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In This Issue: • the Silent Power • Selfishness and Dharma • Genuine Love of Your Neighbors Voice of the Worldwide Vedanta Movement Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Seattle, WA 2716 broadway east Permit #2419 seattle wa 98102-3909 Winter 2009-10 Vol. XV, No. 1 Address Service Requested The expiring issue of your subscription is printed at the top of the mailing label In this Issue: • The Silent Power • Selfishness and Dharma • Genuine Love of Your Neighbors and more… Editor-in-chief Swami Bhaskarananda Editors Allen R. Freedman Stafford Smith winter 2009-10 Vol. xV, No. 1 Editorial Assistant Devra Freedman Production/Design/Artwork Charles Mathias Brahmachari David Kathleen Teague Scott Wirth Advertising/Business Assistant Swami Avikarananda This Issue Editorial and Business Offices 2 The Silent Power 2716 Broadway East Seattle, WA 98102-3909 3 What They Said About The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi Phone: 206-323-1228 Fax: 206-329-1791 4 Genuine Love of Your Neighbors E-mail: [email protected] 9 Selfishness and Dharma Global Vedanta, Issue #55(ISSN 1089-6902) ©2010 Viveka Press. All rights reserved. Repro- duction of any portion of Global Vedanta without the express written permission of the publisher is Departments prohibited. The opinions expressed by the contribu- tors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Global 1 Letters Vedanta is published quarterly for us $12.00/year in the U.S.A.; us $14.00/year in Canada & Mexico; 6 Ask the Swami us $18.00/year in all other countries. 8 Real Life Stories 8 In Memoriam Viveka Press, the publisher of Global Vedanta, is the publishing arm of the Vedanta Society of Western 11 Poets’ Corner Washington, a non-profit corporation founded in 11 Humor—The Spice of Life 1941. The Society gratefully accepts tax-deductible contributions and bequests to assist its efforts to 14 Vedanta News from Around the World publicize various aspects of Vedanta with special 16 Book Review emphasis on its teaching of the harmony of all religions. All editorial and pre-press work on Global 16 About the Contributors Vedanta is provided on a voluntary basis. President Swami Bhaskarananda Board of Directors Chairman Mr. Stafford Smith Cover: Winter scene from the southern slope of Mount Rainier in Vice-Chairman Dr. Anadijiban Das Washington State. Photo by Ashwani Sharma. Treasurer Dr. Allen R. Freedman Secretary Mr. Charles S. Wirth Directors Swami Avikarananda, Swami Brahmatmananda, Mrs. Rita Das, Mr. John E. Flynn, Swami Manishananda, Mr. Charles Mathias, Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, Dr. Usha Sankrithi Emeriti Dr. Santosh Kumar, Dr. Darbari Lal Sharma LETTERS About Contributing to Global Vedanta The cover page of the latest Global The printing and color combination is Global Vedanta will gladly consider articles, Vedanta issue (Fall 2009) looks incredibly wonderful and photo is very clear. poetry, humor, etc. submitted for publica- divine. Swami Krishnarupananda, tion. The subject matter should be religious, Champak Sadhu, Mauritius cultural, or educational, and must appeal Houston, TX to a general and broad-minded readership. Apart from some very good articles Articles should be entertaining and yet sub- We are very happy to get the Global in the Global Vedanta, I enjoy the jokes’ stantial, and be within 1500 to 1700 words Vedanta with the photo of Sri Durga Ma page too. in length (not exceeding 2000 words in any of our Mauritius Center. It has come out Umesh Gulati, event). Articles accepted for publication may require a release signed by the author very nicely and it is appreciated by all of North Carolina and, unless prior arrangements are made, us. I am very grateful to the editors of no materials submitted to Global Vedanta Global Vedanta for this. can be returned. Vol. xV, No. 1 GLOBAl VEDANTA 1 the silent power by pravrajika ajayaprana n our Sarada Math Centers, as a part contentment and happiness. They are She has told us that she is the mother of our evening vesper service, we sing synonymous. Sri Sarada Devi was always of both the virtuous and the wicked. a wonderful Sanskrit hymn1 com- placid, cheerful. The Bhagavad Gita states Through the practical examples of the Iposed by Swami Abhedananda, one of the that by staying cheerful and tranquil, all robber Amjad and her adopted dacoit foremost disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. miseries and mental anguish vanish, and parents whom she met accidentally in the The English translation of the woods, and through many other 8th stanza of the hymn begins instances in her life, she clearly with the words: demonstrated that those who Gracious Goddess turn to her for help and succor Sarada Devi, will never be turned away with I salute Thee who is ever their prayers unanswered. cheerful, and gracious, Even when Sri Ramakrishna Who