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Reach Issue 55

October 2020

The Great Barrier Reef Reach https://cairnslanguagecentre.com.au/

Newsletter of the Centres of Australia Sayings and Teachings IN THIS ISSUE

Sri on Renunciation 1. News from Australian Today the human body is, tomorrow it is not; even the shortest span of Centres life is beset with pain and misery. He who is able to renounce all for  Adelaide ’s sake is a living God  Brisbane  Canberra Source: Great sayings: Words of Sri Ramakrishna, Sarada and Swami  Melbourne Vivekananda; The Institute of Culture; Calcutta; page 31.  Perth Sri on  Sydney

Is faith so cheap, my child? Faith is the last word. If one has faith, the 2. Feature Articles goal is practically reached.

Source: Swami Tapasyananda,, Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother, Life and Teachings, p. 93 A. Paganism on Man No books, no scriptures, no science can ever imagine the glory of the B. The Gospel of Sri Self that appears as man, the most glorious God that ever was, the only Ramakrishna God that ever existed, exists, or ever exist. Source: Teachings of Swami Vivekananda by Swami Mumukshananda, Advaita , Calcutta; page 193.

Pagan Principle Recognition of the Divine, which transcends gender, acknowledging both the male and female aspects of the deity.

Source: https://books.google.com.au/books? id=wqEVRamswfgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=quotes+on+pagan+beliefs&hl=en&sa=X &ved=0ahUKEwjq4MefqYrpAhXHzjgGHbnnC5AQ6AEIWDAG#v=onepage&q=quotes %20on%20pagan%20beliefs&f=false

e welcome you all to the Vedanta Movement in Australia, as epitomized in the lives of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, and invite you to involve yourselves and actively participate in the propagation of W the Universal Message of Vedanta. Issue No. 55 October 2020 Page 1 Reach 1. News From Australian Centres 11 March 2020 to 10 September 2020 Adelaide

16 East Terrace, Kensington Gardens, SA 5068

Email: [email protected] Contact: Dr Raman Sharma on (08) 8431 9775 Mrs Pathma Iswaran on (08) 8379 5336 URL: http://vedantaadelaide.org

 All activities except the daily aratrikam of the Vedanta Centre of Adelaide were suspended from March to June due to COVID 19-related restrictions on gatherings.

Important News The Shrine in the new Centre  The Vedanta Centre of Adelaide is pleased to pm followed by , devotional reading inform devotees all over Australia that it has and . purchased and moved to a bigger property located at 16 East Terrace, Kensington Gar- dens, SA 5068. The pictures of Sri Ramakrish- na, Ma Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, Regular Activities Buddha and Christ were installed on Wednes-  day, 15 July. Swami Manyananda conducted classes and discussions on the ‘Fundamentals of Vedanta’ on every Wednesdays from 22 July from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. The classes were initially conducted in the old Centre and now continue at the new Centre.  Swami Manyananda is also conducting classes on the from Sunday, 13 September 2020 at 11: 00 am.  Every alternative Saturday, from 1 August 2020, Swami Manyananda has been conduct- ing a reading and discussion on The Gospel of New Building of the Vedanta Centre of Adelaide Sri Ramakrishna before the evening aratrikam.

 The Centre formally moved to the new premis- Celebrations es on Saturday, 22 August 2020. A Special was held on Saturday, 5 September 2020,  purnima was celebrated (at the old Centre) on marking the beginning of regular activities at Sunday, 5 July, with a short puja, bhajans, the new Centre. pushpanjali and prasad.

janmashtami, marking the birth of Daily Activities Lord Krishna, was celebrated (at the old Cen- tre) on Tuesday, 11 August with a puja, bha-  The Centre functions from 7.30am-12.30pm jans, pushpanjali and prasad. and 4.00-8.00pm. The evening vesper service to Sri Ramakrishna is performed from 7.00-7.30

