Vedanta News S e p t e m b e r — November, 2018 Issued by the President of the Sarada Vedanta Society of NSW Identity & the Self

Identity & the Self There is no help for you The purpose of all the major religious tradi- outside of yourself; you are the tions is not to construct big temples on the creator of the universe. Like the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts. silkworm you have built a cocoon –Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama around yourself. This self is but the shadow Be of that real Self which is behind.

Swami Vivekananda M ARK T WAIN Contents Everything that irritates us about oth- 2—3 News: In Brief, Obituary, Kerala Floods ers can lead us to an understanding of our- Appeal selves.-Carl Jung 3 Vedanta Memoirs: Nandu & Lalita Mehta An evil is a potential vitality in need of 4 Report: Vedanta Q&A Overcoming transformation. –Sheldon B.Kopp, Anger (If you meet the Buddha on the road kill Him!) 4—5 Coming Events T HE trouble with most of us is that we would ra- ther be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. 6 Wisdom of the Gita: Echoes of –Norman Vincent Peale Modern Science 7 Deepavali: Article by Pravrajika It is better to be hated for what you are Ajayaprana than to be loved for what you are not. — A n d r e G i d e 8 Vedanta Answers: Q & A with Swami Smarananda, — From: 1001 Pearls of Life-Changing Wisdom Insights on Identi- New Find? ty, Truth, and Success. Compiled by Elizabeth Venstra

Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of NSW www.saradavedanta.org PH: 61 2 9745 4320 Email: [email protected] Vedanta Hall, 15 Liverpool Road, Croydon NSW 2132 P.O Box 817, Strathfield NSW 2135 www.facebook.com/VedantaSocietyofNSW Vedanta News Donation: $25.00– 2 years 8 issues Payable to: RSV SOCIETY OF NSW

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Obituary

Prof.Raja Jayaraman: In Brief Long-time supporter and keen participator in our activities passed away on Thursday 31 May, 2018, after a prolonged and brave battle with cancer. We will miss his well- informed, enthusiastic and jolly contributions to our dis- cussions and panels.

New Class Pravrajika Nityatmaprana is lead- ing a weekly reading and discussion class for ladies at the Sarada Tapovan Nunnery. Held on Wednesdays from 11.00am to 12 noon, focus for the class is the book: Sri Sarada De- vi Her Divine Play, a comprehensive biog- raphy by Swami Chetanananda. All ladies are welcome to join. Enquiries: 0408 029 336 Religions for Peace Pravrajika Gayatriprana was on a panel of speakers with the theme Mysti- cism in my Religion at the Religions for Peace meeting held in NSW Parliament House on August 20. Leading representa- Kerala Floods tives from the Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Indigenous traditions also Report & Appeal spoke. Following the worst floods in over a century with hun- Vedanta Hall dreds dead and millions homeless, relief and rehabilita- Renovations commenced at the Socie- tion work on a massive scale is underway in Kerala. ty’s historic building, over 100 years old The Ramakrishna Movement has leapt into action in and rich in heritage values. The roof has been strengthened in the lead-up to retil- many parts of the state. ing, sarking, new insulation and some re- Rev.Pravrajika Ajayaprana, Vice-President, Sri Sarada pairs. Disabled access will be installed Math & Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, has announced that along with other improvements. Finally, the Sarada Math Centres in Kerala “are in a safe condition” the building will be repainted inside and and “have plans for starting Relief and Rehabilitation out. The work is expected to take at least work” and requests all Sarada Math Centres and “the dev- 6 months. otees and well-wishers to generously contribute for the Management Committee Relief work.” After more than 20 years of service, Requesting your help. Donations can be made direct to Betty Yeoh decided to retire from the the Society’s account. We’ll issue a receipt and the funds Management Committee finishing up in collected along with a list of the donor’s names and August. The Committee thanked her for all amounts given will be forwarded to Sri Sarada Math’s, the time and support and in any case, Bet- Thrissur Centre in Kerala. ty will continue to be a very active mem- To donate : ber. A warm welcome to Ami Trivedi who joins the Committee after being elected at BSB: 032 279 Account No: 760387 the Annual General Meeting on 26 Au- Account Name: Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society gust. of NSW. FOR: Kerala Flood Relief (Give your name too).

