Society of Toronto ( Mission) 120 Emmett Ave. Toronto, ON M6M 2E6 CANADA Tel.: 416-240-7262; Email: [email protected] Website: www.vedantatoronto.ca Newsletter October 2020 Words to Inspire “The thing is that one must love God. Through intense love one attains the vision of Him. The attraction of the husband for the chaste wife, the attraction of the child for its mother, the attraction of worldly possessions for the worldly man — when a man can blend these three into one, and direct it all to God, then he gets the vision of God." -----Sri Ramakrishna Worship of Divine Mother

A little more than half of the month of Jyaishtha, B.E. 1280 placed before him. He then uttered the Mantra in her hearing (A.D. May 25, 1873) had elapsed. It was the new-moon day, and then recited the prayer: the holy occasion for the worship of the Phalaharini Devi. “O Lady, O Mother Tripurasundari, who art the controller of It was the day of a special festival at the all powers, open the door to perfection; purify her (the Holy temple. The Master had made special preparations on that Mother’s) body and mind, manifest Thyself in her and be day with a view to worshipping the Mother of the universe. beneficent.” These preparations, however, had not been made in the Afterwards the Master performed the Nyasa of the Mantras temple, but, privately, in his own room at his desire. A in the Holy Mother’s person according to the injunctions of wooden seat painted with Alpana, the pigment of rice the Sastras, and worshipped her with the sixteen articles, as powder, for the Devi to sit on at the time of worship, had been the Devi Herself. He then offered food and put a part of it to placed to the right of the worshipper. The sun had set. The her mouth with his own hand. The Holy Mother lost normal new-moon night veiled in deep darkness had alighted on the consciousness and went into Samadhi. The Master too earth. Hriday, the Master’s nephew, had to perform a special uttering Mantras in the semiconscious state, entered into worship of the Devi in the temple. He had, therefore, helped complete Samadhi. The worshipper in Samadhi became as much as possible in the preparations of the Master’s perfectly identified and united with the Devi in Samadhi. worship and had gone away to the temple. Having finished A long time passed. The second quarter of the night had long the nocturnal service and worship of Radha-Govinda, the passed. The Master, happy only in the Self, now showed a first priest, Dinu, came to help the Master in the preparations. little sign of regaining normal consciousness. Returning to It was 9 p.m. when all the preparations for the mystery- the semiconscious state again, he offered himself to the worship of the Devi were completed. In the meantime, the Devi. He now gave away for ever at the lotus feet of the Devi Master had sent word to the Holy Mother to be present during his all—the results of his Sadhanas, his rosary etc.— along the worship. She came to the room and the Master started with his self, and saluted her uttering the Mantras: the worship. The Master sprinkled consecrated water on the “O Thou, auspiciousness of all auspicious things, O doer of Holy Mother and worshipped her. The articles of worship all actions, O refuge, O three-eyed One, O Thou fair- were purified by the Mantras and all the rites preliminary to complexioned spouse of Siva, O Narayani, I bow down to the worship were finished. The Master beckoned to the Holy Thee, I bow down to Thee.” Mother to sit on the wooden seat decorated with Alpana. The worship was at an end. The Master’s Sadhana reached While witnessing the worship, the Holy Mother had already its culmination with the worship of the Ruler of the universe, entered into a divine semiconscious state. Not clearly the divine Mother in the body of a woman, the embodiment conscious, therefore, of what she was doing, she, like one of spiritual knowledge itself; the god-man attained perfection charmed with Mantras, sat facing north to the right of the in all respects. Master, who was seated with his face to the east. According From "Sri Ramakrishna the Great Master" by Swami to scriptural injunctions the Master sprinkled the Holy Mother repeatedly with the water purified by Mantras from the pitcher

KARMA YOGA ACTIVITIES It is a great opportunity to provide your services to the Vedanta Society of Toronto. Kindly come forward and volunteer time towards maintaining and managing the facilities. If interested in volunteering, kindly contact Abhijit Bhattacharya on 416-569-9401, indicating the Services that you are interested in and days you can be available for volunteering. THANK YOU!!

