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In this Issue: • The Swami and Thomas, Dialogue II • Shanti Ashrama—The Beginning • in Melrose and much more…

Editor-in-chief Swami Bhaskarananda Editors Allen R. Freedman summer 2009 vol. xiv, no. 3 Stafford Smith Editorial Assistant Devra Freedman Production/Design/Artwork Charles Mathias Brahmachari David Kathleen Teague This Issue Scott Wirth 2 The Swami and Thomas, Dialogue II Advertising/Business Assistant Swami Avikarananda 3 The Final Examination—A True Life Story Editorial and Business Offices 4 Shanti Ashrama—The Beginning 2716 Broadway East Seattle, WA 98102-3909 6 Swami Vivekananda in Melrose Phone: 206-323-1228 Fax: 206-329-1791 9 Muscular Vedanta: A Nightmare E-mail: [email protected] Global Vedanta, Issue #53 (ISSN 1089-6902) ©2009 Viveka Press. All rights reserved. Repro- duction of any portion of Global Vedanta without Departments the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. ­The opinions expressed by the contribu- 1 Letters tors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Global 11 In Memoriam Vedanta is published quarterly for us $12.00/year in the U.S.A.; us $14.00/year in Canada & Mexico; 12 Humor—The Spice of Life us $18.00/year in all other countries. 13 Poets’ Corner 14 Vedanta News from Around the World Viveka Press, the publisher of Global Vedanta, is the publishing arm of the of Western 16 Book Review Washington, a non-profit corporation founded in 16 About the Contributors 1941. The Society gratefully accepts tax-deductible contributions and bequests to assist its efforts to publicize various aspects of Vedanta with special Cover: The meditation cabin at Shanti Ashrama. The cabin was constructed emphasis on its teaching of the harmony of all religions. All editorial and pre-press work on Global under the direction of Swami , a disciple of Sri Ra- Vedanta is provided on a voluntary basis. makrishna, in October 1900. Shanti Ashrama, the first retreat of President Swami Bhaskarananda the Vedanta Society of Northern California, is a 160 acre property Board of Directors gifted to the society by Minnie Boock. See article on page 4. Chairman Mr. Stafford Smith Photograph by Pravrajika Dharmaprana. Vice-Chairman Dr. Anadijiban Das Treasurer Dr. Allen R. Freedman Secretary Mr. Charles S. Wirth Directors Swami Avikarananda, Mrs. Rita Das, Mr. John E. Flynn, Swami Manishananda, Mr. Charles Mathias, Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, Br. Pavitrachaitanya, Dr. Usha Sankrithi Emeriti Dr. Santosh Kumar, Dr. Darbari Lal Sharma LETTERS th CORRECTION well-known 19 century monks: monks don’t go near females,” he told Tan- In Global Vedanta, Spring 2009 Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling zan, “especially not young and lovely ones. It Swami Vandanananda’s name was together down a muddy road. A heavy rain is dangerous. Why did you do that?” misspelled in the first letter. was still falling. “I left the girl there,” said Tanzan. “Are Coming around a bend, they met a lovely you still carrying her?” Just a brief note of appreciation for girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross —Roy Petschauer Allen Freedman’s article, The Difference a the intersection. Seattle, Washington Letter Makes, in the most recent edition “Come on, girl,” said Tanzan at once. of Global Vedanta. It was well written and Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over I received my Global Vedanta magazine his point well made. The article reminded the mud and set her down on the other side. today and thought the cover was stunning. me of a story, which appeared in Zen Ekido did not speak again until that What a beautiful picture of a camellia. Flesh, Zen Bones complied by Paul Reps. night when they reached a lodging temple. —Carol Goldstein The story recounts the experience of two Then he no longer could restrain himself. “We Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 1 The swami and thomas, dialogue ii by swami bhaskarananda

(An imaginary dialogue between a existing there! to accommodate youth in your perfect Swami and a gentleman named Thomas at To get rid of the third kind of suffer- suffering-free world. a branch center of the Order in ing, it will be best for you if there is no Adulthood entails earning money in the United States of America. The first dia- God. But if God, who is your creator, a terribly competitive world, finding logue in this series can be found in the spring doesn’t exist, you won’t exist either. a spouse to raise a family, adjusting 2009 issue of Global Vedanta.) So, it seems, your perfect world will to that spouse, bringing up children, either be a very lonely world, or a great and so on. Certainly it is not a period void only. devoid of suffering. Therefore, in your Topic: The world created by God is not Thomas: I see your points, Swami. Looks perfect suffering-free world you can’t perfect. Can we create a better world? like from your scriptural point of view afford to accommodate adulthood Thomas: Thanks for seeing me again, I can’t really create a perfect world. either. Swami. My last meeting with you was But I think the scriptures are not And what to speak of your old age! I extremely beneficial to me. This time quite right. For example, in my perfect am sure, I don’t have to describe in any I have come to talk with you about another doubt of mine. Swami: What’s your doubt this time? Thomas: To me it appears that God’s creation is not perfect. I think I could have created a better world. Swami: Do you mean to say that the world that you want to create will be a perfect world? Thomas: Yes, Swami. Swami: Please describe to me that perfect world. Thomas: Well, this world has suffering. In my perfect world there won’t be any suffering.