PAGE 3 Vedanta Memoirs With Nandu & Lalita Mehta When Nandu Mehta emerged into the world he was already surrounded by the peaceful and vibrant per- sonalities and activities of the Ramakrishna Move- ment. His parents were among the closest devotees of the Ramakrishna Movement in Mumbai. The young Nandu spent many a weekend at the Mumbai Ash- rama with its library, hospital and temple and lecture hall, bustling with householders and monastics. “I was baptised and steeped into the Movement from childhood,” Nandu observed, during the annual Vedanta Memoirs session, a feature of our Guru Purn- ima Celebration held on Sunday, July 29, at Vedanta Initiation day for Nandu Mehta’s father (back row, Hall. Nandu’s father was initiated by Swami , second from left with cap), 30 December, 1926, by disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Shivananda. When she married into the Mehta family, his wife Lalita also entered into the Ramakrishna Movement world. Both received initiation from Swami Vireswa- rananda, a legendary monk of the Ramakrishna Or- der, President for over 20 years and disciple of Holy Mother. The initiation was fittingly held in the small temple of Holy Mother at the Mumbai ashrama, one of only two temples (the other being at Jayramabati, birth- place of Holy Mother) “wherein Holy Mother is wor- shipped in an idol.” Swami , direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna had even installed some The ‘Universal Temple’ at the relics of the Holy Mother there in 1934. in Mumbai and the statue of Holy Mother. The Mehta family had a long association with another legendary monk of the and former President, Swa- mi , well-known to many of us from his annual visits to Australia during his world lecture tours in the 1970s and 80s. Both also shared many happy years with Rev.Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji here in Sydney. They fondly recalled the weekends that Mataji stayed with them when the nunnery was being relocated to the current building in Burwood Heights. It was a special opportunity to discuss spiritual matters with her including the following bits of wisdom. Wise advice—Rev.Pravrajika Ajayaprana Vice-President, Sri Sarada Math & Rmakrishna Sarada Mission • Series of dots: Failure to do continuous remembrance [of God] or japa is not an unforgivable omission. When you see a series of dotted lines from a distance, they ap- pear not as dots but connected, just like a dot matrix printout. • Camera: There may be undesirable things around us, but we don’t have to register them in our mind. Be like a camera that is being moved around, but until you click the button, no impression is recorded on the film. • Don’t let maya fool you: Just as when you are driving on a hot day, and in the distance you can see a mirage or illusion of water, you tell yourself not to be fooled by it and that what you are seeing is not true. Similarly keep a look out for the other illusions of maya.

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And anger’s a particularly ‘Through the senses, anger sneaky creature. Vedanta Q&A comes, and sorrow comes.’ Overcoming Anger – ‘Control your anger, it’s only one letter away from danger. – Anonymous ‘It is wise to direct your anger towards problems –not Like the archetypal Hero’s jour- people.’ ney the spiritual path is full of tri- -William Arthur Ward umphs and set-backs, of deep mean- ing and consequences. ‘To be angry with the right On this spiritual journey, armed person, and to the right with the weapons of determination, degree, and at the right time, self-control and wisdom, we’re chal- and for the right purpose and lenged by three persistent foes: an- in the right way…is not easy’ ger, greed and lust that block our - Aristotle path to realizing our destiny. These villains can’t be slain or forcefully to correct some driven away like a wild pack of dogs. injustice or bad behaviour? Yes, There’re a vital part of what makes but more with a show of anger, us human, remaining with us until with self-control, not with ha- we’ve become divine. We need to tred and only if it will lead to tame and train them; transform some beneficial results. But it’s them from circling, snarling, schem- tricky territory. The word is ing threats to obedient companions, more powerful than the sword, working with us instead of against psychological damage can be us. caused.

events September—November 2018

Sunday 16 September 9.30am—4.00pm Meditation Day 1-Day Retreat in Vedanta Hall Program: Relaxation & Breathing Exercises, Guided & Silent Meditation, Overview of Meditation, Group Discussion and Q & A, Inspirational Readings, Walking Medita- tion in “The Labyrinth”; Lunch, Morning & Afternoon Tea. Donation for Retreat: $20 Under the guidance of Pravrajikas Gayatriprana & Sridharaprana and yoga teacher Hiroko Yanamoto-Symonds.

