Spiritual Practice: an Open Forum
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Reminiscences of Swami Vivekananda Mrs Alice M Hansbrough (Continued from the Previous Issue)
Reminiscences of Swami Vivekananda Mrs Alice M Hansbrough (Continued from the previous issue) o you remember any incidents in con- ‘No.’ nection with any of these meetings?’ ‘Well, it was clear aft erward that the group who the swami asked. had asked for this subject had done so in an attempt ‘D‘I remember that on one occasion when Swamiji to trap Swamiji into saying something that would was going to speak at the Green Hotel, Professor discredit him. We learned later that they belonged Baumgardt was talking with some other gentlemen to some group who had missionaries in India. Th e on the platform before the lecture began. One of questions they asked were along the line always them asked him, regarding Swamiji, “He is a Chris- taken by those trying to discredit India: the claim tianized Hindu, I suppose?” And Professor Baum- of abuse of Indian women, child marriages, early gardt replied, “No, he is an unconverted Hindu. motherhood, and so on. You will hear about Hinduism from a real Hindu.” ‘Swamiji answered several of the questions direct- ‘On another occasion, Swamiji was speaking in ly; then when he saw the direction the questioner some church. I do not remember now why, but he was taking, he said that the relationship between did not have a previously announced subject on the husband and wife in India, where the basis of that occasion. So when he came on the platform marriage was not physical enjoyment, was so entirely he asked the audience what they would like to have diff erent from that of a married couple in the West him speak on. -
X. Literary and Dramatic Productions (1976-2018)*
Ramakrishna-Vedanta in Southern California: From Swami Vivekananda to the Present X. Literary and Dramatic Productions (1976-2018)* 1. The Years After Swami Prabhavananda’s Passing (1976-1984) 2. A Changing Profile in Literary, Creative, and Other Activities (1985-1989) 3. New Developments in the Vedanta Movement in the West (1990-1999) 4. The New Millennium (2000-2018) 1. The Years After Swami Prabhavananda’s Passing (1976-1984) wami Prabhavananda brought the initial, brilliant phase of literary work at the Vedanta Society of Southern California S (VSSC) to a close with his English translation of and commentary on Narada’s Way of Divine Love: The Bhakti Sutras of Narada published by Vedanta Press in 1971. The period after Prabhavananda’s passing in 1976 was, of course, one of change and readjustment for the members of the VSSC, but its literary efforts continued. Christopher Isherwood was the only remaining widely known professional writer affiliating himself with the Vedanta Movement in Southern California, but new sources of intellectual and cultural creativity came from within the movement itself. A unique aspect of the Vedanta Society is that it offers its members an opportunity to become creatively involved, in sharp contrast to a more traditional church in which a member’s chief function is to attend a weekly religious talk. The Vedanta Society became, in effect, a “people’s organization” in which a large percentage of the members themselves would use their talents for the betterment of the Society. Members of the monastic and lay congregation became actively involved in the writing of books, publication of articles, composition of hour-long musicals, production of art, and all aspects of religious plays. -
Reminiscences of Swami Prabuddhananda
