whatever may be the Sri Janmashtami Saturday, 5 September 2015 position of Metaphysics, so long as there is such a thing as weakness in (Maha Ashtami) Wednesday, 21 October 2015 the human heart, so long as there is a cry going out of the heart of man in Spiritual Retreat Melbourne Saturday, 27 June 2015 his very weakness, there shall be faith in God. Welcome — Swami Vivekananda We welcome you all to the Ramakrishna - Vedanta Movement and invite Teachings of Swami Vivekananda Advaita you to attend our programmes and actively participate in the propagation of the Ashrama, Mayavati, Himalayas, p. 89. Universal message of Vedanta as epitomized in the lives of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda.

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 1 January - April 2015 News from and activities of the Vedanta Centres of Australia and New Zealand for the period from January to April 2015.

ADELAIDE CENTRE schools in Brisbane, on Wednesdays. deed of handover and thanked the donors for their generosity. A large Monthly activities: c) Discussion groups on the first Monday of every month in number of devotees from all over a) Swami Sridharananda Sunnybank Hills, QLD. Australia and overseas participated. continued his three-days-a-month b) A devotees' meet was held on visit to Adelaide and delivered d) A class on Ashtavakra Samhita on Sunday, the 29th of March 2015 at discourses on the Srimad-Bhagavad alternate Thursdays at Springfield, the abovesaid venue. Swami Gitā at the Dulwich Community QLD. Sridharananda delivered two talks on Centre, 14 Union Street, Dulwich SA e) A class on Meditation and the significance of leading a spiritual 5065. A dedicated group of devotees Spiritual Life on alternate Fridays. life. attends his talks. These talks have f) A class on Viveka Chudamani at also been recorded. For details of the c) An information session on 'Yoga Toowoomba on every alternate therapy' was conducted at the Centre programmes organized by the month. Adelaide Chapter please contact Dr. by Mrs.Menaka Thomas on April 17, Raman Sharma on 08 - 8431 9775 or e g) Sri Ramanama Sankirtanam 2015. Therapy sessions are offered to -mail: [email protected] or singing every fortnight on interested people on Sundays. Mrs. Pathma Iswaran on 08-8379 5336. days. Celebrations: b) Every month on a prescheduled h) class for beginners a) Kalpataru Day was celebrated on Sunday a reading from The Gospel every week at the Centre. the 1st January 2015 at the of Sri Ramakrishna’ including i) ‘Bala Sangha’ – Children’s classes Indooroopilly Senior Citizens' club. discussion on relevant points was on every Sunday (except during The programme consisted of formal conducted at devotees’ homes. school holidays). worship, talks on Sri Ramakrishna, Other activities: j) Yoga Classes at the Centre on devotional music and distribution of dinner Prasāda. A large number of A satsang was conducted by Swami Sunday mornings by Dr. people participated in the event. Vedamritananda on 12th of April Unnikrishnan Pillai. 2015 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 777 Other activities: b) The Birthday of Swami Marion Road, Ascot Park, SA 5043. a) a) The Springfield Land Vivekananda was celebrated at the Ashram on the 12th January 2015. BRISBANE CENTRE Corporation donated to the Centre a large parcel of land at Springfield Worship, devotional music and a talk Daily activities: Lakes, Queensland. A public on the significance of Swami Regular worship was conducted at handover ceremony of the land and Vivekananda's teachings in modern the Centre daily in the morning. Arati bhumipuja (ground-breaking age were the highlights of the (vesper service), singing of bhajans, ceremony) to the proposed programme. readings from The Gospel of Sri multipurpose building to be built c) Mahashivaratri worship was Ramakrishna constituted the soon took place on Saturday, 28th evening programme at the Centre at March 2015. Two large marquees 181 Burbong Street, Chapel Hill, were erected on the land where QLD 4069. Contact person: Swami programmes were held. The Hon. Jo- Atmeshananda 0421 765 416, Ann Miller M.P., the 07-3720 0228, e-mail: Minister for Police, Fire & [email protected] Emergency Services and Minister for Monthly Activities: Corrective Services and the Mayor of At the Spirtual Retreat The following programmes were held Ipswich Paul Pisasale were the guests in Brisbane; of honour. Local Councillors, Members of Parliament and other a) Srimad-Bhagavad Gitā classes at dignitaries were present on the the Centre on Sundays. occasion and spoke. Swami b) Religious Instruction classes at Sridharanandaji received the Title

Brisbane Centre— Sri Ramakrishna birth anniversary, the earth-breaking ceremony at the Springfield Lakes site.