Swami: According to our scriptures there Charles Mathias can be only three kinds of suffering: The first kind of suffering is caused by your own body and mind. This kind of suffering is called in Sanskrit world no one will suffer physically or great detail the physical sufferings and ādhyātmika suffering. mentally. Aside from this, all the living incapacities that you may experience at The second kind of suffering is in- beings will be nonviolent by nature. that time. So, you can count your old flicted on you by other living beings, Also there won’t be any cyclones, tor- age out from the perfect suffering-free human or subhuman. This kind of suf- nadoes, earthquakes, and so on. world of yours as well. fering is called in Sanskrit ādhibautika Swami: As long as you have a body, you Thus, it appears to me, that in your suffering. have to go through your childhood, suffering-free perfect world you can’t The third kind of suffering is caused youth, adulthood and old age. Child- afford to have a body! by what you may call acts of God. hood is a period of total helplessness Now, let me see whether you can have Earthquakes, cyclones, tornadoes, etc. and dependence on others. Growing a mind in your suffering-free perfect cause this kind of suffering. The San- up consists of, among other things, world. skrit name of this kind of suffering is teething troubles, learning how to The only occupation of any conscious ādhidaivika suffering. walk, etc. Thus childhood is more a mind is thinking. This thinking may Now, if you have to go beyond the first period of suffering than enjoyment. express itself in the form of desires kind of suffering, you have to get rid of Therefore, in your perfect, suffering- or expectations from others. As long your body and mind. In other words, free world you can’t afford to have any as you have expectations from others you won’t exist as Thomas anymore. childhood. you can’t get rid of suffering. It will Similarly, if you want to go beyond Youth includes a period of student- come in the form of disappointment. the second kind of suffering, you can’t ship and/or financial dependence, Then again, even if you don’t have allow any other living being to exist which for most youths is not that expectations from others, others may in the world. You will be the only one enjoyable. Therefore, you can’t afford have expectations from you. And you 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009 may not always be able to fulfill their that the living beings will never die of your perfect world. The living beings expectations. Thus, they will suffer. In illness, accidents, or old age? Will they have to exist and grow without tak- other words, it won’t be a suffering- be physically immortal? In that case it ing food. free perfect world. Thus, neither you can be presumed that they won’t have Not only food, every time a human nor anyone else can afford to have a any birth either. Birth is a beginning being or an animal breathes, millions mind, since having a mind is as good in time. Those who have a beginning of microscopic living organisms get as inviting suffering. in time must also have an end. This killed. Therefore, in order not to hurt Thomas: But Swami, in my perfect world means that they have to die someday. others, no one in your perfect world no one will ever suffer from any physi- Death inevitably causes fear—the fear will breathe. cal illness. Also there will be neither of the unknown— in people’s minds. You also said that in your perfect desires nor expectations in people’s And fear is suffering. So they can’t be world no living beings will have de- minds causing them suffering in the free from suffering. sires. In that case they will have no form of disappointments. Thus there Aside from this, if no one dies, the initiative to do anything. To me it won’t be any ādhyātmika suffering. number of living beings will be so appears that they will be like so many Aside from this, every living being will large that there won’t be enough room zombies. And that world will always be 100% nonviolent. Nobody will hurt for all of them to live on earth. The remain in the most undeveloped, anyone. Thus in my perfect world there lower the forms of living beings, the primitive state. Such a world surely won’t be any ādhibhautika suffering. larger are their number. Therefore, the will not be a very attractive world to As I will be the creator of that perfect world will be teeming with countless live in! I wonder if that world could world, there won’t be anyone, such trillions of insects and other smaller be called a perfect world. as God, who can cause earthquakes, living organisms. Besides that, where Thomas: I see your point, Swami. Thank cyclones and tornadoes. Thus, in will they find food to maintain their you for being so patient, and sharing my perfect world there won’t be any bodies? some of your thoughts with me. ādhidaivika suffering. You have said that all living beings Swami: You are most welcome. Swami: Well, you are saying that in will be 100% nonviolent. So they your perfect world there won’t be any won’t be harming one another. In that physical illness. Do you mean thereby case, there can’t be a “food chain” in the final examination—a true life story by Dr. kidoor bhat ack in the late sixties when I was was fond of the young Dr. Evans and had to put up with in preparation for the a surgical intern at a hospital unwittingly they had developed a grand- examination he was going to write soon. in Dartford, Kent, in U.K., an mother-grandson kind of relationship, so From time to time she would ask him interestingB incident happened. One of much so that Dr. Evans would refer to how his test preparation was going, and the other interns, a British doctor (let us would wish him success in his exams. call him Dr. Evans) was doing his three- At about 10:00 p.m. one evening when month rotation in the geriatric ward. Dr. Evans came to the ward to complete Geriatric wards in a large hospital are some of the pending paperwork, the lights quite different from other wards in many were off in all the patient cubicles except ways. The patients are all very elderly, the one at the end of the ward where many at the end of their lives, many have the elderly patient’s bed was located. Dr. lost all their family members and even Evans walked over to the patient’s bed friends, and have no one left in the world and asked: “Grandma, what are you doing to call their own or with whom they can this late? Don’t you know that the lights relate in an emotionally satisfying way. are supposed to be off by 9:00 pm? The Many have terminal illnesses and won’t patient replied: “I know it is getting late leave the hospital alive. Generally, women Sonny, but tonight is a special night. It is outlive men by about 5–8 years; thus the Charles Mathias not only you who have an examination majority of patients in geriatric wards are to write, Sonny. I too have an important women. her, as “Grandma” and she would treat examination to take tomorrow. I am pre- When young doctors in training are him as her grandson and call him “Sonny.” paring for that.” Dr. Evans noticed that posted in the geriatric wards, some of Dr. Evans would sit with her and bare his the patient was reading the Bible. these patients tend to develop a family- heart about his childhood and details of The patient passed away unexpectedly like relationship with them, especially his family. Naturally, the patient came to during the night. She was in the hospital when the young doctor is particularly know much about his busy schedule in kind to them. One elderly female patient the hospital and the amount of work he See Final Examination…page 8 Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 3 The shanti ashrama—the beginning by pravrajika preetiprana n November 1899, Swami Viveka- ashrama in California. Hoist the flag of stagecoach to a small, four seated spring nanda