Friday, 5 to Monday 8 October Adelaide Visit Pravrajika Gayatriprana has been invited to give some parlour talks and lead a half-day Retreat with the theme: Mind—Your Best Friend or your Worst Enemy. For further details contact Nermalla Koo: 08 8431 6163

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events September—November 2018

Sunday 21st October from 10.30am to 12.30pm Durga Puja Celebration —at Vedanta Hall This year Durga Saptami falls on Tuesday, October 16 and will be celebrated on the following Sunday. Programme: Hari Om Ramakrishna Meditation Chant, Silent Meditation, Talks by Pravrajika Sridharaprana & Balam Lakshmanam and a group chant- ing and flower offering ceremony. Please bring some sweets or savouries for offering.

Sunday 11 November from 10.30am to 12.30pm Kali Puja Celebration —at Vedanta Hall Kali Puja falls on Tuesday, 6 November and will be celebrated the following Sunday. Programme: Hari Om Ramakrishna Meditation Chant, Silent Meditation, Talks by Pravrajika Gayatriprana & Bandana Hore and a group chanting and candlelight offering ceremony. Please bring some sweets or savouries for offering.

Kali, California, Calendars & Christmas DID YOU KNOW?: California is named after the fictional dark-skinned woman warrior called Califia, who was a character in a famous sixteenth- century Spanish novel. Califia is based on the European goddess Koliada (pictured) also dark skinned to symbolize the dark and fiercely cold north- ern winter solstice, when she was worshipped in a festival holiday each year that the Christians subsequently changed to Christmas. Koliada also means “goddess of time,” known in Greek as (Kalanda) and Latin (Calenda) source of the word Calendar. So many ways that the modern world is linked with the ancient, fierce, dark goddess Kali!

Monday 26 November Summer Recess Commences NOTE: There will be several special functions during the Summer Recess (See Below). On most Sundays during the recess all are invited to attend a 1 hour programme with Group Devotional Chants, Daily Readings - Wisdom from around the world & Silent Meditation at Vedanta Hall from 11am to 12noon: • Christmas Eve Celebration – Monday 24 December, 2018 • Holy Mother’s Birthday—Friday, 28 December, 2018 • Kalpatharu Day—Monday 1 January, 2018 • Public Celebration of Holy Mother’s Birthday—Sunday, 6 January, 2019 • Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday—Sunday 27 January, 2019 • Public Celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday—Sunday 3 February, 2019 • Shivaratri Celebration—Sunday, 3 March, 2019 • Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday – Friday, 8 March, 2019 • Public Celebration of Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday—Sunday, 10 March, 2019 See the next issue of Vedanta News for more information.

PAGE 6 VEDANTA NEWS Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita From Swami Ranganathananda ’s classic commentary