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el Hill, Qld) on alternate Fridays.  Chanting of the Sri Ramanama Sankirtanam was held fortnightly at the Centre on ekadashi days (7:30 pm — 8:15 pm).  Devotees took turns in decorating and wor- shipping Sri Ramakrishna's image every week Guru purnima at the Sri Selva Vinayakar temple, South Mac- lean. Brisbane  Swami Atmeshananda conducted Vivekachud- amani classes online for the Vedanta Group at Too- 96 Vedanta Drive, (next to 2 Poppy Cresent), woomba on the first Wednesday of every Springfield Lakes, QLD 4300 month.  A class on the Gita was conducted Email: [email protected] at 101 Sharpless Drive, Springfield Lakes, on a Contact: Swami Atmeshananda (07) 3818 9986 fixed day of the month. URL: http://vedantabrisbane.org  On the third Saturday of every month, the was studied online by Daily Activities the Vedanta group at the Gold Coast from 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.  Meditation and the chanting of hymns were  The Centre began a soup kitchen from June conducted between 6:15 am and 7:15 am on all 2020 for the benefit of the needy. An average of days except Sundays when it is held from 8 am 100 meals per week are cooked by volunteers, to 8:30 am. packed into containers and frozen. They are dis-  Vesper service (aratrikam), bhajans, and readings tributed free of cost through the Westside Com- from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna were held munity Centre and the Goodna Street Life shop. between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm.  Beginning from July, on every Friday, the Cen-  Members were encouraged to visit the Centre tre's Food bank distributes groceries to the and discuss topics concerning spiritual life. needy. An average of 12 grocery hampers along- with cooked food and free bread is distributed Regular Activities to the needy.  Sunday mornings:- a) Two  The Maa Sarada's kitchen prepares and sells class sessions were conducted online from 1st food at a reasonable cost to people. On an aver- April to 30th May 2020. The classes resumed at age, about 120 persons avail themselves of this the Centre from the 1 June (from 8 a.m to 9.15 service. The kitchen is managed efficiently by a.m). b) Srimad-Bhagavad Gitā Class (10:00 am—11:00 am). (c) Bala Sangha or children’s classes (10:00 am—11:00 am during school term ).  A class on the Sutras is conducted on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.  A discussion group met on the first Monday of the month at Sunnybank Hills (7:30 pm — 8:45 pm).  A Vedic Chanting class was held on Wednes- days from 8:30 am to 9:30 am online.  Classes on Meditation and Spiritual Life was put on hold from April to July 2020. It re- sumed from the third week of August 2020 Maa Sarada’s Kitchen (7:00 pm — 8:00 pm) at 134 Fleming Rd, Chap-

Issue No. 55 October 2020 Page 3 Reach volunteers efficiently.  On Fridays, a of the Peace (JP) renders their service at the Centre from 10 am to 11 a.m. People needing the service access this free ser- vice which started from the 3rd week of August 2020.

Other Activities  On the occasion of International Yoga day, a special lecture and Yoga practice was conducted on 2 June 2020 at the Centre.  Charis Mullen, State MP for Jordon (Qld), vis- ited the Centre and discussed the present and Senator Milton Dick, Federal MP for Oxley, visited the future activities on 22 July 2020. Centre on 21 August 2020