Akaal Bodhan Akaal Bodhan is the worship of Durga—an incarnation of in his killings. Rama started worshipping Devi Chandika but Devi—in the month of Ashwin, an uncustomary time for the Goddess could not be satisfied by his earnest prayers; commencement of the worship. The story in Krittibas' she did not appear before Rama. Then Bibhishan suggested Ramayan goes somewhat like this. Lord Rama of Ayodhya Rama that the latter should try once again to appease led an army of 'Vanaras' (Monkeys) to wedge a war against Goddess Durga by offering 108 blue lotuses. Summoned by the demon king Ravana who had kidnapped his wife Sita Rama, Hanuman flew to Debidaha, the only place where and had held her captive in his palace in Lanka. In the midst one could find blue lotuses, and brought back 108 lotuses of the war Rama suddenly noticed that Ravana is trying to for his Lord. In halfway of his puja, as Rama was going to please him by singing in praise for him. This made Rama offer the flowers to the Goddess, he found out that there more disheartened because now as Ravana had become a were 107 blue lotuses and not 108. Being the human devotee of Rama, the latter could not kill him. The Gods and incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Rama had to face the tests of Goddesses too become disappointed. All the Gods and mother superior Durga. To prove his devotion to the Goddesses assembled together and it was decided in the Goddess Durga and his intense love for his wife Sita, Rama meeting that Goddess Saraswati should reside on the promptly took his bow and arrow ready to pick one of his tongue of Ravana, making him say foul words to Rama. As eyes - as all know he was born with lotus eyes and everyone this was done, soon a shaft of words from Ravana's mouth regarded them as blue lotus eyes. His decision to pluck his pierced Rama's ears and he at once took up arms against beautiful blue eyes as a substitute for the 108th blue lotus the demon king. The war started again and Ravana was made Devi Chandika or Durga appear in full form before him slain into two halves by Rama. But to everyone's surprise, a and stopped him from doing so. Devi Durga granted the boon from Brahma revived Ravana and he worshipped Devi boon to Rama that she would leave the side of Ravana so Ambika to support him in his battle against Rama. Devi that he could kill the demon and rescue Sita. Rama had Ambika joined him and sat with him in his chariot. This made started the puja on the 6th day (Shashthi) of Ashwin and the Rama poignant even more for he now knew it was quite Goddess appeared before him on the 8th day(Astami). At impossible for him to kill the demon and rescue Sita. Seeing the meeting point between the day of astami(8th) and this, all the Gods and Goddesses now approached to Lord navami(9th) she entered into Ram's weapons and gave Vishnu who suggested that Rama had to pray for the them required strength to kill Ravana. Ravana was killed on blessings of Goddess Devi Chandika or Goddess Durga, the day of Dasami. mother of all, so that she would help him and take no offense