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 2 January - April 2015 conducted on the 17th February 2015 Weekly/Monthly Activities: sung by the students of the Swara at the Centre in the evening. a) Swami Sridharananda Sadhana Music School of Carnatic Chanting of Vedic hymns, formal continued to deliver monthly tradition led by Smt. Sundari worship and devotional music discourses on the Bhagavad-Gitā Saripalle, its proprietor. Sri Theva formed part of the programme. from the Thursday to the Saturday of Ganeshan, and Sri Sundaresan, read d) Sri Ramakrishna's Birthday a prescheduled week at the Centre. aloud an inspiring portion of a speech according to the Hindu calendar was The Thursday and Friday sessions and a letter from the Complete Works celebrated on the 20th February were held from 7:45 to 9 p.m. and the of Swami Vivekananda respectively. 2015. A special worship with havan Saturday’s sessions were held from After the introduction and welcome (fire sacrifice), chanting and 10 to 11 a.m. The recordings of these by the resident swami, the chief guest distribution of lunch Prasāda were discourses are available in audio, delivered a talk on ‘The Character the highlights of the programme. video and MP3 formats. Building Ideas of Swami Vivekananda’. e) The public celebration of Sri b) Group study through the Ramakrishna's birthday was viewing on video of the Bhagavad- The Elocution Competition conducted at the Toowong Senior Gita lecture series was held on Session started with a song on Citizens' association on the 21st Sundays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. character building by the Swara Sadhana group. Yadavan Thavesan, a February. Devotees took part in the c) Swami Chandrashekharananda programme consisting of worship, young student, dressed as a monk conducted the following programmes recited the famous Chicago devotional music and talks on Sri in Melbourne: Ramakrishna. It was followed by a address delivered by Swami sumptuous dinner. i) Classes on the Kathopanishad on Vivekananda. This was followed by Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Masters Rohan and Bibhu reciting f) Sri Ramanavami was celebrated Centre. at the Centre on the 28th March “Break all Other Idols” a poem 2015. Worship, singing of the Sri ii) Meditation sessions at the composed by Swami Vivekananda. The Ramanama Sankirtan and Centre on Sundays from 5:30 p.m. to participants of the elocution distribution of Prasāda were the 6:30 p.m. competition then spoke on the highlights of the programme. iii) Sanskrit classes for beginners and subject, “The Message of Swami advanced student on Saturdays. Vivekananda”. CANBERRA CENTRE v) Vedic Mantras chanting In the open-house discussion- Swami Sridharananda conducted occasionally. session some senior participants monthly classes on the Srimad- shared their thoughts on ‘The Bhagavad Gitā at the Belconnen d) Class on Yoga exercises was Problems that the Youth face Today Community Centre, 2 Chandler conducted by Dr. Aneja on Sundays and Their Solutions’. This was Street in Canberra. Contact person: from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. moderated by Swami Mr. J. Venkataraman, Secretary Other activities: Chandrashekharananda and the salient on 02-6258 7612, e-mail: jaishankar_ a) A Youth Convention was held at points were captured by Jayanthi [email protected]. the Centre on 15th of February 2015 Iswaran. MELBOURNE CENTRE as the extended function of the birth A fiercely contested quiz anniversary celebration of Swami competition hosted by Sri Shubroto Daily Activities: Vivekananda. About 100 participants Bhattarcharjee and assisted by Dr. Worship in the morning at 7:30 a.m. took part in this maiden Youth Saravanan and Hriday Daga followed and Vesper service from 7 to 8 p.m. Convention and it was received very after the lunch. were held daily in the Centre at 5-7 well. The essay competition on the subject Angus Avenue, Ringwood, Vic The function started with Guru- “Swami Vivekananda Inspires Us to 3135. It included regular hymns, Vandana by the M.C. Ms. Sonali devotional singing, readings from Build Our Character” in which 20 Parande assisted by Ms. Jayanthi people participated was held The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, and Iswaran. After the lighting of beforehand. meditation. Contact persons: Mr. the symbolic lamp by the chief guest A skit on “Swami Vivekananda’s Suresh Ravinutala, Secretary - 0413 Sri Chidambaram Srinivasan, one of 040 599, e-mail: [email protected], Travel and Triumph” was presented Victoria’s Multicultural with Swami Chandrashekharananda Swami Chandrashekharananda 0422 Commissioners, and the resident 904 824. as story teller and Dr. Arun Gayen as monk, Vedic hymns and shanti the itinerant Swami Vivekananda. The bookstall keeps literature on the mantras were chanted by the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, Vedanta members of the Melbourne Veda In the closing session Rajendra philosophy, and other spiritual topics Chanting Group. An opening song in Yankannamoole, the chair, delivered in print, audio, and visual media. praise of Swami Vivekananda was a talk on ‘The Importance of the

Melbourne Centre— The Youth Convention on the 15th of February 2015.

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 3 January - April 2015 Teachings of Swami Street, Yokine W.A. 6060, held Counselling, interviews and Vivekananda’. After the prize vesper service daily at 7 discussions with devotees were also distribution a vote of thanks was p.m. with ārati, readings from The conducted on a daily basis. The proposed by Sri Sureshji Ravinutala. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and library was available to devotees for This was followed by a closing song meditation. The Centre maintains a reference and research. The Centre composed by Sri Suryanarayan small bookstall and a maintained a bookstall which has a Sarepalle. The Prasāda was library. Contact persons: Mr. Hiren range of books on the Ramakrishna- distributed by the senior members of Mukhopadyay, Secretary - 0411 478 Vivekananda, Vedanta, Yoga, and the Centre. 244 and Mr. Parthiv Parekh, Asstt. other spiritual literature. Devotional Celebrations: Secretary - 0430 511 699, e- songs, discourses on the Bhagavad Gitā, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a) The Kalpataru day was mail:[email protected]. Monthly Activities: Mundaka Upanisad, and other topics observed on 1st of January 2015 are also available in various media. from 6:15 p.m. with bhajans The following monthly activities followed by the ārati and a talk on were held: Weekly/ Monthly Activities: Kalpataru Sri Ramakrishna by a) Swami Sridharananda visited the The Centre conducted the following Swami Chandrashekharananda. Centre from the Wednesday to the activities in Sydney: b) A brief worship Mother Saturday of a prescheduled week every a) Swami Sridharananda Saraswati was performed on 24th month and conducted discourses on conducted classes on the Bhagavad- of January 2015. from 9 a.m. to 12 Bhagavad-Gitā. Gitā every Sunday morning from 10 noon. b) Monthly satsangas including the a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Centre. c) The birth anniversary of Swami singing of bhajans and readings b) Parlour talks were also Vivekananda was celebrated on from The Gospel of Sri conducted by Swami Sridharananda Saturday, the 17th of January 2015 Ramakrishna and other inspiring at 1/11 Boyle Street, Balgowlah, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. An books were conducted on the first NSW 2093 Manly Beach on elaborate worship was performed by Sunday of every month from 11 a.m. Tuesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Swami Chandrashekharananda Celebrations: amidst the singing of bhajans and c) Some devotees availed chanting of mantras. He then spoke a) The birth anniversary of Swami themselves of spiritual counselling on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda was celebrated on 7th and guidance. The Swamis also Vivekananda. of February 2015. Swami visited the homes of devotees when Sridharananda presented a special required. d) The was discourse on the inspiring life of d) Meditation sessions were held at observed on Tuesday, the 17th of Swami Vivekananda. February 2015 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Centre on Sundays from 5 p.m. to with Rudrabhishekam amid chanting b) The birth anniversary of Sri 6:15 p.m. Ramakrishna was celebrated on 7th of Namakam and Chamakam in e) Bala Sangha Classes on moral vedic tradition. of March 2015. On the occasion Swami Sunishthananda performed an and spiritual lessons and drama and e) The birth anniversary of Sri elaborate worship amid singing movement were conducted for Ramakrishna was celebrated on of bhajans. children every Saturday from 4:45 Saturday, the 21th of February 2015 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the Centre during from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The SYDNEY CENTRE the academic term. elaborate worship, havan, chanting Daily Activities: f) Rāmanām Sankirtana was sung of hymns singing of devotional Daily worship and meditation was on Ekadashi days after the vesper songs, and aratrikam were held every morning from 6:30 a.m. service. conducted. Swami to 7:30 a.m. at 2 Stewart Street, Chandrashekharananda spoke on ‘Sri Ermington followed by regular g) Classes on Meditation and Ramakrishna’s message’. Prasāda chanting of hymns from 7:30 a.m. to Spiritual Life for ladies were held on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 was distributed after the function. 8 a.m. The vesper service was p.m. by Swami Sunishthananda. PERTH CENTRE conducted in the evening from 7 p.m. and this included devotional singing, h) The meetings of the Viveka Daily Activities: reading from The Gospel of Sri Youth Group were held on The Centre, located at 51 Golf View Ramakrishna and meditation. Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The