Celebrations  The birthday of Shankaracharya was observed on 28 April 2020. Readings from the life of the and Bhajans were conducted on the occasion (broadcast online).  On the occasion of Buddha purnima, a service was conducted on 7 May with readings from the Life of Buddha, chanting from the Buddhist scriptures and worship (broadcast online). Charis Mullen, State MP for Jordon  On 5 July Guru purnima was celebrated with worship, chanting, devotional music, a talk on  Children's school holiday programme was the significance of Guru and distribution of Pra- conducted at the Centre on 29 June, 3 July, 6 July sad (following COVID restrictions the event was and 10 July. Approximately 10 children participated. conducted following the regulations).  Swami Atmeshananda participated as a panel- ist in a discussion forum at a Town Hall Meet- Forthcoming Programmes ing on 12 August 2020 on the topic of Faith in the  During school holidays in September-October, Public Square organised by The Cooperative pro- the Centre will organise a children's vacation ject hosted by Wesley Mission. The forum's ob- programme. Meditation, Yoga, Story-telling, jective was 'to make space for dialogue from all Painting workshop, Positive affirmations, gar- and any members of the public and for sake of dening, creative writing workshop etc will be the public good'. conducted for the kids in this programme.  Senator Paul Scarr, Federal MP, paid a visit to  The Annual programme of the Centre would the Centre on 19 August 2020 and familiarized be held on Saturday, 10 October, at the Centre himself with the ongoing activities and future from 5.30 to 8.30 p.m. The event will consist of plans of the Centre. multicultural music and dance programmes,  Senator Milton Dick, Federal MP for Oxley, and speeches by dignitaries. There will be a re- visited the Centre on 21 August and was taken stricted number of participants but the event around and given an introduction to the ser- would be broadcast live on Facebook and vices and future plans of the Centre. Youtube.  Councillor Nicole Jonic of the Ipswich Council  On the occasion of Mental Health Week, the was invited by the Centre on 26 August 2020 to Centre will conduct a mental health workshop introduce her to our activities and future plans. 'Mind your Mind' on 18 October 2020. This half

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day workshop will be conducted by a trained ’s Yoga Sutras on Thursdays from psychologist, a psychiatrist and other experts in 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. This class was conducted the field of positive mental health service. online from 5 April 2020 due to the restrictions  Puja on the Ashtami day (eighth day of brought on by Covid 19. festival) will be conducted at the Cen- tre on Saturday, 24 October 2020. Considering Celebrations the COVID-19 restrictions, a limited number of  On the evening of Thursday, 07 May 2020, participants will be allowed to attend the wor- Buddha Purnima was celebrated online. The ship. programme included evening vesper service Canberra followed by Guided Meditation and chanting of Pragyaparamita Stotram. Swami Sun- 17 Bean Crescent, Mckellar, ACT 2617 ishthananda delivered a talk on the topic “Buddha: The Rebel Child of ”. Email: [email protected] Contact: Mr Jaishankar Venkataraman 6258 7612 / 0433 593 860  On the morning of Sunday, 05 July 2020, Guru Purnima was celebrated online. The pro- Regular Activities gramme included puja, offerings, chanting and  On account of the Covid 19 pandemic the Gita bhajans and a talk on the significance of Guru classes have been suspended temporarily. Purnima by Swami Sunishthananda. Friends and devotees are accessing the classes  On the evening of Tuesday, 11 August 2020, online. When the classes recommence they will Sri was celebrated be held at the Belconnen Community Meeting online. The programme included puja, offer- Room, 12 Chandler St, Belconnen, ACT. Monthly lectures are advertised by e-mail once ings, bhajans and Shyama-nama Sankirtanam. scheduled.

Other Activities Melbourne  Swami Sunishthananda participated in an In- 5-7 Angus Ave, Ringwood East, VIC 3135 dian Community Multilingual Virtual , entitled “Pray: Unite Against COVID-19” or- Email: [email protected] ganised by Australian Bharat Samaj, Contact: Swami Sunishthananda (03) 8684 9594 Melbourne, on Friday, 24 April 2020, to pray URL http://www.vedantamelbourne.org for the front-line warriors, doctors, nurses,

pharmacists, health workers, cleaners, essen- Regular Activities tial commodity suppliers, posties, truck driv-  The shrine was open from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm seven days a week. ers, police and farmers. Swami Sunishthanan-  Vesper service (aratrikam), bhajans, reading da conducted the prayer in Bengali and deliv- from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and med- ered the Vote of Thanks. itation were conducted between 7:00 pm and  Swami Sunishthananda was one of the speak- 8:00 pm daily. ers and panellists for the final event of the “In  Nama Sankirtanam on Ekadasi Days. Pursuit of Happiness” Seminar Series orga-  A scriptural class on Sundays from 10:00 am to nized online by Maroondah Interfaith Net- 11:30 am on A Study of Swami Vivekananda’s work on Saturday, 13 June 2020. Yoga by Swami Sunishthananda which was  A small gathering was organised at Vedanta conducted online from 5 April 2020 due to the Centre premises on Friday, 19 June 2020, to bid restrictions brought on by Covid 19. farewell to Mr. Naren Pilaka and his family  Guided meditation followed by a class on

Issue No. 55 October 2020 Page 5 Reach

who have returned to . The family was long associated with the Centre and were ac- tive participants in all its events.  The Annual General Meeting was conducted online on Sunday, 9 August 2020, at 11.15 am. Swami Sridharananda presided over the meet- ing.