lectured in California. Many Vedanta there. From this moment destroy wagon drawn by mules, which had been people wanted him to stay and give even the memory of . Above all, live sent to receive them. Iclasses. He promised to send a brother the life, and Mother will see to the rest.” Here they had the first glimmer of the monk who would show them how to live Swami Turiyananda arrived in San hardships to come. This wagon was the what he taught. He returned to New York Francisco on Thursday, July 26, 1900. only transportation available on the east in June 1900, That evening, side of the mountain and into the San w h e r e h e when he was Antonio Valley. It had seats for four – the spoke of the received cor- driver and three passengers. Three oth- need for a Ve- dially by the ers could sit on the back with their feet dantic retreat Vedanta So- hanging off the edge. They borrowed two in America. ciety, he gave horses and the last person rode a bicycle He wrote in details about that had been brought from San Francis- a letter from Shanti Ash- co. With no extra room in the wagon, all New York, “A rama and his their luggage, tents, food and equipment San Francisco plan for cul- had to be left on top of Mt. Hamilton lady, (Min- tivating the until the wagon could return for it. Since nie Boock), land to even- the mules could only make the trip up the now here, tually make it mountain every other day, it took quite owns a plot self-sufficient. some time for all their belongings to ar- of land near He invited rive at the Ashrama. Mt. Hamilton, everyone to Going down the east side of Mt. Ham- 160 acres in come and live ilton, the land changed drastically. No well all. She is go- the life. On traveled roads, fertile orchards or farms, ing to make the follow- but (just) one narrow dusty road clinging Swami Turiyananda at Shanti Ashrama us a present of ing Thursday, to the side of the mountain surrounded it. It would be nice for a summer gather- August 2, 1900, he set out for Shanti by dry hills covered with scrub bushes and ing for us in California…. There is only Ashrama with eight students. Minnie scraggy pine trees, all shimmering with a log cabin on the land; for the rest they Boock and Lydia Bell had gone ahead to heat on that August afternoon. must have tents.” The land was 50 miles prepare for them. Around 7:00 p.m. the sun set behind from the nearest train station, and 12 With their luggage, tents, food and the mountains as the party arrived at the miles from the nearest town. Because of camping equipment, this group set Ashrama. They were greeted by Minnie its quiet location, it was named Shanti off by train to San Jose. They stayed Boock and Lydia Bell, the two students Ashrama. in a small hotel who had gone Swamiji asked Swami Turiyananda overnight. The ahead. The food to start an ashrama on the land. He told next morning at had been left him, “It is the will of the Divine Mother dawn they took on top of the that you should take charge of the work a stagecoach mountain, so there.” drawn by four that night they Swami Turiyananda replied, “Mother’s horses through had a simple will? Rather say it is your will. Certainly the valley to Mt. supper of rice you have not heard the Mother commu- Hamilton. This a n d b r o w n nicate Her will to you in this matter.” was a well trav- s u g a r. A f t e r Swamiji replied, “Brother, if your eled road, which s u p p e r t h e y nerves become very fine, then you will be went through gathered round able to hear Mother’s words directly.” fruit orchards, a campfire and On July 3rd, Swamis Vivekananda and vineyards, olive Swami chant- Turiyananda left New York. Swamiji was groves and past ed the Gayatri going to Detroit and Swami Turiyananda well kept farms, Mantra: Swami Turiyananda with Mr. Roorbach to California. On the train, just before a n d f i n a l l y We meditate Swamiji got off, Swami Turiyananda winding up the west side of Mt. Hamil- on the adorable and effulgent light of asked for advice regarding his future work. ton to the Lick Observatory. At the top Him who has produced this universe. Swamiji told him, “Go and establish the of Mt. Hamilton, they changed from the May He enlighten our understanding. 4 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009 That first night, two of the older After the morning meditation, the talking. He said excitedly, “I fell out of women slept in the cabin, the only other women prepared breakfast and the men the hammock! Why did I fall? Because I structure was a shed used as the kitchen. brought wood for the fires and hauled was holding onto something that was not This was shared by several other women. water from the well. From 8-9:00 a.m. stable. Cling to Mother. Then we are all One man slept near the campfire and the they had breakfast. The Swami would right. That is our only safety.” others, including Swami Turiyananda, talk on all kinds of subjects and everyone Although a daily routine was there, slept on a haystack. joined in the conversation. But the Swami the Swami did not control the students. Thus, the beginning of Shanti Ashrama was always careful to keep the drift of the When someone asked about rules, he was very difficult. The only water available conversation going in a certain direction. said, “Why do you want rules? Is not was six miles away, there wasn’t enough With all their fun and joking, the object everything going on nicely and orderly shelter for the students, their food was of their life was never lost sight of. without formal rules? Don’t you see how still on top of the mountain, and it was There was a morning class given by punctual everyone is, how regular we extremely hot. Swami Turiyananda on the Gita. This was all are? No one is ever absent from the Seeing all this, Swami Turiyananda followed by an hour of meditation. Lunch classes or meditations. Mother has made must have realized that Swami her own rules, let us be satisfied Vivekananda’s plans for a nice with them. Why should we summer gathering place and make rules of our own?” the plans to cultivate the land On another day a student were not possible. He felt the remarked, “How wonderful it hardships of living in this dry, is, Swami, that men and women hot, barren land might be too of such different temperaments much for the novice students. can live together peacefully!” As he paced back and forth, He said, “It is because I rule the swami complained to the by love. You are all tied to me by Divine Mother, “Mother, what the bond of love. How else is it have you done? What do you possible? Don’t you see how I mean by this? These people trust everyone and leave every- will die; no shelter, no water, one free? I can do that, because what shall they do?” I know you all love me. There Overhearing this, one of the is no hitch anywhere; all goes students, Agnes Stanley, went on smoothly. But remember, to him and said, “Swami, why The meditation cabin it is all Mother’s doing. I have are you dejected? Where is nothing to do with it. She has your Mother? Have you lost faith in Her? was at 1:00 p.m. and afternoons were un- given us that mutual love that Her work Don’t fear, She will make everything all scheduled. Students used the afternoons may flourish. As long as we remain true right.” Then she dumped the contents of to take quiet walks, read, write and do to Her, there is no fear that anything will her purse in his lap. laundry. Dinner was served at 6:00 p.m. go wrong. But the moment we forget Her, Appreciating her spirit, the Swami said, and the day closed with meditation and there will be great danger. Therefore I “Yes, you are right, Mother will protect us. general conversation around the campfire always ask you to think of Mother.” How great is your faith!” He then gave from 8-10:00 p.m. It was many weeks before each student her the Sanskrit name Shraddha—one One student later wrote about this time. had his own tent but gradually, as every- who has