Reminiscences of Swami Prabuddhananda India 2010 These precious memories of Swami Prabuddhanandaji are unedited. Since this collection is for private distribution, there has been no attempt to correct or standardize the grammar, punctuation, spelling or formatting. The charm is in their spontaneity and the heartfelt outpouring of appreciation and genuine love of this great soul. May they serve as an ongoing source of inspiration. Memories of Swami Prabuddhananda MEMORIES OF SWAMI PRABUDDHANANDA RAMAKRISHNA MATH Phone PBX: 033-2654- (The Headquarters) 1144/1180 P.O. BELUR MATH, DIST: FAX: 033-2654-4346 HOWRAH Email: [email protected] WEST BENGAL : 711202, INDIA Website: www.belurmath.org April 27, 2015 Dear Virajaprana, I am glad to receive your e-mail of April 24, 2015. Swami Prabuddhanandaji and myself met for the first time at the Belur Math in the year 1956 where both of us had come to receive our Brahmacharya-diksha—he from Bangalore and me from Bombay. Since then we had close connection with each other. We met again at the Belur Math in the year 1960 where we came for our Sannyasa-diksha from Most Revered Swami Sankaranandaji Maharaj. I admired his balanced approach to everything that had kept the San Francisco centre vibrant. In 2000 A.D. he had invited me to San Francisco to attend the Centenary Celebrations of the San Francisco centre. He took me also to Olema and other retreats on the occasion. Once he came just on a visit to meet the old Swami at the Belur Math. In sum, Swami Prabuddhanandaji was an asset to our Order, and his leaving us is a great loss. -
Why I Became a Hindu
Why I became a Hindu Parama Karuna Devi published by Jagannatha Vallabha Vedic Research Center Copyright © 2018 Parama Karuna Devi All rights reserved Title ID: 8916295 ISBN-13: 978-1724611147 ISBN-10: 1724611143 published by: Jagannatha Vallabha Vedic Research Center Website: www.jagannathavallabha.com Anyone wishing to submit questions, observations, objections or further information, useful in improving the contents of this book, is welcome to contact the author: E-mail: [email protected] phone: +91 (India) 94373 00906 Please note: direct contact data such as email and phone numbers may change due to events of force majeure, so please keep an eye on the updated information on the website. Table of contents Preface 7 My work 9 My experience 12 Why Hinduism is better 18 Fundamental teachings of Hinduism 21 A definition of Hinduism 29 The problem of castes 31 The importance of Bhakti 34 The need for a Guru 39 Can someone become a Hindu? 43 Historical examples 45 Hinduism in the world 52 Conversions in modern times 56 Individuals who embraced Hindu beliefs 61 Hindu revival 68 Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj 73 Shraddhananda Swami 75 Sarla Bedi 75 Pandurang Shastri Athavale 75 Chattampi Swamikal 76 Narayana Guru 77 Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru 78 Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha 79 Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 79 Sarada Devi 80 Golap Ma 81 Rama Tirtha Swami 81 Niranjanananda Swami 81 Vireshwarananda Swami 82 Rudrananda Swami 82 Swahananda Swami 82 Narayanananda Swami 83 Vivekananda Swami and Ramakrishna Math 83 Sister Nivedita -
Spiritual Practice
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE ITS CONDITIONS AND PRELIMINARIES by SWAMI ASHOKANANDA Table of Contents INTRODUCTION..............................................................3 IN THE OUTER COURT.......................................................4 SANDHYÂ-VANDANÂ AND KIRTANÂ........................................11 PRÂNÂYÂMA.................................................................16 INTELLECTUALISM VERSUS SPIRITUALITY...............................21 ON THE THRESHOLD.......................................................27 WHEN SHALL WE RENOUNCE?.............................................32 IS RENUNCIATION NECESSARY?............................................39 EXTERNAL RENUNCIATION.................................................44 IS HUMAN LOVE A HELP?...................................................50 THE CASE OF THE UNMARRIED...........................................55 THE CASE OF THE MARRIED...............................................61 KARMA-YOGÂ...............................................................66 BRAHMACHARYA............................................................71 THE QUESTION OF FOOD..................................................77 THE NECESSITY OF THE GURU............................................83 SIGNS OF A TRUE GURU....................................................88 CONCLUSION................................................................93 Advaita Ashrama Calcutta Swami Ashokananda (1893-1969) a much-venerated monk of the Ramakrishna Order was ordained into Sannyâsa by Swami Shivananda, -