 An online prayer meeting was conducted on Sunday, 6 September 2020, at 11.15 am in memory of the departed of Mrs. Dur- garani Bagchi, a longstanding devotee and member of the Vedanta Centre. Swami Sri- Prayer meeting for K.P Basu Mullick dharananda presided over the prayer meeting. She passed away while Swami Sunishthanan- da was chanting to her online.  On Sunday, 16 August 2020 there was a prayer

meeting to remember Mr. K.P. Basu Mullick with his family, friends and devotees. Perth 51 Golf View Street, Yorkine, WA 6060 Short Obituary of Krishna Prosad Basu Mul- lick

Email: [email protected] Krishna Prosad Basu Mullick first came from India Contact: Sumita Chetty (04) 3892 8136 to Singapore in 1975. He started serving the Singa- Parthiv Parekh 0430 511 699 pore Ashrama from 1983. He was initiated by Swami Butheshananda, the 12th President of the  On account of the Covid 19 pandemic, daily, and Ramakrishna Mission. regular and other activities were temporarily K.P. Basu Mullick served the Ramakrishna Mis- suspended. The congregation did get together sion in Singapore as a community member, Treas- on two occasions. These were: urer and assisted in the establishment of the Sara-  Guru purnima, which was celebrated on Sunday, 5 da Kindergarten. After migrating to Australia he July, with bhajans, and distribution of served the Vedanta Centre in Perth by working prasad. alongside Swami Sridharananda to establish the Centre at Bullcreek, Perth. He was appointed Sec- retary and contributed in the stewardship of the Bullcreek temple and its transition to its current address in Yokine. He was passionate about em- powering men and women, building their confi- dence and championed them to be the future torch bearers of the Vedanta Centre. He continued as a volunteer after his tenure as Secretary until the decline of his health at the end of 2017. He passed away peacefully at his home on 16 July 2020, with his family by his side.

He is survived by his wife, 2 sons, daughter, son- in-law, daughter-in-law and 4 grandchildren. The Devotees at one of the Functions kindness of Krishna Prosad is embedded in all the lives that he has helped and bettered by means of

Page 6 October 2020 Issue No. 55 Reach his compassion, love, strength and leadership. He Celebrations was a man who believed that anything was possi- ble by the grace of the Holy Mother. His faith and  Devotees and friends wishing to pay their passion for the Holy Mother was ever present in the way he thought, the way he spoke and the respects in the shrine of the Vedanta Cen- way he acted. He was an extraordinary man who tre and to Swami Sridharananda registered chose to live an ordinary life. online and observed social distancing on the occasion of Guru purnima. The func- tion was observed on 5 July 2020 and pra- Sydney sad packets were distributed to all those who attended. There were around 140 to 2 Stewart Street, Ermington, NSW 2115 150 people who visited.

Email: [email protected] Contact: (02) 8197 7351 URL: www.vedantaaustralia.org

Daily Activities  The shrine was open from 6:30 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm seven days a week.  Meditation from 6:30 am to 7:00 am and chant- ing from 7:00 am to 7:30 am.  Vesper service (aratrikam), bhajans, and read- ings from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna were Swamis Sridharananda, Dhanyananda and devotees on conducted from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The times the occasion of Guru purnima change on special occasions.