unshakeable faith in God. “Swami Turiyananda was up and doing thing was hauled down the mountain and Soon, life at Shanti Ashrama developed all the time. He never spared himself. He set up, the Ashrama took shape. At first, a routine guided by Swami Turiyananda. didn’t think of his own health or comforts; water had to be brought in by cart from Every morning, at five o’clock, the Swami he had only one object – to bring the eager six miles away at the cost of 75 cents per woke the students by walking among the student to the feet of the Divine Mother. barrel—which was expensive in those tents and chanting. From 6-7 a.m. there He spoke always about “Mother.” Some- days. Soon, a small spring was found was a group meditation. Before start- times the Swami would call out: “Think of on the property and a well was dug—a ing the meditation, Swami Turiyananda Mother, forget your worldly things. Here deep self-renewing pool. One student would glance around to see that everyone it must be only Mother, no city here, forget said, “Each morning before breakfast, the had come. Then he would start chant- all that and think of Her.” When he found members of what we called the bucket ing and continued until all restlessness the students talking together he would brigade walked the narrow half-mile trail subsided. One day someone asked him come up smiling and say: “What are you to the well and returned with a bucket of what the chant meant, and he replied, talking about? Talk together of Mother, try water in each hand for the day’s needs. “It is lashing the waves of the mind into to be close to Her.” All laundry was done at the well, the submission.” At the end of the hour, he One afternoon, he came to a group of would chant again. students who were sitting together and See Shanti Ashrama…page 11 Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 5 Swami Vivekananda in Melrose by Joseph Peidle wami Vivekananda met many colorful charac- held in Eliot, Maine, during the preceding summer. ters in America. Some interacted with him Mr. Caswell, a well-dressed middle-aged man only briefly, yet by studying their lives and with dark hair and beard, would have come times, we can know more about the great Swa- to the railway station to receive the Swami S nd mi. Here we follow the footsteps of Swami on the afternoon of September 22 . The Vivekananda and go with him to Melrose, maple trees may have been showing some Massachusetts, in the autumn of 1894 and fall colors by then, and the summer heat meet his host, Daniel Evans Caswell. abated. The pair would have walked a few blocks eastward along Franklin Street, the main thoroughfare of Melrose Highlands, Melrose in 1894 past well-kept houses and local businesses. Melrose was, and still is today, a pros- They would have turned south at a small perous residential town eight miles north of pond on Ashland Street, stopping at #59 Boston. In the 1890’s it was developing rap- where Swami Vivekananda was to be the idly from rural to suburban land use. Farms overnight guest of Mr. and Mrs. Caswell. and estates were subdivided for house lots, as The day’s issue of theMelrose Reporter, a local people who worked in Boston found that they newspaper, carried the story: could live at a distance and commute by train. Mr. and Mrs. D. Evans Caswell are entertaining The town of Melrose was built up around Ell at their home, 59 Ashland street Melrose Highlands, Pond, also called Crystal Lake, where residents could Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu from Calcutta, India, go boating in summer and skating in winter, or just 1863 – 1902 one of the representatives to the Parliament of stroll in the surrounding lawns. Melrose was home Religion held in Chicago at the World’s Fair. He is to eight churches of six different denominations, a public library a highly educated man and will remain for a season in this and a superior school system. Ice companies harvested ice from country as a teacher. Those who have met him personally are Ell Pond and stored it in icehouses near the pond for local use, charmed with his simplicity of manner and the quiet dignity as well as shipment to tropical destinations. of his deportment. Commercial use of electricity reached Melrose just two years He will give an ad- before Swami Vivekananda came. Electric streetcars were in dress, in his oriental service, but were not fully trusted as safe. At first, passengers costume, on the thought that the electricity would attract lightning strikes. Religions of India, Assuming an air of bravado, riders left valuables at home! Elec- in Rogers’ Hall, tricity for lighting was also available. Residents came to prefer Melrose Highlands, electricity for convenience, but the costs were much higher than Saturday, September for gas lights. To conserve public funds, the electric street lights 22nd at 8 p.m.2 were turned off during the portion of the bright fortnight when Rogers’ Hall was an moonlight was available. Unfortunately, no provision was made auditorium on the sec- for cloudy nights, and the citizens eventually petitioned for an ond floor of Rogers’ end to the “moon schedule.” Block, a commercial building owned by Mr. A. E. Rogers, locat- Swami Vivekananda’s Melrose Lectures ed on the northeast Swami Vivekananda spent most of the month of September corner of Franklin St. 1894 in Boston. In a letter dated September 26th, he mentions and Chipman Ave. The going back to Melrose.1 We immediately deduce that he visited building is no longer in Melrose twice, once before and once after Wednesday, Septem- existence. There were ber 26, 1894. three shops on the first A newspaper sketch of Mr. D. Evans In order to travel to Melrose from Boston, Swami Viveka- floor, occupied by a hair Caswell. The caption read: Who claims nanda might well have taken the Boston and Maine Railway dressing parlor, a tailor, to have seen the temple in a vision north to the Melrose Highlands station, a journey of half an and an undertaker. hour or so. He had accepted the invitation of Daniel Evans The Reporter described Swami Vivekananda’s lecture in its Caswell, whom he likely met at the first Greenacre Conference next issue: 1. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, vol. 6 (Calcutta: Advaita Ash- 2. Melrose Reporter (Sept. 22, 1894), 2. A similar announcement appeared in rama, 1992), 277. the Melrose Journal (Sept. 21, 1894), 3. 6 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009 Last Saturday etary magnetism. His evening a very in- work shows influence teresting lecture of his contemporary was given in Rog- Alessandro Volta, the ers’ Hall by Swami inventor of the battery, Vivekananda, of who found that frog India, who was the legs could detect elec- representative to tricity. The relationship the World’s Parlia- between electricity and ment of Religion. magnetism began to The lecture was be understood in 1819 exceedingly in- through the work of teresting and by Hans Ørsted. request of many of Mr. Caswell also the leading citizens practiced healing in of the Highlands, Melrose, as we will see it will be repeated below. Monday evening Mr. Caswell’s reli- October 1, at 8 Swami Vivekananda stayed at 59 Ashland Street, Melrose Highlands, Massachusetts gion, Spiritualism, was o’clock. The sub- a religious movement ject will be “The Religions and Social making business. Later his profession was that gained members rapidly during the Customs of India.” A small admission listed as “magnetic physician.” latter part of the nineteenth century. fee will be charged.3 We find Swami Vivekananda meeting Spiritualists believe that life continues Since little advance notice of the first another magnetic physician in California after the death of the physical body, and lecture was given, it seems that many in 1899. His steadfast friend Josephine that it is possible to communicate with people who wished to attend were unable MacLeod sincerely requested