VII. the Swami Swahananda Era (1976-2012)
Ramakrishna-Vedanta in Southern California: From Swami Vivekananda to the Present VII. The Swami Swahananda Era (1976-2012) 1. Swami Swahananda’s Background 2. Swami Swahananda’s Major Objectives 3. Swami Swahananda at the Vedanta Society of Southern California 4. The Assistant Swamis 5. Functional Departments of the Vedanta Society 6. Charitable Organizations 7. Santa Barbara Temple and Convent 8. Ramakrishna Monastery, Trabuco Canyon 9. Vivekananda House, South Pasadena (1955-2012) 1. Swami Swahananda’s Background* fter Swami Prabhavananda passed away on July 4, 1976, Swami Chetanananda was assigned the position of head of the A Vedanta Society of Southern California (VSSC). Swamis Vireswarananda and Bhuteshananda, President and Vice- President of the Ramakrishna Order, urged Swami Swahananda to take over the VSSC. They realized that a man with his talents and capabilities should be in charge of a large center. Swahananda agreed to leave the quiet life of Berkeley for the more challenging work in the Southland. Having previously been in charge of the large New Delhi Center in the capital of India, he was up to the task and assumed leadership of the VSSC on December 15, 1976. He was enthusiastically welcomed, and soon became well established in the life of the Society. Swami Swahananda was born on June 29, 1921 in Habiganj, Sylhet in Bengal (now in Bangladesh). His father had been a government official and an initiated disciple of Holy Mother. He had wanted to renounce the world and become a monk, but Holy Mother reportedly had told him, “No, my child, but from your family two shall come.” (As well as Swahananda, a nephew also later joined the Ramakrishna Order). -
Remembering Sri Sarada Devi's Disciple
Print and Media Resources Books and Articles by Swami Aseshananda: “Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna,” in Vedanta Kesari, Vol. 87, October 2000, pp. 11-14. Glimpses of a Great Soul: A Portrait of Swami Saradananda, Vedanta Press, Hollywood, CA. 1982, 274 pp. “Holy Mother Talk,” Magazine Articles, July/August 2003 Vedanta Center UK http://www.vedantauk.com/magazine_articles_july3.htm “Holy Mother—A Talk,” in Reminiscences of Sri Sarada Devi, pp. 93-105, Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, 2004, 331 pp. A Holy Woman of Modern India, Vedanta and the West #110. Nov./Dec.1954. Available online at http://www.vedanta.org/reading/monthly/articles/2005/12.yogin_ma.html “Memories of Sri Ramakrishna” by Girish Chandra Ghosh, translated by Swami Aseshananda in Vedanta and the West, March-April 1953. “Meditation According to the Upanishads” in Living Wisdom: Vedanta in the West, edited by Pravrajika Vrajaprana, pp.71-77, Vedanta Press, 1994. This is an edited version of the article that appeared in Vedanta for Modern Man edited by Christopher Isherwood, Harper, New York, 1951. “Meditation According to the Upanishads,” in Vedanta for Modern Man, edited by Christopher Isherwood, pp. 290-296. Harper, New York, 1951. “Vivekananda and the Meaning of Salvation,” in American Vedantist, reprinted in Vol. 15, No. 1, Spring 2009. For archived articles by Swami Aseshananda, see Gopal Stavig’s supplement on the accompanying disc. Books and Articles About Swami Aseshananda The Last Disciple of Holy Mother: Reminiscences of Swami Aseshananda by Swami Shantarupananda, a booklet reprinted from American Vedantist, Vol. 5, No. 3, 1999, 12 pp. Available from The Vedanta Society of Portland. -
Swami Vivekananda and the Role of Intercultural Dialogue in Saving Our Human Heritage Jeffery D