Regular Activities  Krishna janmastami was observed at the Ve-  Swami Sridharananda conducted his study of danta Centre on Tuesday, 11 August 2020. the Srimad-Bhagavad Gitā on Sundays between Because of the current Covid 19 re- 9:30 am and 10:30 am. Due to the current re- strictions the worship was witnessed only strictions owing to Covid 19, the talks were pre by the residents of the ashrama. -recorded and uploaded to the Centre’s web- site and Youtube Channel.  Swami Sridharananda conducted a class on the

Mundaka Upanishad on Saturdays from 11:00am

to 12: 00 noon. Due to the current restrictions

owing to Covid 19, the talks were pre-recorded and uploaded to the Centre’s website and

Youtube Channel.  Sri Rāmanāma Sankirtanam was conducted on eka- dashi days after the vesper service.  Devotees also received spiritual counselling and guidance.

Issue No. 55 October 2020 Page 7 Reach 2. Feature Articles A. Paganism

Compiled from https://americanhumanist.orgwp-contentuploads201611paganism.pdf https://academic.microsoft.com/topic/2777109615 and https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/

he term Pagan comes from the Latin paganus which refers to those who lived in the country. When Christianity began to grow in the Roman Empire, it did so at first primarily in the cities. The people who lived in the country and who continued to believe in “the old ways” came to be known as pagans. Pagans have been broadly defined as anyone involved in any religious Tact, practice, or ceremony which is not Christian. Jews and Muslims also use the term to refer to anyone outside their .

Introduction naissance period. Around 1500 sible to explore ways of thought Some define paganism as a reli- Documents rescued after the fall outside Christianity without gion outside of Christianity, Ju- of Constantinople in 1453 intro- fear of instant damnation, and daism, Hinduism, Islam, and duced people to ideas from be- the study of Greek and Roman ; others simply define fore the Middle ages. And alt- classics became part of every it as without a religion. hough Europe remained Chris- schoolboy's education. Paganism, however, often is not tian the Pagan and god- identified as a traditional reli- desses of Ancient Greece jostled The Reformation of the 16th gion per se because it does not with the patron saints of Christi- century however, put a tempo- have any official doctrine; how- anity on public monument, and rary halt to Pagan thinking. ever, it has some common char- classical began to Greek and Roman classics, with acteristics within its variety of change the way people thought their focus on Paganism, were traditions. One of the common about and . accepted again during the En- beliefs is the divine presence in lightenment of the 1700s. and the reverence for the In Britain the Reformation of the natural order in life. 16th century transformed Eng- The name 'Europe' (herself a land from a Catholic country to character in Greek myth) re- In the strictest sense, paganism a Protestant one. The religious placed 'Christendom' in the mid refers to the authentic conflict that went along with -18th century. Influenced by the of ancient Greece and Rome and this change led to the persecu- expansion of trade and colonies the surrounding areas. The pa- tion of those who didn't fit the an awareness and interest in gans usually had a polytheistic desired religious profile. Reli- other cultures and in many gods but only gious hysteria (disguised as grew. This of one, which represents the chief spiritual cleansing) led to some during the 17th and 18th Centu- god and supreme godhead, is individuals being described as ries became known as the En- chosen to worship. 'witches'. But these people were lightenment. The Renaissance (the word not part of any religious move- 'Renaissance' means 'rebirth') of ment, merely victims of local Paganism experienced another the 1500s reintroduced the an- feuds and quarrels. A few of rise in the 1800s and 1900s when cient Greek concepts of Pagan- them were practitioners of herb- modern forms of Buddhism and ism. Pagan symbols and tradi- al medicine but most were ordi- Hinduism were growing in pop- tions entered European art, mu- nary, conventional citizens. ularity. Mme sic, literature, and ethics. People from Russia founded the Theo- in Europe became more aware After the enormous political sophical Society in 1875. Its of the art and philosophy of the and intellectual upheavals of the teachings were based on Hindu- ancient during the Re- 1600s died away, it became pos- ism, , Neo-

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Platonic thought, and ancient In Germany Schlegel and Schel- ally in the ecological and femi- Egyptian religion. Pagan philos- ling in particular were attracted nist movements of the 1960s and ophies, which venerated Nature to the nature religion which 70s. Pagan - and were polytheistic, began to they saw behind traditional folk pealed to many eco-activists be seen as sophisticated contri- customs, and at the beginning of who also saw nature as sacred butions to contemporary spiritu- the 20th century Guido von Liszt and recognized the Great God- ality. pioneered the study of the runes. dess as Mother Nature.