that the people living in the spirit world. In 1848, to do so, and Mr. Caswell requested Swami Swami undergo magnetic treatments by Kate and Margaret Fox of Hydesville, Vivekananda to speak in Melrose again on a Mrs. Frances Melton.5 He commented New York, then 11 and 15 years old, October first. The Reporter did not publish on his experience in a letter: claimed to be able to communicate with an article describing the October 1st lecture, I am so happy to learn that all the spirits. However questionable their claims but the Melrose Journal had this item: New York friends are being cured by were, the interest of the general public in The very interesting lecture given Mrs. Milton. ... Some [in Los Ange- such phenomena was undeniable. This by Mr. Swami Vivekananda of India les] are in a worse state than before the interest grew into the movement known was listened to by a large audience in skin paring. Kindly give Mrs. Milton as Spiritualism. Through the years, the Roger’s Hall on Monday evening. Mr. my love; her rubbings used to do me séances conducted by the Fox sisters, as Vivekananda is a Hindoo monk who good at the time at least. ... As for me, well as by other mediums, had a tendency has taken the oath of poverty, believ- I get the fun out of it—as long as Joe to degenerate into entertainment or pure ing the touch of money would defile pays—bone-cracker, or skin-parer, or trickery. Swami Vivekananda commented him. He lives a most noble life and his any system whatever.6 on one such séance that he observed: talk concerning his native land is very A magnetic physician was a practitio- There was one of those ladies who interesting.4 ner of healing in the tradition of Franz bring the departed spirits down to Mesmer (1734 – 1815). Mesmer formu- us—a medium. She was very large, lated a method of healing based on flow yet she was called medium. Very good! D. Evans Caswell and Spiritualism of magnetic fluid within the bodies of ... The medium said, “... I see a ghost Mr. Caswell came from a working patients. The fluid could be manipulated standing here. The ghost tells me that class family of Lynn, Massachusetts. He either by naturally magnetic materials, there is a Hindu gentleman on that participated in the family fishing busi- or by the healer, called the “sensitive.” bench.” I stood up and said, “It re- ness until he married Lizzie B. Foster, a Sensitives were expected to practice quired no ghost to tell you that.”7 music teacher, in 1881, at the age of 28. ethical restraint to avoid misusing their Despite abuses, Spiritualism offered He lived with his in-laws in Charlestown, powers. Mesmer referred to phenomena people an answer to the perennial ques- a district of Boston, up to age 40. The associated with the magnetic fluid in tion of whether life continues after Charlestown directories tell us that Mr. living organisms as “animal magnetism” the death of the body. The American Caswell first worked in his in-laws’ shoe to distinguish it from mineral or plan- Civil War (1861-65) must have raised this question in the hundreds of thousands of 3. Melrose Reporter (September 29, 1894), 2. A 5. Chaudhuri, A., Swami Vivekananda in America: similar announcement appeared in the Melrose New Findings (: , households whose sons died in the war. Journal (Sept. 28, 1894), 3. 2008), 703-706. 4. Melrose Journal (Oct. 5, 1894), 3. 6. CW, vol. 8, 510-511. 7. CW, vol. 6, 66. Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 7 Like its modern descendent, the New the Humanitarian Temple. Mr. Caswell 1896. However, Swamis Saradananda10 Age movement, Spiritualism was a explained his choice of terminology: and Abhedananda11 met Mr. Caswell in syncretic religion. As an adherent of “While I am personally a spiritualist, and June 1897 and May 1899 respectively. By Spiritualism, Mr. Caswell borrowed ideas have been one all my life, I call myself a the time of ’s visit from Mesmerism, Christian Science, humanitarian, because it does not matter to Melrose, Mr. Caswell had reduced his Asian religions and the work of Emman- to me what a person believes, but I take activities, now offering only “private ser- uel Swedenborg. However, he retained a into account what he is willing to do.” 8 vices.” His weekly announcements largely Christian emphasis in his Sunday services. Mr. Caswell himself was willing to do disappeared from the Melrose newspapers He also had a patriotic streak, observing a great deal for his community. Swami in 1898. In June 1900, Mr. Caswell dedi- Memorial Day and the Fourth of July as Vivekananda’s first visit to America was cated a new meeting space on the ground well as the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. set against a backdrop of the “Panic of floor of his house, referring to it as the To assuage his Baptist neighbors he even ’93,” an economic upheaval created by “Wayside Rest” or “Wayside Shrine.” Mr. raised funds for the stained glass win- excesses in the railroad industry. Rail- Caswell listed his profession as “Retired” dows of the Baptist church, constructed road companies and banks failed, the in the 1907 Melrose directory. He died at the same time as his chapel. One of unemployment rate quadrupled, and on October 22nd, 1912. The report of his the windows, still in existence, contains foreclosure rates followed. To ameliorate funeral read in part: an image of the American flag fluttering economic problems in Melrose, Mr. and Sobbing or whispering among the in the breeze. Mrs. Caswell sponsored a ladies’ sewing mourners was frowned upon. The only Mr. Caswell and his wife moved to group to provide warm clothing for needy sound was from a graphophone which, Melrose Highlands in the spring of 1893. citizens. stationed near the head of the casket The Caswells first lived at 59 Ashland Beginning in autumn 1895, Mr. Cas- played sacred music, one hymn after St., renting from the owner, Mrs. Char- well’s public services were divided between another, during the silent hour.12 lotte C. Briggs. Mr. Caswell took up preaching and healing. An article in the We owe Mr. Caswell a debt of grati- his profession as a Spiritualist minister Boston Globe provides a seat at a healing tude for hosting Swami Vivekananda and soon thereafter. By sampling some of his service: preserving information about his visit to Sunday lecture topics, we can get an idea Having attained the proper frame Melrose. of Mr. Caswell’s focus. We can also dis- of mind [by reading Bible passages Acknowledgement cern larger trends in Spiritualism. Public related to healing], Mr. Caswell steps This work is based on the pioneering services began on October 21, 1893, in down from the pulpit and walks among research on Swami Vivekananda’s visit to the parlor at 59 Ashland St. with “The the congregation. Those who desire his Melrose by Ms. Elva Nelson, described in Bible as a Spiritual Text Book.” “Buddha, assistance generally signify their wish her book, Vivekananda and his Swamis in the Torch of the East” and “A Journey by a sign merely, for during the entire Boston and Vicinity (Boston: Ramakrishna Through Heaven and Hell” followed. At- service he demands that perfect quiet Vedanta Society, 1992). tendance rapidly outgrew the parlor, and shall prevail. The patient hands him a Mr. Caswell moved his services to Rogers’ glove or a handkerchief, generally the Hall the following month. In 1894, he latter, and this the healer holds for spoke on “Our Employment in the Spirit some moments tightly clasped in his 10. Melrose Reporter (May 29, 1897), 2 and ( June World,” “Temperance,” “Sunshine and hands, his mind during this time being 19, 1897), 2. 