removes the ills of those once remonstrated with her distressed souls who for being too lenient towards a yearn for Thy grace, woman of questionable charac- Who was worshipped by the ter, she stood rooted to the spot king of yogis, with her head raised, looked Who is the custodian and him full in the eyes, and stated protector of the spiritual that she could never refuse wealth of this age, anyone who would call her Who is the bestower of love “Mother” and ask for her help. and wisdom, Sri Ramakrishna retreated hap- And whose very nature is pily from the field, because he mercy and grace. had wanted such all-inclusive motherliness to be manifested These words contain in a through her. nutshell the whole gamut of Let us recall what the Holy the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Mother once said to a devotee Devi’s life—the purpose of who had asked her why Sri her advent, the epochal in- Ramakrishna had brought her cident of her worship by her along with him in this incarna- husband who is indeed the tion. The Holy Mother replied, king of all yogis, her unique “He brought me this time to role in protecting and preserv- teach the world the glory of ing the legacy of the virtues of The Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi motherhood.” this age, her unsolicited, free In June 1872, on the sacred gift of love and wisdom to all and sundry, the intellect of one possessing a tranquil day of the Phalaharini Kali Puja, Sri Ra- and finally, her innate nature of mercy heart is sharp and clear. Such a person makrishna actually worshipped his young and grace. will always be established in a state of wife, Sri Sarada Devi, with all the para- Sri Ramakrishna had a very exalted equilibrium. The Holy Mother Sri Sarada phernalia of a proper ritualistic worship. and colorful spiritual life, while Swami Devi exemplified this in her daily life to That day he elevated her to the position of Vivekananda had a very powerful and the fullest extent. She lived among the the Divine Mother of the universe. Thus dynamic spiritual life. But in Sri Sarada most unthinkably turbulent surroundings, he assigned to her the huge task and re- Devi’s case, as she hid her spirituality ever beset with diverse pulls of animos- sponsibility of leading, guiding, protecting behind the “veil of modesty,” it is almost ity, quarrels and petty bickering, but she and helping spiritual aspirants, both of the impossible to understand her personality moved among them with perfect ease present day and those of the future. clearly, gauge her spiritual stature and and peace, just as a lotus leaf remains un- On the day of the worship, Hriday, acknowledge her divinity. touched by the turbid water around it. Sri Ramakrishna’s nephew, arranged The ancient sage Patanjali used the She is called pranatārtihantri, “The the articles for the worship in Sri Ra- Sanskrit word santosham to denote destroyer of the distress of those who makrishna’s room and departed to do his 1. For the Sanskrit hymn, please see pages 183 to surrender to Her.” She came for the daily duty of performing the worship at 186 of Hymns and Prayers to Gods and Goddesses eradication of the sorrows of those who the temple of the Divine Mother Kali. published by Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, India. surrender to her and yearn for her help. He had summoned his aunt Sri Sarada 2 GLOBAl VEDANTA winter 2009-10 Devi before leaving. She came and stood come down to the level of an ordinary of that dark night in June when she was at the open door and surveyed the whole person, and remain immersed in the day- worshipped by Sri Ramakrishna as the room. She noticed that the altar for the to-day chores of the household in the Divine Mother. Divine Mother Kali’s statue was empty, most normal way! Who can fathom it? Swami Abhedananda says she was while all the other arrangements for the Not ordinary people like you and I. worshipped by “the king of yogis, who is worship had been made. At a signal from Why did all this happen? Why did none other than Sri Ramakrishna,” Only Sri Ramakrishna she moved gracefully Sri Ramakrishna decide to perform this he could penetrate the thick curtain of towards the altar and took her seat on it. history-making or history-breaking cere- her modesty, and make her motherliness One wonders how she knew what she was mony? The world was hungry for spiritual become manifest by degrees to benefit expected to do. support and guidance. The world needed mankind. The veil which ever remained pulled some one who was accessible to one and If we pause and reflect we all can feel down over her face was raised by the all without any reservation whatsoever. Sri her never-failing presence and grace. She worshipper and all the rituals were me- Ramakrishna was too remote for ordinary has asked us to remember in times of ticulously gone through.
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