Vedanta Centre of Sydney— Various activities.

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 4 January - April 2015 Karma Yoga of Swami Vivekananda by the devotees during and after the Satsangs was conducted on the last was read and discussed. For details worship. Sunday of every month from 11 a.m. please visit the Facebook page : https: c) The birth anniversary of Sri to 1 p.m. The programme included //www.facebook.com/VYGSydney. Ramakrishna was celebrated on reading and discussion on the i) Classes on Kathopanishad were Friday, the 20th of February In the Bhagavad Gitā, the Gospel of Sri conducted after ārati on Wednesdays morning, elaborate worship, havan, Ramakrishna and the life and by Swami Sunishthananda. chanting of hymns from various teachings of Holy Mother. j) Sessions on Yoga Exercise held scriptures, devotional songs, and Visit of Swami Sridharananda: on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to aratrikam were conducted. In the a) Swami Sridharananda conducted 11:30 a.m. evening, Swami Sunishthananda Srimad-Bhagavad Gitā classes on the gave a talk on the life and teachings Other activities: 12th and 13th of March 2015. The of Sri Ramakrishna. Devotees classes were held from 7:45 p.m. to 9 a) A Youth Convention was partook of Prasāda both after the p.m. after the ārati. organised at the Centre on Saturday, morning worship and in the evening. Celebrations: 10th of January 2015 from 3:30 p.m. d) Ramanavami was celebrated on to 8.30 p.m. After the Inaugural Saturday, 28th of March 2015 with a) The Kalpataru Day was celebrated session the registered participants the singing of Rāmanāma and other on the 1st of January 2015 from 11 participated in various programmes bhajans. a.m. to 1 p.m. It started with bhajans such as Elocution, Recitation, Skit followed by a talk on the importance Show, Question and Answer Session Overseas Visit: of Kalpataru Day, readings from The etc. A video series on Vedanta was Swami Sridharananda visited New Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, launched by the Youth Group Zealand from the 11th to 15th of meditation and ārati. Prasāda was followed by an audio-visual March 2015. distributed at the end of the presentation on various aspects of Visiting monastics: programme. Vedanta by Isha Deodhar. Renowned Swami Vedamritananda (Bob b) The birth anniversary of Swami vocalist Srijani Dan accompanied on Vivekananda was celebrated after the the tabla by Abhijit Dan offered Maharaj) of Hollywood visited our Australian Centres from 13th to 20th evening ārati on the 12th of January devotional bhajans in the shrine after 2015 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. The evening ārati. About 150 people of January and again from 21st March to 2nd of May 2015. programme started with bhajans participated in the function and were followed by talk and readings on the provided with evening refreshments AUCKLAND CENTRE life and teachings of Swami and dinner prasāda. Daily activities: Vivekananda. Prasāda was b) A Spiritual Retreat was distributed at the end of the conducted on Sunday, 1st March A vesper service was held daily from programme. 2015 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Centre at 27 Arawa Street, New Lynn, c) Shiva Ratri was celebrated on which about there were about 40 17th of February 2015. The participants. Auckland. It included the singing of hymns and readings from the Holy programme which started at 8 Celebrations: Mother Sri Sarada Devi, followed by p.m. with bhajans after the ārati a) The 153rd Birth Anniversary of meditation. Contact Person: M. included talks and readings by Swami Vivekananda was observed Kumar, Secretary e-mail: devotees on the ‘Importance of Shiva on Monday, the 12th of January [email protected] Ratri and Lord Shiva’. The programme ended with Prasāda 2015. A special worship was offered Monthly activities: to the Holy Trinity amidst the distribution. chanting of mantras and bhajans. a) The first of the bi-monthly d) The birth anniversary of Sri Swami Sridharananda gave a talk on Satsangs was conducted on second Ramakrishna was celebrated on the the life and teachings of Swami Sundays of every month from 11 20th of February 2015. The Vivekananda after evening ārati. a.m. to 1 p.m. Singing of bhajans, programme started at 8 p.m. after the discourse on the Ramayana, readings b) The Maha Shivaratri worship was evening ārati. It included bhajans, and discussion on the lives of the reading and a talk on the life and conducted on Tuesday, the 17th of direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna February 2015 from 6:30 p.m. to teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. The and meditation were some of the programme ended at 9 p.m. with 9:30 p.m. A large number of activities. devotees assembled to worship Lord prasāda distribution. Shiva. Devotional songs were sung b) The second of the bi-monthly

Auckland Centre— Its activities.

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 5 January - April 2015 Feature Article: Mind and Soul

In the ensuing discussion, Swami Vivekananda explores the subject of the mind in two distinct ways: firstly, the training of the mind and secondly, the distinction between the mind and the soul.