Echoes of Modern Science H e r e is a description of the profound and subtle truths of the Atman discovered by the ancient Upanishads whose echoes you will find in modern Quantum and Particle Physics. Katha Upani- shad says (I.ii. 20 –21): ‘The Atman is smaller than an atom and larger than mahat or the cosmos; It is present in the cavity of the heart of all beings as their Self; Its glory is realized by the person who has re- nounced all desires and has gained full control over the mind and sense organs; he or she then becomes free from all sorrow.’ ‘Though sitting, this Atman goes far, though lying, It travels everywhere.’ Professor Fritjof Capra, the author of the Tao of Physics, in his I was sitting by the ocean one late third book Uncommon Wisdom, refers to his conversations with summer afternoon, watching the waves Werner Heisenberg, the great discoverer of the Principle of Un- rolling in and feeling the rhythm of my certainty in Quantum Physics which replaced the strongly-held breathing, when I suddenly became Newtonian causality principle (pp.42-43): aware of my whole environment as be- ‘When I asked Heisenberg about his own thoughts on Eastern ing engaged in a gigantic cosmic dance. Being a physicist, I knew that the sand, Philosophy, he told me to my great surprise not only that he rocks, water and air around me were had been well aware of the parallels between Quantum Physics made of vibrating molecules and atoms, and Eastern thought, but also that his own scientific work had and that these consisted of particles been influenced, at least at the sub-conscious level, by Indian which interacted with one another by Philosophy. creating and destroying other particles. I ‘In 1929, Heisenberg spent some time in India as the guest of knew also that the earth’s atmosphere the celebrated poet Rabindranath Tagore with whom he had was continually bombarded by showers long conversations about science and Indian Philosophy. This of ‘cosmic rays’, particles of high energy undergoing multiple collisions as they introduction to Indian thought brought Heisenberg great com- penetrated the air. All this was familiar to fort, he told me. He began to see that the recognition of relativi- me from my research in high energy ty, interconnectedness, and impermanence as fundamental as- physics, but until that moment I had only pects of physical reality, which had been so difficult for himself experienced it through graphs, diagrams and his fellow physicists, was the very basis of the Indian spir- and mathematical theories. As I sat on itual traditions. “After these conversations with Tagore,” he that beach my former experiences came said, “some of the ideas that had seemed so crazy suddenly to life; I ‘saw’ cascades of energy com- made much more sense. That was a great help for me.”’ ing down from outer space, in which par- ticles were created and destroyed in P.248/9, Vol 1. From the commentary on Verse 72, Chap. 2 rhythmic pulses; I ‘saw’ the atoms of the *From The 3 Volume Set: Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita, elements and those of my body partici- published by and available from Vedanta Book pating in this cosmic dance of energy; I Agency, Hbk, 12.50 per volume. felt its rhythm and I ‘heard’ its sound and at that moment I knew that this was the Join our fortnightly Bhagavad Gita Class/ Dance of Shiva, the Lord of Dancers Discussion Led by PRAVRAJIKA GAYATRIPRANA and focussing worshipped by the Hindus. on the commentary of Swami Ranganathananda, (Books provid- ed to every student). The Swami was a world thinker, traveler and From the Preface, The Tao of Physics, lecturer. by Fritjof Capra, 1975 edition.

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Deepavali By Pravrajika Ajayaprana As we approach India/ Hinduism’s biggest most joyful festival—an article from the Archives