11. Melrose Reporter (May 6, 1899), 3. Darkness Beyond the Gates” and “Lessons concentrated in an earnest desire that 12. Melrose Free Press (Nov. 1, 1912), 1. from the Lives of Great Women.” From the affliction shall leave the subject.9 these topics we can see that Spiritualism Presence at the healing service was not Final Examination…from page 3 concerned itself not only with life beyond required. Mr. Caswell announced that he death, but also with contemporary social would cure at a distance if only informed issues such as temperance and women’s of peoples’ needs by letter. He was deluged for a totally non-lethal condition from rights. Mr. Caswell’s Sunday services of- by hundreds of letters following this an- which she was expected to recover com- ten incorporated musical performances by nouncement. Like all novelty, however pletely and return home. There were no his friends from nearby localities. There Mr. Caswell’s hold on the citizens of Mel- particular warning signs that the patient was no charge for admission. rose waned. was going to die that night. One can only In July 1894, Mr. Caswell was given a imagine that she probably had a premoni- house lot around the corner at 71 Franklin tion that the end was very near. The young Epilogue St (now numbered 221) by his supporters doctor realized why she said she had to Nella and Thomas Ripley. He had a hand- We have no indication that Mr. Cas- prepare for a very important test—the some house constructed there and took well sought out Swami Vivekananda “Ultimate Test of Her Life.” up residence in the spring of 1895. Next when he returned to Boston in March When Dr. Evans related the incident to the house was a small chapel where to me, he said: “I know she has passed the test with flying colors!” he held public services in the Spiritualist 8. Boston Daily Globe (September 4, 1895), 12. tradition. He referred to this building as 9. Boston Daily Globe (March 29, 1896), 26. 8 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009 muscular Vedanta: a nightmare by Bahut Pagal ating a potato pizza with heavy Chaitanya: We plan to speed it up. We’ll Chaitanya: Now, in addition to a Ve- toppings of chilies just before sing only the first two verses, followed dantic Planetary Anthem, we’ll need bedtime always gives me night- by the namo, namo prabhu and dhe- a Vedantic World Flag. I’ve designed Emares. So it’s not surprising that I had dhe-dhe langa-ranga-bhanga bits. Also, a black flag with a white Omkara in the worst nightmare of my life a few Muscular Vedanta is Trendy Vedanta. the middle, and AK-47s all around nights ago. The harmonium, tabla, bells, and gong the edges to add vigor to the em- I dreamed that I was talking with are out. We’ll replace them with elec- blem. We’ll need a motto, too. Ours a character named Balam will be a slight variation Chaitanya, the self-appointed on Sri Krishna’s famous leader of a new movement exhortation to Arjuna in called Muscular Vedanta. Our the (2:3, 37): conversation went like this: “Yield not to unmanliness! Bahut Pagal: Mr. Chaitanya, Arise and fight!” why do you call your move- We all know how much ment Muscular Vedanta? Swami Vivekananda hat- Balam Chaitanya: We regard ed weakness. So Muscular all other forms of Vedanta Vedanta will be a manly, as weak. Taking our lead testosterone-enhanced Ve- from extremist movements danta that values strength, in other religions, we want power, and courage. No to make Vedanta a powerful sniveling, mushy, mollycod- movement that will conquer dling, indecisive, vacillating, the world. doubt-racked weaklings will Pagal: Isn’t that contrary to be tolerated. No spineless the principles of Sri Ra- jellyfish, either. Sniveling makrishna and Swami weaklings and spineless jel- Vivekananda? lyfish will have six months Chaitanya: Not exactly. Swa- to shape up or ship out. mi Vivekananda made it Pagal: Uhhhh…as a long- clear that he wanted In- time sniveling weakling and dian thought to conquer spineless jellyfish, I feel a bit the world. We believe that uneasy about that. What do

our movement is the logical Charles Mathias you mean by “ship out”? outcome of his thinking. Chaitanya: We’ll shoot Let me tell you my vision you. We don’t mind snivel- for a Vedantic world. tric guitars, synthesizers, and drums. ing weaklings and spineless jellyfish Pagal: I’m all ears. Pagal: No banjos? as long as they’re dead. Chaitanya: In a Vedanta-dominat- Chaitanya: Banjos are retro. What Pagal: Actually, come to think of it, I can ed world, the well-known hymn prehistoric era do you come from, control my sniveling. And I do have a Khandana-bhava-bandhana will be- anyway? spine, even though it’s made of jelly. come the planetary anthem. Children Pagal: Seems to me an Earl Scruggs-type Do I pass? throughout the world will lisp it at banjo riff would spark up Khandana- Chaitanya: No. We’ll shoot you for the beginning of every school day. bhava-bandhana considerably. sure. But in your case, as a concession It will be sung by audiences at the Chaitanya: No. Forget it. Can’t be done. to your controlled sniveling and your beginning of every sports game and Now, we’re also going to have a rap gelatinous spine, maybe we’ll just public event. version and a heavy-metal version to kneecap you. Pagal: Khandana-bhava-bandhana is a enthrall the teenybopper crowd. But Pagal: Thank you for your kindness. But rather long hymn, especially when despite our modernizing ambitions, you’re really going to shoot people sung in the traditional fashion at most we’re not going to let Madonna sing who don’t shape up? centers of the . Khandana. Nor Britney, nor Pink, nor Chaitanya: Yep. Why not? Krishna tells If people sing it at the beginning of Lady Gaga, God help us all. There are us that people don’t really die anyway. every public event, they won’t have limits to our tastelessness. They’re really the Atman, and the At- time to do anything else! Pagal: I’m certainly glad to hear that. man never dies. What appears to die Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 9 is just part of Maya, an illusion. So Pagal: That’s not only dogmatic and is punctured, the whole bubble col- we’ll blow ‘em away. It’s OK. It’s only fanatical, it’s unrealistic. Sri Ra- lapses. Maya, after all. makrishna made it crystal-clear that Chaitanya: False worldviews can last a Pagal: That is a gross misinterpretation God has designed different religions long time before they’re punctured. of Vedantic doctrine. Shooting people to suit different temperaments. He Look at history. But our worldview was not part of Swami Vivekananda’s believed that yoga is best suited is true. program. for the Yuga, and is Pagal: And I bet you’re going to bring in Chaitanya: Vivekananda made many especially difficult, but he insisted storm troopers and gas chambers and concessions to the popular sentiment that God can be reached through any holocausts to shove it down people’s of his time that we intend to rectify. path. throats. We believe that shooting weaklings What you’re trying to do is force Chaitanya: Hey, that’s a great idea! and jellyfish will invigorate the gene everybody into a straitjacket that will Thanks for your suggestion. pool. make them all feel alike, think alike, At that point, before I could shoot my- Pagal: What other charming innovations talk alike, act alike. You want to turn self in the foot by offering more helpful do you envision? people into robots. That would be suggestions, I woke up in a cold sweat and Chaitanya: This nonsense about all uniformity, and it’s boring! It’s also the the nightmare ended. Let’s hope that the religions being valid paths to God has exact opposite of everything Sri Ra- extremist viewpoint of Muscular Vedanta got to go. Same with the “harmony makrishna and Swami Vivekananda remains in the realm of fantasy and never of religions” humbug. Swami Vive- stood for. gets a foothold in the real world. kananda made it very clear that the Chaitanya: As I said before, Sri Ra- three major schools of Vedanta are makrishna and Swami Vivekananda complementary, but he put Advaita at made mistakes because of the temper the top of the heap. So everybody has of the time they lived in. We want b o o k s f r o m got to become an