1. The training of the mind This is the systematic development through concentration and of the mind. To me the very essence breathing of education is concentration of Concentration and Breathing: mind, not the collecting of facts. If I had to do my education over again, The main difference between men and had any voice in the matter, I and the animals is the difference in would not study facts at all. I would their power of concentration. All develop the power of concentration success in any line of work is the and detachment, and then with a result of this. Everybody knows perfect instrument I could collect something about concentration. High facts at will. Side by side, in the achievements in art, music, etc. are child, should be developed the power the results of concentration. An of concentration and detachment. animal has very little power of concentration. He cannot My development has been one-sided concentrate his mind long upon all along. I developed concentration without the power of detaching my anything at a time. Herein is the Mind and Soul difference between man and the mind at will; and the most intense animals-man has the greater power suffering of my life has been due to of concentration. The difference in control the mind; it controls us. this. Now I have the power of their power of concentration also Something outside of ourselves, as it detachment, but I had to learn it in constitutes the difference between were, draws the mind into it and later life. man and man. Compare the lowest holds it as long as it chooses. We We should put our minds on things; with the highest man. The difference hear melodious tones or see a they should not draw our minds to is in the degree of concentration. beautiful painting, and the mind is them. We are usually forced to This is the only difference. held fast. We cannot take it away. concentrate. Our minds are forced to We do not control the mind. It If I speak to you well upon a subject become fixed upon different things controls us you like, your mind becomes by an attraction in them, which we concentrated upon what I am saying. cannot resist. To control the mind, to Everybody’s mind becomes I draw your mind away from place it just where we want it, concentrated at times. We all yourself and hold it upon the subject requires special training. It cannot be concentrate upon those things we in spite of yourself. Thus our done in any other way. In the study love, and we love those things upon attention is held, our minds are of religion the control of the mind is which we concentrate our minds. concentrated upon various things, in absolutely necessary. We have to What mother is there that does not spite of ourselves. We cannot help it. turn the mind back upon itself in this love the face of her homeliest child? study. That face is to her the most beautiful Can this concentration be in the world. She loves it because she developed and can we become The first step in training the mind concentrates her mind on it; and if masters of it? In training the mind the first step is every one could concentrate his mind Now the question is: Can this to begin with the breathing. Regular on that same face, every one would concentration be developed, and can breathing puts the body in a love it. We all concentrate our minds we become masters of it? The Yogis harmonious condition; and it is then on those things we love. When we say, yes. The Yogis say that we can easier to reach the mind. In practising hear beautiful music, our minds get perfect control of the mind. On breathing, the first thing to consider become fastened upon it, and we the ethical side there is danger in the is Âsana or posture. Any posture in cannot take them away. Those who development of the power of which a person can sit easily is his concentrate their minds upon what concentration – the danger of proper position. The spine should be you call classical music do not like concentrating the mind upon an kept free, and the ribs should support common music, and vice versa. object and being unable to detach it the weight of the body. Do not try by Music in which the notes follow each at will. This state causes great contrivances to control the mind; other in rapid succession holds the suffering. Almost all our suffering is simple breathing is all that is mind readily. A child loves lively caused by our not having the power necessary in that line. All austerities music, because the rapidity of the of detachment. So, along with the to gain concentration of the mind are notes gives the music no chance to development of concentration we a mistake. Do not practise them. wander. A man who likes common must develop the power of The mind acts on the body, and the music dislikes classical music, detachment. We must learn not only because it is more complicated and body in its turn acts upon the mind. to attach the mind to one thing They act and react upon each other. requires a greater degree of exclusively, but also to detach it at a concentration to follow it. Each mental state creates a moment’s notice and place it upon corresponding state in the body, and The great trouble with such something else. These two should be every action in the body has its concentration is that we do not developed together to make it safe.

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 6 January - April 2015 corresponding effect on the mind. It 2. Man is not mind, he is the soul the degree of vibration. Mind at a makes no difference whether you Nature and Man very low rate of vibration is what is think the body and mind are two known as matter. Matter at a high different entities – or whether you The modern idea of nature includes rate of vibration is what is known as think they are both but one body – only that part of the universe that is mind. Both are the same substance; the physical body being the gross manifested on the physical plane. and therefore, as matter is bound by part and the mind the fine part. They That which is generally understood time and space and causation, mind, act and react upon each other. The to be mind is not considered to be which is at a high rate of vibration, is mind is constantly becoming the nature. bound by the same law. body. In the training of the mind, it is Philosophers endeavouring to prove Nature is homogeneous. easier to reach it through the body. the freedom of the will have Differentiation is in manifestation. The body is easier to grapple with excluded the mind from nature; for The Sanskrit word for nature is than the mind. as nature is bound and governed by Prakriti, and means literally The finer the instrument, the law - strict unbending law, mind, if differentiation. All is one substance, greater the power considered to be in nature, would be but it is manifested variously. bound by law also. Such a claim The finer the instrument, the greater would destroy the doctrine of free Mind becomes matter, and matter in is the power. The mind is much finer will; for how can that be free which its turn becomes mind, it is simply a and more powerful than the body. law binds? question of vibration. For this reason it is easier to begin Man’s free agency is not of the with the body. The philosophers of India have taken the reverse strand. They hold all mind The science of breathing is working physical life, manifest and Man’s free agency is not of the mind, through the body to reach the mind. unmanifest, to be bound by law. The for that is bound. There is no In this way we get control of the mind as well as external nature, they freedom there. Man is not mind, he is body, and then we begin to feel the claim, is bound by law, and by one the soul. The soul is ever free, finer working of the body, the finer and the same law. If mind is not boundless and eternal. Herein is and more interior, and so on till we bound by law, if the thoughts we man’s freedom, in the soul. The soul reach the mind. As we feel the finer think are not the necessary results of is always free, but the mind workings of the body, they come preceding thoughts, if one mental identifying itself with its own under our control. After a while you state is not followed by another ephemeral waves, loses sight of the will be able to feel the operation of which it produces, then mind is soul and becomes lost is the maze of the mind on the body. You will also irrational; and who can claim free time, space and causation – Mâyâ. feel the working of the open half of will and at the same time deny the This is the cause of our bondage. We the mind upon the other half, and operation of reason? And on the are always identifying ourselves with also feel the mind recruiting the other hand, who can admit that the the mind, and the mind’s nerve centres; for the mind controls law of causation and claim that the phenomenal changes. and governs the nervous system. You will is free governs the mind? will feel the mind operating along the Man’s free agency is established in different nerve currents. Law itself is the operation of cause the soul, and the soul, realising itself and effect. Certain things happen to be free, is always asserting the fact Thus the mind is brought under according to certain other things, in spite of the mind’s bondage: “I am control – by regular systematic which have gone before. Each free! I am what I am! I am what I breathing, by governing the gross precedent has its consequent. Thus it am!” This is our freedom. The soul – body first and then the fine body. is in nature. If this operation of law ever free, boundless, eternal – obtains in the mind, the mind is through aeons and aeons is The first breathing exercise is bound and is therefore not free. No, perfectly safe and very healthful. It manifesting itself more and more the will is not free. How can it be? through its instruments, the mind. will give you good health, and better But we all know, we all feel, that we your condition generally at least. The are free. Life would have no What relation then does man bear to other practices should be taken up meaning, it would not be worth nature? From the lowest form of life slowly and carefully. living, if we were not free. to man, the soul is manifesting itself through nature. The highest Conclusion The law of causation binds all manifestation of the soul is involved How has all the knowledge in the The eastern philosophers accepted in the lowest form of manifest life world been gained but by the this doctrine, or rather propounded and is working itself outward through concentration of the powers of the it, that the mind and the will are the process called evolution. mind? The world is ready to give up within time, space, and causation, The whole process of evolution is the its secrets if we only know how to the same so-called matter; and that soul’s struggle to manifest itself. It is knock, how to give it the necessary they are therefore bound by the law a constant struggle against nature. blow. The strength and force of the of causation. We think in time; our blow come through concentration. thoughts are bound by time; all that It is a struggle against nature, and not There is no limit to the power of the exists, exists in time and space. The conformity to nature, that makes man human mind. The more concentrated law of causation binds all. what he his. We hear a great deal about living in harmony with nature, it is, the more power is brought to Now that which we call matter and bear on one point; that is the secret. of being in tune with nature. This is a mind are one and the same mistake. This table, this pitcher, the substance. The only difference is in