Reminiscences of Holy Mother – by Swami Shantananda From "The Gospel of Holy Mother" I asked the Holy Mother, "How shall I lead a spiritual life, Mother?" She said, "Spend your days as you are doing now. Pray to Him earnestly and remember Him always." Disciple: Mother, the fact that even great men become degraded frightens me terribly. Mother: When a person has enjoyable things all around him, their influence naturally affects him. My son, don't look at a woman, even if it be only a figure made of wood. Avoid the company of women. Disciple: Men can't do anything on their own. It is He who is making them do all that they do. Mother: True it is that He is causing men to do everything. But do they have that understanding? Being filled with egotism, they think they are the doers of everything and that they don't have to depend upon God. Those who rely on Him are protected by Him from all dangers. A man's mind runs after bad things. If he wants to act virtuously, the mind fails to co- operate. In earlier days I used to leave my bed daily at three o'clock in the morning to meditate. One day I felt unwell and out of laziness dispensed with the meditation. Because of this my meditation was stopped for a few days. Therefore, if one wants to achieve something noble, he must be sincerely arduous and seized with a firm resolve. When I used to stay in the Nahabat, on moonlit nights I would look at the reflection of the moon in the still waters of the Ganges and, weeping, pray to God, 'There are stains even on the moon, but let my mind be absolutely stainless.' During my stay there the Master forbade even Ramlal to see me, although he was a nephew. Now-a-days I talk with all and come out in the presence of others. You are a Calcutta boy. Had you so desired, you could have married and led a householder's life. Since you have renounced everything, why should you give your mind to it again? Should one again take in the spittle that has been once spat out?" Disciple: Is it good for a monk to go to places of pilgrimage? Mother: If one's mind is at rest in a particular place, then what need is there to go to places of pilgrimage? Disciple: Mother, I don't have time even for meditation. Kindly make my Kundalini awaken. Mother: It will certainly awaken. A little Japa and meditation will awaken it. Does it wake up on its own? Do Japa and meditation. The practice of meditation will lead your mind to such one-pointedness that you won't like to give up meditation. But when you do not achieve such concentration of mind, don't force yourself to meditation. On such occasions finish your spiritual practice by simply saluting the Lord. The day on which you have the right mood, you will have meditation spontaneously. The world is a song in God’s mind. It is a poem in the seer’s eyes. It is Brahman at play—thus say the wise.

Advice to Householders From "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna" Thursday, August 24, 1882 The Master continued: "One must propitiate the Divine Mother, the Primal Energy, in order to obtain God's grace. MASTER: "It is through God's grace that you understand that. God Himself is Mahamaya, who deludes the world with Her The doubts of the mind will not disappear without His grace. illusion and conjures up the magic of creation, preservation, Doubts do not disappear without Self-realization. and destruction. She has spread this veil of ignorance before "But one need not fear anything if one has received the grace our eyes. We can go into the inner chamber only when She of God. It is rather easy for a child to stumble if he holds his lets us pass through the door. Living outside, we see only father's hand; but there can be no such fear if the father holds outer objects, but not that Eternal Being, Existence- the child's hand. A man does not have to suffer any more if Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. Therefore, it is stated in the God, in His grace, removes his doubts and reveals Himself to Purana that deities like Brahma praised Mahamaya for the him. But this grace descends upon him only after he has destruction of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. Sakti alone prayed to God with intense yearning of heart and practised is the root of the universe. That Primal Energy has two spiritual discipline. The mother feels compassion for her child aspects: vidya and avidya. Avidya deludes. Avidya conjures when she sees him running about breathlessly. She has been up 'woman and gold', which casts the spell. Vidya begets hiding herself; now she appears before the child." devotion, kindness, wisdom, and love, which lead one to God. "But why should God make us run about?" thought M. This avidya must be propitiated, and that is the purpose of the Immediately Sri Ramakrishna said: "It is His will that we rites of Sakti worship. (In this worship a woman is regarded as should run about a little. Then it is great fun. God has created the representation of the Divine Mother). The devotee the world in play, as it were. This is called Mahamaya, the assumes various attitudes toward Sakti in order to propitiate Great Illusion. Therefore, one must take refuge in the Divine Her: the attitude of a handmaid, a 'hero', or a child. The Mother, the Cosmic Power Itself. It is She who has bound us worship of Sakti is extremely difficult. It is no joke. I passed with the shackles of illusion. The realization of God is possible two years as the handmaid and companion of the Divine only when those shackles are severed." Mother. But my natural attitude has always been that of a child toward its mother. Women are, all of them, the veritable images of Sakti.

THE LIVING GOD (Written to an American friend from Almora, 9th July 1897.)

He who is in you and outside you, Who works through all hands, Who walks on all feet, Whose body are all ye, Him worship, and break all other idols!

He who is at once the high and low, The sinner and the saint, Both God and worm, Him worship — visible, knowable, real, omnipresent, Break all other idols!

