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. I hope and pray you are all keeping well. May Sri Sri Thakur, Sri Sri Ma and Swamiji bless you all! With best wishes, In Mother, (Swami Smaranananda) Pravrajika Virajaprana 2 Memories of Swami Prabuddhananda SWAMI HARSHANANDA, BANGALORE Down the Memory Lane (My Personal reminiscences about Revered Prabuddhanandaji Maharaj) Three happy things had happened in my life in quick succession. I had completed 60 years in this sacred Monastic Order, 25 years as the Head of this Math and 52 years after Sannyasa. Naturally elated – but in all humility – I had sought the blessings of Revered Swami Prabuddhanandaji Maharaj. That was 30th June 2014. But instead of getting his blessings I got the shocking news of his Mahasamadhi. When the shock subsided, my mind went down the memory lane starting with May 1948. It was during this period of May –June 1948 that I came to know Raghunandan (Pre-monastic name of Swami Prabuddhanandaji). Gradually over the next few years our acquaintance increased to loving friendship, especially after our initiation together from Most Revered Virajanandaji Maharaj. Since he had been permitted to stay in the Ashrama itself by Revered Tyagishanandaji instead of the hostel building, our personal meetings and exchange of views became more frequent. When Revered Yatiswaranandaji came to Bangalore and stayed for a few days (during January 1951) both of us had a long interview with him about our desire to join the monastic Order. He gave us quite a few spiritual instructions that helped us greatly. Since Raghunandan had completed the 2 year degree course in June 1951 itself, he could join immediately after the examination. Being a student of a four year degree course (Engineering), my joining was delayed by two years! When I actually joined he was naturally happy. 3 Memories of Swami Prabuddhananda After doing puja for a couple of months I was shifted to the office building, the new portfolio being the book sales section, the library, marketing as also the Balaka sangha. Now began a more intimate and a fairly long period of association (4 1/2years) since we lived in the same room. Apart from sharing the marketing and other works, thrice a week, we also shared the internal work of cleaning the rooms and bathrooms. Coming from a rain infested and forest area he often fell ill by malaria. And, I am a permanent patient of gastric ulcer! As a result we often fell ill – not simultaneously but alternatively! – giving an opportunity for mutual service. I am very grateful to him for the loving care he bestowed on me (including washing my clothes) during that period. Since both of us were inclined towards a serious spiritual life, we had made a private agreement between ourselves. On one of the week days – say Wednesday – he will take half holiday from the work. I would take care of his work on that day. Similarly, I would have a half day for myself, on another day he then taking care of my work. We would spend this time in more meditation and study. Unlike some of the other brahmacharins he never quarrelled with others or even exchanged hot words. He was always cool by his very temperament, which even Revered Yatiswaranandaji appreciated. Being a student of Sanskrit in his High School and college days, he was interested in reading the Ramayana of Valmiki. He used to go through a few pages everyday in the night before going to bed. 4 Memories of Swami Prabuddhananda One night I was suddenly awakened from sleep – may be at 11pm – by somebody shouting in joy. It was Raghunandan because he had just completed the reading of the Ramayana! Once I had been downcast due to a misunderstanding with a senior brother. As soon as he sensed it he comforted me, putting the other side of the story, like Solomon of the olden days, to restore my balance. On ekadasi days he used to do nirjalopavasa (complete fasting without even taking water as Swami Vivekananda used to do). This was perhaps due to his family background. (He was a madhwa brahmana, who are the followers of the dvaita school of Vedanta of Madhvacharya) Another interesting thing that comes to my mind is the way we were “cleaning” and tidying up Revered Yatiswaranandaji’s room before he returned from long tours. While cleaning the shelves in which he used to keep some tins containing biscuits and some dried eatables we would ‘decide’, after ‘mutual consultation’ that some of them were ‘not in a good condition’ and hence helped ourselves with them, in order ‘to help him’! After I was transferred to the Mangalore centre we did not have much contact. When he was appointed as the President of the Bangalore Ashrama after the demise of Revered Yatiswaranandaji, I had sent a congratulatory letter. He had replied in all humility that it was due to the grace of Sri Ramakrishna. During his four year tenure he had established a good contact with the students of colleges as also of the Indian Institute of Science. When he was transferred to USA and came to Belur Math before leaving, I was there as an Acharya at the Training Centre. Hence I could meet him. 5 Memories of Swami Prabuddhananda When he was in America, we occasionally exchanged letters. Quite a few times he had helped us financially for some of our projects. During one of his visits to Bangalore, he came to Mysore – the RIMSE, a B.Ed College and a Retreat Centre – and addressed our students and teachers. At that time, his health was quite good. Even today I continue to remember the old good and sweet days. His quiet and dignified bearing had endeared him to all of us, especially the devotees who were members of the Balaka sangha or had worked as Volunteers especially during the Centenary of Swamiji (1963-64). There is no doubt that his demise has left a chasm in the history of this Bangalore Ashrama. 6 Memories of Swami Prabuddhananda SWAMI GAUTAMANANDAJI, CHENNAI Reminiscences of Swami Prabuddhanandaji Maharaj In 1954, I first saw Swami Yatiswaranandaji, the Head of Ramakrishna Math, Bengaluru. His magnetic and spiritual personality drew me to himself and gave me permanent solutions for my existential problems. As I became familiar to him, he gave me permission to stay in the Ashrama overnights, i.e, from Saturday night to Sunday evening of every week. It was during these two days of the week, over a period of two and a half years, from 1954 (probably April) to 1956 (November) that I used to meet Swami Prabuddhanandaji as Br. Raghunandan Maharaj of the Ashrama. Perhaps he was looking after the kitchen also along with his other duties, because, one day, I went late to breakfast which was perhaps at 7:15 am, as it is now. He very politely, with a smile on his lips, told me, 'Brother, come at the right time for the breakfast. It is a different matter when you join here as a brahmachari!' Needless to say, I never repeated the mistake again. There was an expectation from the Brahmacharins of the Ashrama that I would join as a Brahmachari. I was also trying to but various factors were delaying my joining. One day, Br. Raghunandan Maharaj personally spoke to me and said, "Srinivas, you have also to do something to join. Only depending on Sri Ramakrishna's grace won't do." That quickened my efforts to an extent. Swami Yatiswaranandaji often remarked, 'Raghunandan is very balanced. i.e, he exerted to serve Sri Ramakrishna physically, intellectually and through worship.' He was very appreciative of his good physique. I may add here that Swami Yatiswaranandaji would ask many of us youngsters also to build up a good physique. 7 Memories of Swami Prabuddhananda He would sometimes feel our shoulder and arm muscles and say, 'Don't you feel weak with so little muscles?' I was undergoing a post-graduate training course of technical officers.