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 7 January - April 2015 minerals, a tree, are all in harmony with nature. Perfect harmony there, A Mighty Monk no discord. To be in harmony with nature means stagnation – death. By Abhirami Anand How did man build this house? By being in harmony with nature? No. A mighty monk roamed this land

By fighting against nature. It is the He was not armed with a sword in his hand. constant struggle against nature that constitutes human progress, not A mighty monk? You ask conformity with it. To answer would be no easy task. Conclusion: The nature of the mind by Swami Vivekananda A super-man he was, nay A super- monk, I should say. Mind is like a lake, and every thought is like a wave upon that Nerves of steel and muscles of iron had he lake. Just as in the lake waves rise, With an intellect as sharp as can be. and then fall down and disappear, so these thought-waves are continually His mere words pulled us out of illusion rising in the mind-stuff, and then His modern mantra was enough to destroy delusion disappearing, but they do not disappear for ever. They become Travelling around the world at such a fast pace finer and finer, but they are all there, Tirelessly he worked to uplift the human race. ready to start up at another time, when called upon to do so. England, Boston, Chicago, France How hard it is to control the mind! Wherever he went, he left people in a trance. Well has it been compared to the maddened monkey. There was a But name and fame went not to his head monkey, restless by his own nature, He refused to sleep even on a bed. as all monkeys are. As if that were not enough someone made him To his dear motherland he then departed drink freely of wine, so that he Vedanta in the west had now started. became more restless. Then a scorpion stung him. When a man is His sailing from India was merely announced stung by a scorpion, he jumps about But his return was so much more pronounced. for a whole day; so the poor monkey found his condition worse than ever. Tirelessly he addressed the thronging masses To complete his misery a demon To put an end to their so-called social classes. entered into him. What language can describe the uncontrollable Universal religion of oneness he propounded restlessness of that monkey? The The Ramakrishna Math at Calcutta he rightly founded. human mind is like that monkey, incessantly active by its own nature; In strength and selflessness, he insisted then it becomes drunk with the wine In faith and fearlessness, he persisted. of desire, thus increasing its turbulence. After desire takes “Unselfishness is god”, he proclaimed possession comes the sting of the “The starving poor should first be fed!” he exclaimed. scorpion of jealousy at the success of others, and last of all the demon The mighty monk repeatedly preached of pride enters the mind, making it “Arise, Awake and stop not until the goal is reached.” think itself of all importance. How hard to control such a mind! God is an infinity, many had read All minds are the same, different Manifest your divinity”, he simply said. parts of one Mind. He who knows one lump of clay has known all the His earthly mission had now been completed clay in the universe. He who knows His physical energy had but almost depleted. and controls his own mind, knows the secret of every mind, and has The time had come to leave his mortal coil power over every mind. His brother monks were told to keep up the toil. Sources: 1. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 6 Advaita He embraced death that had come much too fast Ashrama, Mayavati Himalayas, September The mighty monk had indeed breathed his very last. 1992, PP. 37- 40; pp. 33-36 2. http://greenmesg.org/ But brood not of his death, caused by ailing health For his life and legacy is our most precious wealth.