Advaitin. Lesser, strength. Strength comes from unwav- inferior philosophies will be slopped ering focus, one-pointed concentration viveka press out into the cesspool of history. on a single ideal. That’s what we’re available from Pagal: That’s the most outrageous thing aiming for. No more wishy-washy The Vedanta Society of I’ve ever heard of! One of the main pil- “yato mat, tato path” for us. From now Western Washington lars of Sri Ramakrishna’s teaching was on it’s “ek mat, ek path” only. One acceptance of other religions as valid faith alone is the true path. Too many (most can also be paths to God. What ever happened to branches weaken the tree. We must obtained from his teaching “yato math, tato path”— chop them off. AMAZON.COM) “as many faiths, so many paths”? And Pagal: What you’re talking about isn’t Swami Vivekananda always stressed Muscular Vedanta—it’s Vedantic the harmony of religions. Fascism. It’s Nazism dressed up in a Life in Indian Monasteries—$14.95 Chaitanya: Well, that is part of the kurta and dhoti, and it’s utterly op- The Philosophical Verses of tamasic tendency to weakness that posed to everything Vedanta stands Yogavāsishtha—$9.95 has always poisoned . Even for. Sri Ramakrishna wanted intensity Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vive- of devotion to one’s own ideal, but he Meditation, Mind and kananda were unconsciously affected insisted that it had to be combined Patanjali’s Yoga—$14.50 by it. Don’t forget, they lived under with a broad and universal outlook The Essentials of Hinduism—$14.50 British colonialism, which made Hin- that accepts all ideals. Reminiscences of dus weak. Muscular Vedanta intends Chaitanya: We say that it’s impossible Swami Brahmananda—$14.95 to pull their thinking into the 21st to have both. Any time you have a century. We’re going to shuck off all broad and universal outlook, you get a Journey From Many to One—$15.95 weakness, all laxness, all shilly-shally- proportionate weakening in intensity ing, all compromise. of devotion to your own ideal. Why 2716 Broadway East This means that the only viewpoint are the extremists of other religions Seattle, WA 98102-3909 we’ll tolerate is Advaita. Anybody so strong? It’s because they’re nar- Phone: (206) 323-1228 caught holding pujas or praying to a rowly focused; they’re certain their Fax: (206) 323-1791 personal deity or teaching any of the beliefs are right. They’re intolerant of Email: [email protected] lower forms of Vedanta will be shot. the beliefs of others. That gives them We’ll smash all the idols, too. No strength, and that’s what we want. Special offer: FREE SHIPPING compromise with Truth! Bhakti yoga Pagal: That’s a false strength, because it’s to USA addresses on orders of two is out. is also out. Jnana based on a false worldview. Strength or more books. Valid only for orders yoga is the only way to go. We want that’s based on a false worldview from the Vedanta Society Bookshop. pure, nondual jnana alone. can never last. Once the worldview 10 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009 Shanti Ashrama…from page 5 clothes being spread on bushes to dry in in memoriam the sun.” assist Swami Akhilananda, the head of One of the students knew carpentry the Boston and Providence centers. Swa- and built a long table for group meals. mi Sarvagatananda became the head of It was first put out under the trees, then the centers in Providence and Boston in moved into their dining room – an area 1962, and continued in that position until formed by stretching a canvas awning be- 2001 (Providence) and 2002 (Boston). tween the log cabin and the kitchen shed. Even after his formal retirement from Later, in October, when lumber had been active work, he continued to meet with hauled over the mountain, the medita- devotees and to guide them. His untiring tion cabin was constructed under Swami service to the Vedanta work in Boston Turiyananda’s direction. At the end of the and Providence, his unbounded love for year, three other cabins were built. the devotees and, above all, his sterling Gurudas, one of the students, later spiritual qualities endeared him to all who wrote about the early days at Shanti had come in contact with him. Ashrama, “The Swami’s religion was In connection with his passing away, not Sunday or special-day religion. He special worship of Sri Ramakrishna was what he taught. His talks came in Swami Sarvagatananda was performed at both the Boston and 1912–2009 torrents, ever-new flows, fresh currents Providence centers on May 15th. The from an inexhaustible spring. There was We are very sorry to announce the Memorial Service was held on May 16th. no set time; we never knew when a new passing away of Swami Sarvagatananda The Memorial Service was attended by supply would be released. We therefore (Narayan Maharaj) on May 3, 2009, at the following heads of our Vedanta cen- wanted to be with him at all times, that 5:30 a.m. at the Vedanta Society in Bos- ters on the continent of North America: we might not miss a single outpour from ton. He was 96. The end came peacefully Swamis Swahananda, Prabuddhananda, that hidden source deep down in his own during his sleep. Tathagatananda, Aparananda, Chidan- heart. For in him dwelled the Divine An initiated disciple of revered Swami anda, Chetanananda, Prapannananda, Mother, using his lips to teach, to call , he joined the Ramakrish- Ishtananda, Kripamayananda, Tyagananda Her children.” na Order at our Sevashrama in and Yogatmananda. Other monastics who Swami Turiyananda called the students India in 1935, and had from attended are Swamis Sarvadevananda, “the Mother’s children.” This always revered in 1944. He Paritushtananda and Atmajnanananda, warmed and encouraged them. Day and served at the Kankhal Sevashram for as well as the nuns Mukundaprana, Dhar- night he tried to make them feel the spiri- eight years and our now-defunct Karachi maprana, Akhandaprana and Gitaprana. tual atmosphere that he created around center for five years. In 1954 he was sent Around 280 people attended the Memo- himself. Gurudas said, “To live with the by our Order to the United States to rial Service. Swami was a constant joy and inspiration, and an education too, for one was learning all the time. And we all felt that spiritual If you separate yourself from your body [through discrimination] and rest in Con- help came through him.” sciousness [i.e. concentrate your mind on the Ātman], then to you your entire body This is a brief history of how Shanti will become as insignificant as straw, and you will attain Oneness. The inner Self by Ashrama came into being. which you become aware of sound, taste, form and smell, know that as the Supreme God and the Supreme Brahman. Being situated in which everything is vibrating, and Sources for this article: from which everything is being produced, know that Ātman to be the Supreme Ātman Swami Atulananda, With the Swamis In (Paramātman, Brahman), as well as your true nature…. Think: “I am Conscious- America, Advaita Ashrama (1938) ness itself.” Think: “I, who am the personification of divine consciousness, am doing Swami Ritajananda, Swami Turiyananda, whatever is done by Brahmā, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, etc. everywhere.” Think: “I am Sri , Madras this entire universe. I am the imperishable Paramātman (supreme Divinity). Other (1963) than me nothing has been created, nor is there anything now, nor will there be in the , Early Days at Shanti Ash- future.” Think with effort: “I am the one and only Consciousness. I am all that exists. rama, Prabuddha Bharata, volume I am that undifferentiated, vibration-free [immovable], infinite Brahman.” LXXXII, nos. 8-11 (1977), volume All embodied beings behave the same way, considering the perceived and perceiver LXXXIII nos. 1-2 (1978) relationship as real. , however, carefully engage themselves in meditation on the Ātman. This is the true worship of the Ātman.