In whom is neither past life Nor future birth nor death, In whom we always have been And always shall be one, Him worship. Break all other idols!

Ye fools! who neglect the living God, And His infinite reflections with which the world is full. While ye run after imaginary shadows, That lead alone to fights and quarrels, Him worship, the only visible! Break all other idols! ……..…………………..

Reminiscences of Swami Vivekananda by Swami

Sri Ramakrishna did not allow everybody to practice the Although they were householders, I stressed the ideal of nondual aspect of meditation. What good is it to proclaim that renunciation and dispassion. After they left, Swamiji said to you are one with the Absolute unless the universe has me: "Brother Hari, do you think everybody is like you? Can vanished from your consciousness? Sri Ramakrishna used to everyone let the Divine Mother dwell constantly within the say: "You may say that there is no thorn, but put your hand lotus of his heart? Let these people keep forgetful a little while out — the thorn will prick, and your hand will bleed." But with longer and enjoy life." regard to Swamiji, Sri Ramakrishna said, "If Naren says that Whenever Swamiji used the pronoun "I," he was identified there is no thorn, there is no thorn; and if he puts out his hand with Brahman and used the word from the nondualistic no thorn would prick it, because he has experienced his unity standpoint. Whenever Swamiji used the pronoun "I," he was with Brahman." When Swamiji used to say, "I am He," he said referring the universal Self. When we say "I," we are identified so from his direct perception of the Absolute. His mind was with the little self — with the body, mind, and senses. Hence not identified with his physical self. we should think of ourselves as servants and devotees of the Swamiji said at one time: "As long as you have been born on Lord. The very utterance of the word "I," would take Swamiji this earth, leave an impression on it." At the Baranagore Math beyond body, mind, and senses. This was his normal state of he remarked: "Our names will be recorded in history!" Swami consciousness. But this mood, "I am he," is not possible for Yogananda and some other brother-disciples made fun of us. So we have to say, "Thou and Thou alone," in order that him. Swamiji retorted: "You will see if I am right or not! we may forget the little self and be united with the universal Vedanta is the only religion convincing to all. If you don't listen Self. to me, I will go to the quarter of the untouchables and teach There are some great souls who live in that indivisible, them Vedanta!" changeless Time. To them this whole universe appears In one of his letters Swamiji wrote: "When I go for alms, I give momentary and unreal. Swamiji dwelt in that state much of people something in return." Give and take — that is the the time. But you see, we normally live on this relative plane. motto for a monk. Monks who live only for themselves and Maya is such that though you drive it away, it comes back. don't even practice spiritual disciplines are impostors. We What we have seen in Swamiji! During his last days, when he have seen Swamiji meditate the whole night, then early in the was hardly able to breathe, he would still roar: "Arise! Awake!" morning he would take his bath; and people did not know Swamiji surely has not merged himself in eternal union with anything about his austerities. I never saw Swamiji sitting idly; Brahman. He is an ever-free soul. He will be born again and he either studied or conversed on God or meditated. again to do the work of the Lord. Ah, what a wonderful spirit of self-surrender Swamiji had! The Master told Swamiji: "Whenever you begin to sing, the When he was seriously ill at Rishikesh and we, his brother- Mother wakes up and listens to your song." disciples, were watching over him, sad at heart, he said: Swamiji was not only a knower of Brahman but he was a great "Mother, if it is your will, let me die." yogi. His spiritual powers were obtained through yoga. Was "A doer of good never comes to grief." The spiritual struggles anyone more perfect than he in meditation? that you undergo are never in vain. Even if you do not attain Swamiji at one time told me: "Live the ideal life. The Divine the highest in this life, you carry your spiritual gain with you Mother has shown me that by doing so you will accomplish a to the next life. Don't you see that there are people who from hundred times more good than I." I didn't believe it. But then childhood are devoted to God and live without worldly in all seriousness I plunged into the Lord's work and the work cravings? On the other hand, there are some who may be succeeded. If I had not associated with great souls like learned but live like worms in filth. Without the control of lust Swamiji and others, what would I have been but perhaps a nothing can be achieved. Look at Swamiji! What was his wandering monk? I would have had some sort of realization, power? He was free from lust. He lived among beautiful no doubt, but not what I have today. women, yet there was dispassion in his heart." Swamiji gave us a higher ideal than realization for oneself; it While we were in Meerut with Swamiji, a number of devotees is to expand the consciousness until you see yourself in all came to visit us. Swamiji asked me to speak to them. beings, and all beings in yourself.