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 8 January - April 2015 Guest Column : A brief history of Yoga and Vedanta in Australia By Russell Frank Atkinson Australia seemed to be ignored by the heart beat, or go into a state of great teachers and after the suspended animation at will. Sensible world-wide interest in Indian culture people would never take astral travel, which followed Swami Vivekananda’s reincarnation or the reality of gods addresses to the Parliament of and goddesses seriously. They were Religions in America in 1893. Many in a predominantly Christian savants of Indian culture, such as society as were the truly catholic Ananda Coomaraswami, Christopher teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. To Isherwood and Alan Watts in suggest that all religions were paths America, European academics such to the one God was considered a as Heinrich Zimmerman, Max Muller shocking travesty. Psychology and and others, the writer Roman Roland, psychiatry tended to regard mystic who wrote the first biographies of states as mental diseases. Freud Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, taught that religion was a form of infused Vedanta into art and literature repressed sexuality. Scientific rationalism or directly by public lectures. Hatha society was prior to the immigration denied mysticism. Christians regarded Yoga teachers, such as Sivarajan schemes which followed WWII. The Hindu philosophies as heretical and the Yesudian and many such ‘sound White Australia movement was a occult arts as machinations of the mind in a sound body’ teachers prejudice supported by law and devil – and many still do. Academics visited many countries – government policy. Australia was explained the mysterious away with except Australia. Gurus, such as then the brashest, the most naïve and ingenious arguments. Swami Paramhansa Yogananda, who most reactionary country in the The first Yoga teacher to ever founded the Self Realization English speaking world. The huge visit Australia was probably the Fellowship, packed large auditoriums continent held a mere seven and a Grand Master Serge de la Ferrier, in America from the twenties, half million people, almost all of representative of the 'Great White bringing Yoga and Vedanta to British stock. Aborigines were not Brotherhood'. He looked the part. He millions of Westerners. He is still counted. Behind the prejudices and was handsome though not in a doing so through his book policies was a fear and distrust of rugged masculine way. His features ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ first anything foreign. were soft and rounded, skin fair and published in 1946. Rama Tirtha and It took WWII and the immigration of flawless. Lustrous dark hair grew others did likewise, and the Swamis first, the Northern Europeans (not curled and long about his ears. He of the kept the dark skinned) and then later, after the wore a fine beard and of course, robe living springs flowing in every major Aussie insularity had been breeched, and sandals. He was of mixed city in the Americas and Europe since the Southern Europeans (dark skinned) European extraction and had come 1893. Not so in Australia. to dint the prejudices and open the from somewhere in South America. Isolated on its Southern Hemisphere culture up. Not however, without Magazines gave him double spreads, island, Australia seemed to be determined resistance from many true usually focussing on his ignored, though in the early years of blue Aussies who invented words demonstrations of Hatha-Yoga last century, Mrs Elsie Picket (Hari like Wogs, Balts, Ities and Refos. exercises, so it wasn’t long before he Priya) and Sister Avabhamia Resistance to foreign peoples, their had a following. He created quite a (Abhavaniya), taught overseas by ways, food and ideas, died hard. In stir amongst the readers, the seekers, Swamis of the , 1955 my wife and I, with our small and of course, the media. He vacated held Vedanta classes in Australia and son, were evicted from our rented the country suddenly. New Zealand attended by only a few. cottage by the landlord who lived The first Hatha-Yoga taught by an Then James Wale (Brahmachari next door, for bringing a group of Australian was probably in Sydney late Vivekachaitanya) returned Indian friends home. in 1949. In the fifties, this teacher to Australia from the Ramakrishna held separate classes explaining the Math in Calcutta and gave talks to It would surprise me if a Yoga teacher could rent a church hall in other yogas, including chanting and small groups on Vedanta until his meditation. The first writings by an death in 1951. Australia saw nothing 1945 as many people considered that it was subversive or even evil to Australian on Yoga and Yoga like the activities that occurred in philosophy were probably by the other countries. practise Yoga or study anything Hindu. It was a different culture in a same teacher. They were cheaply One can imagine the small groups of different Australia. Slowly, public printed in the mid fifties by the interested friends who met to learn and private debate began about things Roneo system as soft covered A4 Vedanta philosophy in those early now accepted as realities or no longer size handbooks and given to students days and the sincere souls, feeling viewed with sceptical derision. Much and interested parties. His book perhaps, very much alone, who tried argument centred about psychic 'Yoga Pocket Teacher' was published to stem the tide of the outward going phenomena and abilities such as in London in 1967 and distributed mind and turn it inward. extrasensory perception; hypnotism throughout the English speaking Australians born later than the fifties was highly suspicious – usually world, but was not well distributed in would probably not be able to realize regarded as fake – as the reported this country. A dedicated enthusiast how insular and parochial Australian ability of Yogis to levitate, control of Indian culture, he also danced the