404 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 Swami Vivekananda and the Role of Intercultural Dialogue in Saving Our Human Heritage Jeffery D. Long Ramakrishna and Vivekananda Sir John Stewart-Wallace, C.B. Divine Wisdom Illustrated Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna - 2 THERE ARE MEN AND MEN MEN may be divided into four classes: those bound by the fetters of the world, the seekers after liberation, the liberated and the ever-free. Among the ever-free we may count sages like Narada. They live in the world for the good of others, to teach men spiritual truths. Those in bondage are sunk in worldliness and are forgetful of God. Not even by mistake do they think of God. The seekers after liberation want to free themselves from attachment to the world. Some of them succeed and others do not. continued on the inside back cover 404 NOVEMBER -DECEMBER 2018 Contents 242 Editorial Swami Vivekananda’s vision of social progress - 2 247 Swami Vivekananda and the Role of Intercultural Dialogue in Saving Our Human Heritage Jeffery D. Long 261 Ramakrishna and Vivekananda Sir John Stewart-Wallace, C.B. 272 The Message of Swami Vivekananda and Its Relevance to Unesco Today Bikas C. Sanyal 283 Leaves from an Ashrama 65 Swami Vidyatmananda 285 Shaping the Future of Humankind – What We Can Learn from Swami Vivekananda? 286 Annual Index 288 Programme ISSN 1355 - 6436 Editorial Swami Vivekananda’s vision of social progress - 2 n our previous editorial we discussed about Swami IVivekananda’s synthetic vision of Human Progress which is comprehensive in scope, combining the deepest spiritual dimension with the most practical aspirations at the level of physical manifestation seen in society. -
Remembering Sri Sarada Devi's Disciple
Copyright 2010 by Esther Warkov All rights reserved First printed in 2010 Cover Design by Gregory Fields No portion of this book or accompanying DVD may be reproduced anywhere (including the internet) or used in any form, or by any means (written, electronic, mechanical, or other means now known or hereafter invented including photocopying, duplicating, and recording) without prior written permission from the author/publisher. Exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews. Photographs on the accompanying disc may be printed for home use only. The song appearing on the accompanying disc may be duplicated and used for non-commercial purposes only. ISBN 978-0-578-04660-0 To order copies of this publication please visit Compendium Publications www.compendiumpublications.com or contact the author at [email protected] (Seattle, WA, USA) Table of Contents Introduction and Acknowledgements v About the Contributors ix Remembrances from Monastic Devotees Swami Yogeshananda 3 Swami Damodarananda “Swami Aseshanandaji: Humble and Inspiring‖ 8 Swami Manishananda “Reminiscences of Swami Aseshananda‖ 11 Pravrajika Gayatriprana 15 Pravrajika Brahmaprana “Reminiscences of Swami Aseshananda‖ 25 Swami Harananda 33 Pravrajika Sevaprana 41 Swami Tathagatananda ―Reminiscences of Revered Swami Aseshanandaji‖ 43 Swami Brahmarupananda “Swami Aseshananda As I Saw Him‖ 48 Anonymous Pravrajika 50 Vimukta Chaitanya 51 Six Portraits of Swami Aseshananda Michael Morrow (Vijnana) 55 Eric Foster 60 Anonymous ―Initiation Accounts‖ 69 Alex S. Johnson ―The Influence and Example of a Great Soul‖ 72 Ralph Stuart 74 Jon Monday (Dharmadas) ―A Visit with a Swami in America‖ 88 The Early Years: 1955-1969 Vera Edwards 95 Marina Sanderson 104 Robert Collins, Ed. -
Summer 2020 Vol
Voice of the Worldwide Vedanta Movement Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Seattle, WA 2716 broadway east Permit #2419 seattle wa 98102-3909 Summer 2020 Vol. XX V, No. 3 Address Service Requested visit our webpage: www.vedanta-seattle.org/global-vedanta/ The expiring issue of your subscription is printed at the top of the mailing label In this Issue: How to Get Along With Others Art, Religion and Sri Ramakrishna The True Friend Treasure from the Attic— When God Dwells Among Men No Privilege! Published by The Vedanta Society of Western Washington, Seattle and much more… Editor-in-chief Swami Bhaskarananda Editor Allen R. Freedman Editorial Assistants Devra A. Freedman Pravrajika Kantiprana Leslie Muller summer 2020 vol. xxv, no. 3 Production/Design/Artwork This Issue Charles Mathias Kathleen Teague 2 How to Get Along with Others Scott Wirth Advertising/Business Assistant —by Swami Bhaskarananda Swami Avikarananda Editorial and Business Offices 3 Art, Religion, and Sri Ramakrishna 2716 Broadway East —by Swami Satprakashananda Seattle, WA 98102-3909 Phone: 206-323-1228 