Following the interest in ancient In north-east Europe, particular- The Basic Beliefs of Paganism civilizations that became popu- ly Lithuania, nationalist move- Because of the wide diversity in lar in the 17th through to the ments spread and indigenous Paganism, there are a variety of 19th centuries, including the languages were reclaimed, tra- resources about its basic beliefs. popularity of the Druid revivals, ditional tales recorded and the In general, Pagans celebrate na- scholars in the early 20th centu- old festivals celebrated. Folk ture and and encour- ry explored the ancient spiritu- music was part of this reasser- age an eco-friendly lifestyle. ality of the British Isles and Eu- tion of local identity, preserving Equality of the sexes is domi- rope. The first Pagan tradition to traditions which otherwise nant. Women play a significant be restored was that of the Dru- would have been forgotten. role in ceremonies and goddess- ids in Britain. In the mid-1600s es are of great importance. Pa- stone circles and other monu- The more current “Pagan Re- gans believe that there is divini- ments built four and a half thou- naissance” grew out of a variety ty in the living world and, sand years previously began to of sources that coalesced be- through rituals, they can con- interest scholars. Some thought tween the 1930s and 1950s. nect with the divine. The festi- that the original Druids (pre- vals are related to their devotion historic tribal people of Europe) Paganism represents a wide va- to nature; e.g., the Summer Sol- had built them. In 1717 one of riety of traditions that empha- stice celebrates the sun and the these scholars, the Irish theolo- size reverence for nature and a divinity that creates life. Source: gian John Toland, became the revival of ancient polytheistic Paganism: Types of Religion first Chosen Chief of the Ancient and animistic religious practic- (http://www.typesofreligion.co Druid Order, which became es. Some modern forms of Pa- m/paganism.html) known as the British Circle of ganism have their roots in the the Universal Bond. 19th century, e.g., the British The following three items, taken Order of Druids, but most con- together, provide a comprehen- By the 19th Century a new out- temporary Pagan groups trace sive overview of the basic be- look was evident as people their immediate roots to the liefs. searched for the fundamental 1960s and have an emphasis on principles of religion by looking a spiritual interest in nature. Although principles vary from at the of different places one pagan religion to another, and times. Paganism today is a movement most pagan religions follow the that consists of many different same general set of principles in Across Europe people were re- perspectives. Most American some form. “The most basic ten- discovering their indigenous pagan religions have practices ant of paganism is that it is your cultures. In northern Europe that blend different traditions own responsibility, not the re- there was a growing interest in such as Celtic, Greco-Roman, sponsibility of any government, Saxon and Norse traditions. In Native American, ancient Egyp- institution, church or other peo- England, William Morris trans- tian and Norse. Pagan traditions ple to choose what you believe lated the Icelandic sagas and draw from ancient beliefs as in regards to spirituality, values, Cecil Sharp collected village well as from modern beliefs ethics, the nature of Divinity, dances and songs. formed in the last century. For etc.” “The development of your example, Paganism found an personal beliefs, morals and eth-