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 9 January - April 2015 lead roles in the first productions of which usually meant the flowery might appear to be, they are not the Indian Bharata Natyam dance dramas exercise of the imagination became goals of Yoga or Vedanta. It was a to be performed to intrigued and popular. It wasn’t until the seventies travesty to both when the means were enthusiastic audiences in the mid that Indian Gurus began sought as the ends and the minor fifties. By that time classical Indian visiting Australia, starting with side-effects became the goals. So music was becoming appreciated as promoting students of many Yoga teachers were well, with the records of Ravi TM, and the youthful Prem Rawat often unaware of the cultural Shankar becoming available. The (Mahaji) who attracted a large background that gave birth to Yoga, cultural influence was growing fast. following and still does, world wide. its place in Indian philosophical In the fifties Michael Volin, a Russian His unique contribution is to have systems or the history of its growth from China, began teaching Hatha- almost entirely de-Hindu-ized in the West. Some, after years of yoga in Sydney which he did Vedanta in later years, offering a practice had never heard of throughout the fifties and sixties fusion appealing to many Westerners Ramakrishna or Vivekananda or even though with little reference to Yoga with the full use of Electronic of Yogananda. The complexities of philosophy and none to its Technology. Swami Satyananda, Yoga and its place in Indian metaphysic or relation to Indian teaching classical Yoga, perhaps had spirituality became fragmented and culture. He later moved to the U.S. the greatest popularity, with Ashrams confused, with the result that people were in major cities, suburbs and country exposed to many misunderstandings Members of Self-Realization Fellowship towns. The movement burgeoned, and misconceptions. were visited during this time by Brother blossomed and faded. The few Kriyananda from headquarters in Los This is inevitable when the principles Ashrams still active provide teachers, of Indian spirituality that rest on Angles, who gave a few talks and retreats and accommodation. initiated some devotees into Kriya millennia of diligent enquiry and Satyananda Yoga schools have done Spartan austerity characterized by Yoga before returning. The interest a lot to improve the standard of Yoga was growing rapidly. By the mid intellectual brilliance, are reduced to teachers in Australia, with good basic uninformed beliefs, fulsome clichés sixties two Australian teachers, ‘Yogi training and a sound accreditation Zorn’ and Nancy Phelan published or nebulous ideas weighted by system. Nevertheless the work of the Western cultural preferences. books. By this time a teacher in early Gurus was still coloured, or at Melbourne had established a large least tinted, by some of the old In later years many hybrid systems following with excellent premises prejudices which came to the fore appeared, characterized by a mix of instead of the local hall. with the victimization of the Ananda Yoga, pop psychology, metaphysics, But unlike other countries Australia was Marga, some of whose members and psychic practices. They promised not being enlivened by great were imprisoned for years on false personal power and success, as well teachers. Perhaps Australia was too terrorism charges after a bomb was as easy access to higher levels of raw in the fifties, the population too exploded in a plush hotel foyer in consciousness providing of course, few. Momentous changes came with Kings Cross. that the aspirants were qualified. The the introduction of the immigration chief qualification required was Vedanta, the study of the Upanishads plenty of spare cash. scheme in the late forties and later, and the work of the classical the introduction of Asian students on Acharyas such as Madhva, Some appalling nonsense was often the Colombo plan as the White Ramanuja, Shankara, Kapila, taught by self-appointed teachers lost Australia policy was stretched to Kanada, or of Ramakrishna, in metaphysical concepts, occultism allow the darker skinned Vivekananda and the reasoning of and spiritualism. Revelatory wonder was Mediterranean’s and Asian students Advaita Vedanta seemed to get little absent as methods of manipulating on limited visas into the country. attention from these Gurus. Perhaps psychic forces for personal advantage, Then, in the sixties, Australian youth they felt that the intellectual satisfaction, control, power or even caught the waft of pollen from the challenge might be too much, so the titillating entertainment, masqueraded ‘flower power’ revolution on the great wealth of the original texts that as spirituality. Today, the vast West coast of America. In the wave have been translated into English reservoir of India’s spiritual of cultural change that followed, the were largely ignored, a fact that teachings is still tapped to provide an final decisive blow was given to the hindered a proper understanding for income for those who offer the racist and conservative backbone of many people and inhibited the benefits of lifetimes of dedication, Australian society. possible interest of intellectuals and discipline and sadhana for the price of a weekend workshop. The real culture shock came when academics. the Hare sang , beat Another of the many anomalies in By the time Gurus such as Satyananda, drums and danced right in the this cultural fusion was that few Osho and Swami Muktananda startled face of pedestrians on city Hatha-Yoga students (if any) were became popular, the culture was footpaths. interested in the traditional goals of radically different from the one that existed only thirty years before. Teachers of Yoga sprang up Yoga or Vedanta – Moksha or God- everywhere, often conveying as realization. The motive for most Traditional Vedanta, unlocking the much misinformation as information students was not Moksha or God philosophical traditions of India and about Yoga and usually nothing realization but the attainment of its vast literature, seemed to be about its literature, place in Indian health, worldly success, personality swamped by all this, until Swami culture or Vedanta. Yoga and power, extended life-span, better sex, Ranganathananda, who became the contortions became synonymous improved relationships or peace of President of the Ramakrishna Order terms for most people. Meditation mind. As laudable as these motives (Continued on page 12)

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 10 January - April 2015 Divine Light Personified : Swami Vivekananda - the chief monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Last days with Sri Ramakrishna (continued from the previous issue is like a male pigeon. If you hold a of Reach) male pigeon by its beak, it breaks Introduction: away from you; but the female pigeon keeps still. I feel great Ramakrishna was a wonderful strength when Narendra is with me in teacher, and he taught more by the a gathering.” silent influence of his inner spiritual strength than by words or even by In the middle of 1885 Ramakrishna personal example. To live with him contacted throat cancer. For the demanded of the disciple purity of convenience of his treatment he was thought, humility, truthfulness, and taken to Kolkata and then to renunciation. He acted as a father, Cossipore, a suburb of Kolkata. mother, and friend to his young Without concern for his body, he disciples. He would joke and have continued to train his disciples. When fun with them and at the same time they begged him not to strain remind them that the goal of human himself, he replied, “I do not care. I life is God-realization. They learned will give up twenty thousand such from their Master how to synthesize bodies to help one person.” Sarada the four yogas (karma, raja, jnana, Devi, the Master’s wife, cooked for and ), the harmony of Swami Vivekananda him, and Narendra and the other religions, the true meaning of the (1863 -1902) young disciples took charge of scriptures, and the worship of God in (One who enjoys the bliss of nursing him. One day the Master human beings. Discrimination) distributed ochre monastic robes to Narendra and some of his young One day at , when the towards the goal. If it be the will of disciples and thus formed his own Master was seated in his room, he God, I shall one day proclaim this monastic order. He later told talked about three salient disciplines noble truth before the world at large. Narendra, “I leave them all in your of the : love of God’s I shall make it the common property care. See that they practise spiritual name, compassion for all living of all – the wise and the foolish, the disciplines even after my passing away beings, and service to the devotees. rich and the poor, the Brahmin and and that they do not return home.” Repeating the word compassion he the pariah.’ Another day he wrote on a piece of went into Samadhi. After a while he Only a jeweller knows the value of a returned to normal consciousness and paper, “Naren will teach people.” diamond. Ramakrishna knew the When Narendra expressed opposition said to the devotees, “How foolish to worth of his beloved disciple speak of compassion! Man is an the Master said, “But you must. Your Narendra, so he made him the leader very bones will do it.” insignificant worm crawling on the of his group of disciples. He told his earth – and he is to show compassion disciples: Ten years later Narendra described to others! This is absurd. It must not his Master’s message to humanity: “Narendra belongs to a very high be compassion, but service to all. “First make character – that is the Recognize them as God’s place – the realm of the Absolute. He has a manly nature. So many highest duty you can perform. Know manifestation and serve them.” Only Truth for yourself, and there will be Narendra understood the implication devotees come here, but there is no one like him.” many to whom you can teach it of the Master’s words. Leaving the afterwards; they will all come. This room, he said to the others: “Every now and then I take stock of was the attitude of my Master. He ‘What a wonderful light I have the devotees. I find that some are like criticized no one. For years I lived discovered in those words of the lotuses with ten petals, some like with that man, but never did I hear Master. How beautifully he has lotuses with a hundred petals. But those lips utter one word of reconciled the ideal of Bhakti with among lotuses Narendra is a condemnation for any . I learned the knowledge of Vedanta, generally thousand – petalled one. Other from my Master that the religions of interpreted as dry, austere, and devotees may be like pots or pitchers; the world are not contradictory or incompatible with human sentiments! but Narendra is a huge water-barrel. antagonistic. They are but various What a grand, natural, and sweet Others may be like pools or tanks; phases of one eternal religion.” synthesis…Those following the paths but Narendra is a huge reservoir. Among fish, Narendra is a huge red- Ramakrishna’s illness showed no of karma (action) and yoga signs of abating in spite of the best (contemplation) are similarly eyed carp; others are like minnows, or smelts, or sardines. Narendra is a available care and treatment. When benefitted by these words of the Narendra realized that the Master Master. The embodied being cannot very big receptacle, one that can hold many things. He is like a bamboo would not live long, he intensified remain even for a minute without his own spiritual practices. One day activity. All his activities should be with a big hollow space inside. Narendra is not under the control of he entreated Ramakrishna for the directed to the service of man, the experience of nirvikalpa Samadhi, manifestation of God upon earth, and anything. He is not under the control of attachment or sense pleasures. He the highest realization of Advaita this will accelerate his progress Vedanta. But the Master reprimanded