The Fes- and harassed by numerous re- We may get soiled in the quag-

Deepavali! tival of sponsibilities and problems. mire of our day-to-day worldly Lights in India and for Indians all Many go into deep despair, some life and the light within may get over the face of the earth, the Day even into the depths of depres- dimmed slightly, but this annual of Illumination, the Day of the sion. This one day celebration celebration helps us to renew our Dawn of Wisdom, the Day herald- demonstrates that any gloom or efforts till we get established in ing a fresh, bright future for man- doom can be overcome by re- Divine Mother’s peace, purity and kind! From time immemorial light sorting to the attainment of spir- tranquility. has symbolised wisdom, wisdom itual knowledge, a reminder to In Bengal this day is celebrat- in its true essence. us that we need not lose hope. All ed as Ka lī Pu ja, the worship of When Prince Siddhartha had energy is hidden inside us and Divine Energy in the form of his inner awakening he blos- we need only awaken it. Mother Ka lī. Ka lī is time. She is somed and he came face to face The ancient Indian thinkers depicted as dancing – enacting with the Great Truth. It is said he believed that matter is energy in the dance of existence. Actually became the Buddha, the Illu- motion. In the first great utter- Ka lī or Time is not dancing. Ac- mined. ance of humankind recorded in cording to Einstein we pass On this dark night of the dark the beginning of the Rig Veda, through a time tunnel which is fortnight when the whole atmos- the oldest written document of stationary. It is our mind that is phere is steeped in blackness, human literature, man pays hom- moving, that is dancing. So when people in their homes and tem- age to that Primordial Energy we look at time we feel time is ples light little oil lamps, their ti- which gave form to this universe passing by. As we travel by boat ny flames dotting the land chal- of ours. The saying is agnimele all the trees and houses on the lenging the beauty of the stars purohitam – “I salute that great shore on either side look as above, trying to dispel the dull- power which is behind this phe- though they are drifting back- ness and invisibility produced by nomenal universe,” asserting the wards and we are not moving at the darkness around. Darkness fact that this concrete universe all. Same experience when we cannot stand against light; it dis- came from pure energy. Energy travel by train. Vedanta and mod- appears just as ignorance has no is always depicted in a female ern science say that the mind will place when knowledge comes. form. So on this day Hindus wor- get from the world only that According to Sri Ramakrishna, ship the Primordial Energy as which the mind has put into it. If when a lamp is lit in a room which Divine Mother. our hearts are full of love and we was sunk in darkness for a thou- The Divine Energy, the Moth- give that to the world, we will get sand years it does not take a thou- er and Architect of all that is can love in return. If our hearts are sand years for the darkness to be be communed with by every per- full of hatred we feel that we re- eradicated. In a trice it is gone. son in his or her own heart. The ceive hatred from the world. The Swami Vivekananda says, “No ac- day is reminding us that what we world is quality less. It gets the tion can give you freedom; only have to do to receive Her Grace is colouration we give during our knowledge can make you free. only to awaken Her in our heart interaction with the world. Knowledge is irresistible: the through loving remembrance The message of Deepavali is mind cannot take it or reject it. and contemplation simultane- that we all try to give light and When it comes, the mind has to ously with illuminating the world love to the world and we will re- accept it. So it is not a work of the outside through lighting myriad ceive light and love from the mind; but its expression comes lamps. Her Divine Grace which is world. Our life will become joyful through the mind.” already there will become mani- and peaceful. We will feel secure Throughout the year people fest illumining our life in the fu- and free in the lap of Mother Ka lī . live a materialistic life burdened ture. ******

Vedanta News PAGE 8 Vedanta Answers Selections from question and answers sessions between the young and old and Swami Smaranananda—President, and Mis- sion. (From Feb 2017 issue of , a monthly Ramakrishna Order journal) .

QUESTION: Giving a free rein to them will bring misery in its turn. Fix your goal first and then begin training your mind ANSWER: QUESTION:

ANSWER: If you have a goal in life, you can control QUESTION: the mind and train it not to worry too much about dis- eases and other problems in life. Nevertheless you will ANSWER: Morality is living in consonance with have to follow basic health rules. right behaviour, not doing harm to others. QUESTION: r. QUESTION: ANSWER: It depends upon the circumstances. ANSWER: Religious fundamentalism is like a political Discretion should be used. Our purpose is to work party. It has nothing to do with spiritual life. Moral life out a solution, not to create enmity. will not be always possible without QUESTION: To be continued.

ANSWER: Character is more important. We New Find should not do anything to get immediate success. Report in the Sydney Media about Sister Nivedita Our reaction should be beneficial to both the from the National Archives of Australia. parties concerned. QUESTION:

ANSWER: Real education begins at home. Train- ing should begin when the child is impressionable. Parents and society would gain by this, for a socie- ty is great where the highest ideals become practical, as Swamiji said. QUESTION:

ANSWER: Jealousy is negative quality and bene- fits none. Healthy competition without jealousy and hatred lead to peace and understanding QUESTION:

ANSWER: Think with a free peaceful mind. That will lead you to a right judgement QUESTION:

ANSWER: Our mind can go upwards or down- wards depending on various factors. If our ideal is to travel towards the truth, the lower tendencies of the mind will have to be given a higher direction.