Letters of Swami Turiyananda The Master told me: "Those who seek nirvana are selfish and small-minded. They are full of fear. Do not fear and live without fear. By Mother's grace everything takes place. Mother likes people to play. Take the game of hide-and-seek. The granny likes to have the children run about and keep the game go on. She may extend her hand to help a child so that he will not be caught by the thief, if She thinks it necessary. Similarly, the Divine Mother is not pleased with those who seek nirvana, for they want to retire from the game. That is why devotees do not seek nirvana. They say, 'O mind, it is not good to become sugar. I want to eat sugar.'" The Master told me many times: "What is there in the scriptures? They are like sheets of paper with a shopping list on them. The list is useful only to check off the items once purchased. When you have done that, the list is thrown away. So you should check your knowledge and your devotion, then consult the scriptures to see whether they agree. It is said, 'When you have the knowledge of the Absolute, the scriptures are worth only a straw.'" The Divine Mother had shown Sri Ramakrishna what was in the scriptures. So, though he was an unlettered person, he was able to lower the pride of the pundits. He used to say, "If you get a tiny ray of light from the Divine Mother, it makes all learning pale into insignificance." Letter written to Bihari Babu- dated August 14, 1915.

UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Events Date & Time Durga Puja Celebration* October 24 *This year puja will be celebrated only one day. Puja at 11 am (Online only) Visit for darshan of the Image of Mother Durga: 12 to 3 pm

REGULAR PROGRAMMES

SCRIPTURE CLASS: Friday Scripture Classes begin DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK: Daily Bread Food Bank at 7:30 pm, following the regular evening prayer at 6:00 has actively started. We would like to encourage people pm. The class, held at the centre, is open to all interested to donate. persons. For details, please see the ‘Calendar of Events’ on the next page. INTERVIEWS/INSTRUCTION: Swami Kripamayananda will be happy to give Interviews VIGIL: A vigil consisting of japa and meditation will be to those interested in knowing more about Vedanta and observed, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, for date kindly see meditation. Individual interviews are also given for ‘Calendar of Events’, on next page. To participate, please Spiritual instructions. Appointments for interviews should call the centre @416-240-7262. be made in advance with the Swami at 416-240-7262. RAM NAM: For the date and time of the monthly DAILY MEDITATION: Meditation is done at the Centre Ramnam, please see the ‘Calendar of Events’ on the every morning from 6:00 am to 7:00 am. Devotional next page. singing and meditation time in the evenings is from 6:00 BOOK STORE: The Book Store has re-opened and pm to 7:30 pm. books are available for purchase. SOUP KITCHEN: Soup Kitchen has now started at the Vedanta Society, please see the ‘Calendar of Events’ on the next page for details.