Reach Issue No. 32 Page 11 January - April 2015 him: “Shame on you! You are asking return.’ I feel that power is constantly and this is what future humanity is for such an insignificant thing. I directing me to this or that work. This going to do. That was his idea. He thought that you would be like a big body has not been made for condemned no one, but saw the good banyan tree, and that thousands of remaining idle.” in all. people would rest in your shade. But A couple of days before (To be continued in the next now I see that you are seeking your Ramakrishna’s passing way, when publication of Reach) own liberation.” He said further, the Master was in excruciating pain, Sources : God Lived W ith Them: Life “There is a state higher than that. It is a thought flashed across Narendra’s you who sing, ‘Thou art all that Stories of Sixteen Monastic Disciples of Sri mind: “Well, now if you can declare Ramakrishna by Swami Chetanananda, exists’.” The Master wanted his that you are God, then only will I Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, pp. 29-37. disciple to see God in all beings and believe you are really God himself.” to serve them in a spirit of worship. http://www.swamivivekanandaquotes.org/ Immediately the Master looked up 2013/04/swami-vivekananda-quotes-on- One evening, however, when towards Narendra and said distinctly, ramakrishna.html Narendra was meditating with one of “O my Naren, are you still not his brother disciples at Cossipore, he convinced? He who in the past was suddenly became aware of a light at born as Rama and Krishna is now the back of his head, as if a lamp had living in this very body as (Continued after page 10) been placed there. It gradually Ramakrishna – but not from the later, began lecturing in Australia and became more brilliant until it finally standpoint of your Vedanta (which conducting classes and retreats. In seemed to burst. He was engulfed by that posits that each souls is potentially June 1974 the Ramakrishna Vedanta light and lost body consciousness. divine), but actually is so.” Society was formed and registered in After some time, he began to regain Conclusion: Sydney. Then in 1982 Pravrajika normal consciousness and cried out, Ajayaprana, a nun of the Sarada “Where is my body?” His amazed Swami Vivekananda on Sri Math was sent by the Order to brother disciples assured him, “It is Ramakrishna: establish the first affiliated centre of here. Don’t you feel it?” He then My Master taught me this lesson the Sarada Math outside India. For rushed to the Master’s room upstairs hundreds of times, yet I often forget the first time, Vedanta had a sure and told him of Narendra’s it. Few understand the power of foothold in Australia. Since then condition. “Let him stay in that state thought. If a man goes into a cave, monks of the Ramakrishna Order for a while,” remarked the Master, shuts himself in, and thinks one really have also founded monasteries “he pestered me long enough for it.” great thought and dies, that thought in Australia For a long time Narendra remained will penetrate the walls of that cave, immersed in Samadhi, forgetting vibrate through space, and at last The year is now 2015. Yoga now has space, time, and causation. After permeate the whole human race. a 65 year history, if 1950 is taken to regaining normal consciousness, he Such is the power of thought; be in be the year Yoga was first taught in entered the Master’s room, and no hurry therefore to give your Australia. It is incredible how the Ramakrishna told him, “Now the thoughts to others. First have influence of Yoga and Indian culture Mother has shown you everything. something to give. He alone teaches generally, has spread so wide and But this realization, like the jewel who has something to give, for deep, by the force of its own energy, locked in a box, will be hidden away teaching is not talking, teaching is in so short a time. There are thriving from you and kept in my custody. I not imparting doctrines, it is Vedanta groups in all capital cities will keep the key with me. Only after communicating. Spirituality can be and a number of Vedanta you have fulfilled your mission on communicated just as really as I can monasteries, many hundreds of Yoga this earth will the box be unlocked, give you a flower. This is true in the teachers, thousands of students and a and you will know everything as you most literal sense. This idea is very growing number of people studying have known now.” old in India and finds illustration in Sanskrit, Indian philosophy or Indian Narendra once narrated how the the West in the "theory, in the belief, music and dance. Master had transmitted his power of apostolic succession. Therefore In the centre of this huge island a into him. “Two or three days before first make character — that is the great solid stone emblem throbs with Sri Ramakrishna’s passing way, he highest duty you can perform. Know a secret life. Not far from it, another called me to his side and looked Truth for yourself, and there will be ancient mass of stone curves to steadily at me and went into many to whom you can teach it after gather its energy. They have waited Samadhi. Then I felt that a subtle wards; they will all come. This was there since time began and land was. force like an electric shock was the attitude of my Master. He They have been places of pilgrimage entering my body. In a little while I criticized no one. For years I lived for maybe 40,000 years or more. also lost outward consciousness and with that man, but never did I hear Who knows? Waiting in the desert sat motionless. How long I stayed in those lips utter one word of all this time, they are sleeping giants that condition I do not remember. condemnation for any sect. He had stirring to wakefulness. Perhaps they When consciousness returned I found the same sympathy for all ; he mean that when the time is ripe, the Sri Ramakrishna shedding tears. On had found the harmony between last shall be the first. questioning him, he answered me them. A man may be intellectual, or The author of this article has poured out affectionately, ‘Today, giving you devotional, or mystic, or active; the his thoughts that he witnessed and my all, I have become a beggar. With various religions represent one or the gathered during all these years. this power you are to do much work other of these types. Yet it is possible for the good of the world before you to combine all the four in one man,

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