Issue No. 55 October 2020 Page 9 Reach

ics is your own responsibility .... ganism.” Source: “What are ity in all things are goals to it is the responsibility of each some of the basic principles of strive for. Thus a healthy skepti- individual to learn to recognize paganism?” (http://exotic- cism is to be fostered, and ideas what is right from wrong, re- pets.yoexpert.com/exotic-pets- are not to be accepted without gardless of our early environ- general/what-are-some-of-the- personal investigation of their ment.” “Most pagan religions basic-principles-of-paganism- validity. -- All are per- believe that everything in the 2192.html) sonal emanations of the Divine. universe is sacred, but the defi- Source: Modern Paganism nition and level of sacredness What Contemporary Pagans (http://www.paganlibrary.com/i applied to an object will gener- Believe ntroductory/modern_paganism. ally vary from one pagan to an- “The central beliefs of modern php) other. For some pagans, all parts Pagans differ in specifics yet of our universe are considered share many fundamentals. Deity The three principles of the Pa- divine and, as such, sacred and is seen as immanent rather than gan Federation worthy of our deepest respect.” transcendent. is pre- The principles are intended “to “In all pagan religions, it is up ferred over doctrine. It is be- provide a general outline of to the individual to determine lieved that there are and should some key mainstream Pagan what Deity means to them, who be multiple paths to the Di- attitudes and beliefs concerned or what Deity is right for them vine....While there is no set of with how we relate to the Earth, and how they ultimately devel- beliefs shared by all Pagans, how we relate to others, and op their relationship with their most would agree that similari- how we relate to the divine.” -- chosen Deity. Pagans have ties far outweigh differences. Love for and Kinship with Na- many different ideas about what There are a number of beliefs ture.... This principle recognized encompasses Deity and how held by the vast majority of that “human beings are part of their Deity is represented. It is modern Pagans.” For example: nature and that our lives are in- up to the individual, through -- Multiple paths to the divine timately interwoven with the study of their religion, medita- exist as symbolized by many web of life and death.” -- A posi- tion and, in some cases prayer, goddesses and gods. These are tive morality “in which the indi- to determine what image of Dei- often seen as archetypes or gate- vidual is responsible for the dis- ty is right for them.” Many tra- ways to the unconscious. -- Re- covery and development of their ditional pagans “believe that spect and love Mother Earth es- true nature in harmony with the extends far be- sentially as a living being.... -- outer world and community. yond the restraints of human The physical world, as an ema- This is often expressed as ‘Do form and physical . All nation of the divine, is good and what you will, as long as it life forms contain some level of to be enjoyed by all living be- harms none.’” -- Recognition of consciousness, from the smallest ings in love and harmony. -- the Divine, which transcends insect to the giant redwood Ethics and morality are based gender, acknowledging both the trees....consciousness survives on avoidance of harm to other female and male aspect of Deity. death and exists simultaneously beings, including Earth as a Source: The Pagan Federation on multiple levels of .” whole, which mandates envi- (http://www.paganfed.org/abou “Since the term paganism is ronmental activism as a spiritual t-princ.shtml) (Note: The Pagan something of an ‘umbrella’ responsibility. -- Human inter- Federation International in- term, used to cover a wide dependence implies the need for cludes members from the Unit- range of spiritual paths, it community cooperation. -- A ed States and across the world.) would be virtually impossible to strong commitment to personal provide a detailed and compre- and planetary growth, evolu- hensive list of principles that tion, and balance are vital. -- apply to all pagan religions. For One's lifestyle must be con- the most part however, these sistent with one's beliefs. -- A

very basic principles can be minimum of dogma and a maxi- found in almost all forms of pa- mum of individual responsibil- Page 10 October 2020 Issue No. 55 Reach 2. Feature Articles B. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

he following excerpt are drawn from some of the conversations and interactions that Sri Ra- makrishna had with his devotees. In this context, Sri Ramakrishna’s salient message and teaching are about cultivating love and devotion to God.