5 The True Friend Fax: 206-329-1791 E-mail: [email protected] —by Swami Adiswarananda Global Vedanta, Issue #97 (ISSN 1089-6902) ©2020 Viveka Press. All rights reserved. Repro- 10 Treasure from the Attic: duction of any portion of Global Vedanta without When God Dwells Among Men (conclusion) the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The opinions expressed by the contribu- —by Swami Ashokananda tors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Global Vedanta is published quarterly for us $12.00/year in 12 No Privilege! the U.S.A.; us $14.00/year in Canada & Mexico; and us $18.00/year in all other countries. -
Memorial Service (Between Columbus & Amsterdam) in Honour Of
Redeemer Presbyterian Church: West Side 150 West 83rd Street, New York NY 10024 Memorial Service (Between Columbus & Amsterdam) in honour of VENUE: LOCATION MAP SWAMI TATHAGATANANDA W 84th Street >> << W 83rd Street REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH W 82nd Street >> Saturday, August 20, 2016 3.15 pm - 7.30 pm CENTRAL PARK PARK CENTRAL << W 81st Street B C at Amsterdam Avenue Amsterdam Avenue >> << Central Park West >> << Central Park West Amsterdam Avenue Amsterdam Avenue >> Avenue << Columbus Redeemer Presbyterian Church 150 W 83rd Street, New York, NY W 80th Street >> MUSEUM OF (between Columbus and Amsterdam) NATURAL HISTORY << W 79th Street Vedanta Society of New York 34 West 71st Street • New York • NY 10023 SATURDAY, AUG 20TH, 2016 Remembering Swami Tathagatananda 3.15 PM - 7.30 PM Message from Swami Chetnananda, Vedanta Society of St. Louis Invocation & Prayer The Ideal of Service Swami Kripamayananda, Vedanta Society of Toronto, Canada Welcome Swami Paritushtananda, Vedanta Society of New York The Advaita Ideal Swami Tattwamayananda, Vedanta Society of Northern California Remembering Swami Tathagatananda Swami Atmajayananda, Message from Swami Bhaskarananda Swami Vivekananda, the Mystic Vedanta Society of Western Washington, Seattle Swami Yogatmananda, Vedanta Society of Providence The Role of Guru The Ideal Karma Yogi Swami Sarvadevananda, Vedanta Society of Southern California Swami Ishtananda, Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg, Florida The Ideal of Renunciation The Ideal Jnana Yogi Swami Tyagananda, Ramakrishna Vedanta Society, Boston -
The Dharma Paradigm and Ethos Some Insights from Jainism and Vedānta Jeffery D Long
Long International Journal of Dharma Studies 2013, 1:2 http://www.internationaljournaldharmastudies.com/content/1/1/2 RESEARCH Open Access The Dharma Paradigm and Ethos Some Insights from Jainism and Vedānta Jeffery D Long Correspondence: [email protected] Department of Religious Studies Abstract Elizabethtown College One Alpha “ ” Drive Elizabethtown, PA 17022, USA What is the Dharma Paradigm ? And how might this paradigm be cultivated in such a way as to transform not only academic discourse, but the broader discourse of our global society? Transforming a discourse at a paradigmatic level is clearly not a simple matter of substituting Sanskritic terminology for the Eurocentric terminology that has tended to dominate global discourse—of, for example, calling religions “Dharma Traditions,” but continuing to think of them, basically, as “religions,” of calling our words “shabdas” and our scholarly texts “bhashyas.” The Dharma Paradigm is a re-thinking of all our shared categories in light of the wisdom of the Dharma Traditions, seen not simply as a kind of “folk wisdom,” of merely local or historical interest, but as constitutive of a universal and transformative knowledge, capable of responding in kind to the dominant categories of global discourse and presenting itself as a viable alternative. This paper will be dedicated to outlining what the Dharma Paradigm might look like were it to be enacted, as well as to delineating some preliminary steps that we, as scholars and public intellectuals, might take toward manifesting this paradigm in the world. Background In this essay, I would like to examine the issue of developing a Dharma Paradigm from a perspective that draws upon both Jain wisdom and the wisdom of the Vedānta tradition of Sri Ramakrishna.