The Guru and the Disciple Gopaler Ma (Nirvana, July 2008) Sri Ramakrishna used to praise Gopaler-Ma for her devotion. Once, pointing to her, he said to those present in his room, "Ah! There is nothing inside this body but God. He fills it through and through." On another occasion he commented, "During ’s incarnation she was a fruit-seller of Vrindavan and she would feed Gopala the sweet fruits." One day some milk pudding specially prepared by devotees was brought to the Master. But he had asked for the pudding from market since it used to be thinner and easier to digest. He could not eat the milk pudding, so he gave it to the Holy Mother and instructed her to give it to Gopaler-Ma. He said, "It is a thing given by the devotees. Gopala is there in her heart and her taking it will be the same as my doing so." We see from this episode that the Master saw no difference between himself and Gopaler-Ma. Sri Ramakrishna used to receive sweets, fruits and rock candy from various people, but could not eat all of it, since the food might not be offered with the pure intention of receiving devotion. Instead such people wished worldly prosperity. Consequently, Sri Ramakrishna would give these things to Gopaler-Ma and Swami Vivekananda, because he knew that the minds of these great souls were in such a high realm that they could never be affected by eating such food. An interesting incident depicts the relationship between the Guru and the disciple. During the Car Festival of Lord in 1885, Sri Ramakrishna went to Balaram Basu’s house in Calcutta. Many devotes were assembled there, and to them the Master spoke highly of the God-intoxicated state and the visions of Gopaler-Ma. Then he asked Balaram to send for Gopaler-Ma. Suddenly, in Samadhi, his body assumed the posture of Gopala, crawling on both the knees, one hand resting on ground, his face showing the eagerness of expecting the arrival of someone. Seeing that divine sight, the devotees were amazed. Exactly at that time Gopaler-Ma entered. Looking at Sri Ramakrishna, she said, "My Gopala should laugh and play, walk and run. But what is this? I don’t like to see this sort of Gopala". Though Sri Ramakrishna treated her as his mother, he also kept a vigilant eye on all her activities. Once he showed his displeasure when Gopaler-Ma had accepted a packet of gifts from Balaram’s family members. He forgave her only when she expressed repentance. Because Gopaler-Ma was a very highly advanced soul, she received correspondingly advanced teachings from Sri Ramakrishna. One day the Master said that Gopaler-Ma had attained so much - visions, devotion, bhavas, the living presence of Gopala - that japa for her own sake was no longer necessary. He then said that she could do japa for ‘this body’, his body, so that it might keep well. The Master once asked her to narrate in detail about her visions to Naren, (later Swami Vivekanada), who was a die-hard rationalist at that time. Nevertheless, after listening to her narration, Naren’s heart was filled with love and devotion, he could not control his tears and assured her, "Yes, Mother, whatever you have seen is all true".

Vedanta Society of Toronto Minister and Teacher- Swami Kripamayananda, Ramakrishna Order of India CALENDAR OF EVENTS October 2020

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 7:30pm 3 Online Scripture class: ‘Vivekachudamani

4 11:00am 5 6 7 8 9 7:30pm 10 Online Lecture: Online Scripture 'Human form of the class: Divine Mother’ ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’

11 11:00am 12 13 14 15 16 7:30pm 17 Online Lecture: Divine Online Scripture 6 am to 6 pm Mother, the Ultimate’ class: ‘Vivekachudamani VIGIL 5:00pm RAMNAM

18 11:00am 19 20 21 22 23 7:30pm 24 11:00am Online Lecture: 'Final Online Scripture Durga Puja: Destination-Mother's lap’ class: Maha Ashtami ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’ (Online only) 25 11:00am 26 27 28 29 30 7:30pm 31 NO LECTURE Online Scripture class: ‘Vivekachudamani

DURGA PUJA 2020 Due to the Covid situation, Vedanta Society of Toronto will be conducting Durga Puja only on "Maha Ashtami" day, which will be telecast online. Vedanta Society will strictly adhere to all norms as prescribed by Toronto Public Health and accordingly decide if devotees will be allowed inside the temple. Devotees are requested to check the website for latest posts.

AN APPEAL FOR DONATION

In these difficult times going through around the world, our attendance has significantly dropped at the Centre and maintenance costs are ongoing, Vedanta Society appeals to the devotees and well-wishers to kindly come forward and donate generously through online means. Our thanks to those few who have responded to our appeal and kindly donated to support the Society.

With the current scenario, devotees and well-wishers can donate online through our website PayPal using Credit cards. Through PayPal you could also setup recurring monthly donations.