TMere reading of the scriptures is is relieved of all anxiety. Mere ciple Rakhal. M. (also known as not enough reading of the scriptures is not ) entered enough. A person cannot under- and saluted the Master. Rakhal Saturday, April 7, 1883 stand the true significance of the was also in the room, and About four 0’clock in the after- scriptures if he is attached to the Kishori, Manilal Mallick, and noon some members of the world. several other devotees gathered Brāhmo Samāj arrived. The Mas- by and by. Though with intense delight I ter began to converse with them. learned many poems and dramas, Manilal Mallick, a business man, A Brāhmo: “Sir, have you read had recently been to Benares, I have forgotten them all, entrapped the Panchadási?” where he owned a bungalow. in Krishna’s love Master: “At first one should hear Master: “So you have been to Be- “Keshab enjoys the world and books like that and indulge in nares. Did you see any holy men practises yoga as well. Living in reasoning. But later on – there?” the world, he directs his mind to Cherish my precious Mother Śyāmā God.” Manilal: “Yes, sir. I paid my re- Tenderly within, O mind; spects to Swami, A devotee described the Convo- Bhaskarananda, and others. May you and I alone behold Her, cation of Calcutta University, saying that the meeting looked Master: “Tell us something about Letting no one else intrude like a forest of human heads. them.” “One should hear the scriptures Master: “The feeling of the Di- Manilal: “Trailanga Swami is liv- during the early stages of spiritu- vine is awakened in me when I ing in the same temple where he al discipline. After attaining God see a great crowd of people. Had lived before – on the Manikarnā there is no lack of . I seen that meeting, I should have Ghāt, near the Benimādhav Min- Then the Divine Mother supplies been overwhelmed with spiritual aret. People said he was formerly it without fail. A child spells out fervour.” in a more exalted spiritual state. every word as he writes, but later He could perform many mira- on he writes fluently. The gold- cles. Now he has lost much of smith is up and doing while Fully awakened are be- that power.” melting gold. As long as the gold yond and vice hasn’t melted, he works the bel- Master: “That is the criticism of Sunday, April 8, 1883 lows with one hand, moves the worldly people.” fan with the other, and blows It was Sunday morning. The Manilal: Trailanga Swami keeps through a pipe with his mouth. Master, looking like a boy, was a strict vow of silence. Unlike But the moment the gold melts seated in his room, and near him him, Bhaskarananda is friendly and is poured into the mould, he was another boy, his beloved dis-

Issue No. 55 October 2020 Page 11 Reach

not the doers of their actions, but milk?’ ‘Brother’, replied the holy mere servants of God. They al- man in a low voice, ‘He who beat ways feel: ‘I am the machine and me is now giving me milk.’ He is the Operator. I do as he “But one does not attain such a does through me. I speak as He state of mind without the realiza- speaks through me. I move as He tion of God.” moves in me.” Manilal: “Sir, what you have just “Fully awakened souls are be- said applies to a man of a very yond virtue and vice. They real- lofty spiritual state. I talked on ise that it is God who does every- such topics in a general way with thing. Bhaskarananda.” “There was a monastery in a cer- Master: “Does he live in a tain place. The monks residing house?” with all.” there went out daily to beg their Manilal: “Yes, sir. He lives with a Master: Did you have any con- food. One day a monk, while out devotee.” versation with Bhaskarananda?” for his alms, saw a landlord beat- ing a man mercilessly. The com- Master: “How old is he now?” Manilal: “Yes, sir. We had a long passionate monk stepped in and talk. Among other things we dis- Manilal: “About fifty-five.” asked the landlord to stop. But cussed the problem of good and the landlord was filled with an- Master: “Did you talk about any- evil. He said to me, ‘Don’t follow ger and turned his wrath against thing else?” the path of evil. Give up sinful the innocent monk. He beat the Manilal: “I asked him how to cul- thoughts. That is how God wants monk till he fell unconscious on tivate bhakti. He said, ‘Chant the us to act. Perform only those du- the ground. Someone reported name of God. Repeat the name of ties that are virtuous.’ ” the matter to the monastery. The Rāma.’ ” Master: “Yes, that is also a path, monks ran to the spot and found Master: “That is very good.” meant for worldly-minded peo- their brother lying there. Four or ple. But those whose spiritual five of them carried him back and Source: consciousness has been awak- laid him on a bed. He was still The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Vol- ened, who have realised that God unconscious. The other monks ume 1 by Mahendranath Gupta (M), alone is real and all else illusory, sat around him sad at heart; Sri Ramakrishna Math, Myla- cherish a different ideal. They are some were fanning him. Finally pore, Madras, pages 200-205 aware that God alone is the Doer someone suggested that he and others are His instruments. should be given a little milk to Those whose spiritual conscious- drink. When it was poured into ness has been awakened never his mouth he regained conscious- make a false step. They do not ness. He opened his eyes and have to reason in order to shun looked around. One of the monks evil. They are so full of love of said, ‘Let us see whether he is God that whatever action they fully conscious and can recognise undertake is a good action. They us.’ Shouting into his ear, he said, are fully conscious that they are ‘Revered sir, who is giving you

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