—The words of Sage Vasishtha as taught to Srī Rāma (from The Philosophical Verses of Yogavāsishtha translated by Swami Bhaskarananda)

Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 11 HUMOR—THE SPICE OF LIFE Riddles Memory everything you’ve started. And he was right—you have no idea how good I feel Why does a room full of married “Oh gosh,” sighed the wife one morn- right now! I looked to see what things people look so empty? ing, “I’m convinced my mind is almost I had started and hadn’t finished, and I A: Because there is not a single person completely gone!” finished off a chocolate cake, a quart of in it. Her husband looked up from the ice cream, and a pack of cigarettes. Now Which runs faster, hot or cold? newspaper and commented, “I’m not I am at peace. A: Hot. Anyone can catch cold. surprised: You’ve been giving me a piece of it every day for twenty years!” The Refrigerator Yoga Teacher When John bought a new refrigerator Innocence A Hindu gentleman from India was for his house, his put the old one out in saying to an American friend, “I am a While taking a routine vandalism report his front yard and hung a sign on it say- hatha yoga teacher. It runs in the fam- at an elementary school, I was approached ing: “Free. You want it, you take it.” ily. My father also used to teach hatha by a little girl about six years old. Looking For three days the refrigerator sat yoga, before he developed amnesia. Now up and down at my uniform, she asked, outside without even one person look- he has become a jnana . Now, ing twice at it. So John eventually whatever you ask my father, he says, decided to change the sign to read: “Who am I?” “Fridge for sale $50.” The next day someone stole it! Lawyer’s Fee The Pullover Walking into a lawyer’s office, a man asked what his rates were. A policeman pulled a car over “Fifty dollars for three ques- and said, “Sir, did you know that tions,” the lawyer stated. you were going 20 miles over the “Isn’t that awfully expensive?” speed limit?” the man asked? The man answered, “No officer, “Yes, it is,” replied the lawyer. I did not.” “What’s your third question?” Immediately, his wife said, “Yes you did. I’ve been telling you that for the last 10 minutes.” Afraid of the Dark Her husband yelled, “Shut up!” A little boy was afraid of the Now the officer said, “Well, did dark. One night his mother told you know that your license plate him to go out to the back porch has expired?” and bring her the broom. The little Charles Mathias The man answered, “No officer, boy turned to his mother and said, I did not.” “Momma, I don’t want to go out His wife protested, “Yes you did. there. It’s dark.” “Are you a policeman?” I’ve been telling you for three months to The mother smiled reassuringly at her “Yes,” I answered and continued writ- get it updated!” son. “Don’t be afraid of the dark,” she ing the report. Annoyed, the husband yelled, “Be quiet explained. “God is out there. He’ll look “My mother said if I ever needed help I or I’ll tape it shut!” after you and protect you.” should ask the police. Is that right?” The officer asked, “Ma’am, does he Doubtfully, the little boy asked her, “Yes, that’s right,” I told her. always talk to you like this?” “Are you sure he’s out there?” “Well, then,” she said as she extended The wife answered, “No, only when he’s “Yes, I’m sure. He is everywhere, and he her foot toward me, “would you please tie been drinking.” is always ready to help you when you need my shoe?” him,” she said. The Guillotine The little boy thought about that for a Finding Inner Peace minute and then went to the back door In a foreign country a priest, a lawyer and cracked it open a little. Peering out By following the simple advice I heard and an engineer were about to be guil- into the darkness, he called, “God? If on a talk show on TV, I have finally found lotined. The priest put his head on the you’re out there, would you please hand inner peace. The TV host proclaimed that block, they pulled the rope but nothing me the broom?” the way to achieve inner peace is to finish happened. The priest declared that he 12 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009 was saved by divine intervention—so they let him go. POETS’ CORNER The lawyer was put on the block, and again the rope didn’t release the blade. He claimed Avatars that he couldn’t be executed twice for the same by Russell Atkinson crime and he was set free too. Finally, they grabbed the engineer and shoved Rare are they whose mind is still and whose heart is great his head into the guillotine. He looked up at the and who regard the position of kings and rulers release mechanism and said, “Wait a minute, I see as dust motes and that their wealth of gold and gems your problem….” are as pebbles; who see that fine raiment is as tattered rags to Eating at a Diner the radiant colours and patterns of the being they cover, and that the myriad worlds and universes are Two men went into a diner and sat down glints of light created by the eye. at the counter. They ordered two sodas, took sandwiches out of their packs and started to eat They know the teachings of the worldly to be the illusion of magicians them. The owner saw what was going on and and discern the highest conception of Nirvana as approached the men. “You can’t eat your own a golden brocade in a dream of daytime, and the holy paths sandwiches in here,” the owner complained. of the enlightened ones are flowers appearing in one’s eyes. The two men stopped, looked at each other, They see meditation as a pillar to support a mountain, and and then swapped their sandwiches. they see right and wrong as the serpentine dance of dragons and the rise and fall of beliefs as the traces left by the four seasons. The Convention Even the wide deep ocean’s vastness to their sight is a puddle and Himalayan heights are as wrinkles on the skin. Bill, Jim, and Scott were at a conven- This huge earth is as a marble in their hands. tion together and were sharing a large suite on the top of a 75-story skyscraper. After With minds soaring Albatross-free, a long day of meetings, they were shocked to hear that the elevators in their hotel they live their life like children at play, laughing at death and careless were broken and they would have to climb of concerns, loving all, denying nothing in awesome freedom; 75 flights of stairs to get to their room. salt of the earth, nectar of honey, high blossoms of life’s urging, Bill said to Jim and Scott, “Let’s break the burgeoning, struggles; blessed are they who know them, monotony of this unpleasant task by con- these glowing goals, shining to show the innate beauty of our being centrating on something interesting. I’ll tell become potent; minds soaked in silence, hearts free and vast, jokes for 25 flights, Jim can sing songs for 25 shackles gone, innocently radiating humble glories, flights, and Scott can tell sad stories the rest singing love, and delirious with ever-new joy. of the way.” th We would not know it possible if the beacons At the 26 floor, Bill stopped telling jokes beaming glory did not come to light the way. and Jim began to sing. At the 51st floor Jim How wondrous they. stopped singing and Scott began to tell sad stories. “I will tell my saddest story first,” he said, “I left the room key in the car!” Song to the Lake by Pravrajika Madhavaprana The Minister’s Advice Children skip stones on your surface from shore. On his way out of church after the service, You quietly shape and replenish their store. Frank stopped at the door to speak to the min- Power boats rumble and ruffle and roar, ister. “Would it be right,” he asked, “for a person Their slicing and scoring you all but ignore. to profit from the mistakes of others?” Winter storms whip waves and ceaselessly pour, “Absolutely not!” replied the pastor, disap- You take them as manna to renew and restore. pointed that Frank would even ask such a question. O Lake of the Sky, whose sight I adore, “In that case,” said Frank , “I wonder if Thank you for giving me calmness and more! you’d consider returning the hundred dollars I paid you to marry my wife and me last July.”

Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 13 VEDANTA NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD INDIA 9681; Fax: 2654 9885 Email: [email protected] or relief@ Vivekananda University accepted as a member of GUNI. The Vivekananda belurmath.org Website: www.belurmath. University has been sanctioned full membership in the Global University Net- org/relief work for Innovation (GUNI), a global network of innovative institutions devoted to social commitment in higher education, set up by UNESCO, the United Na- tions University, and the Technical University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain), where the GUNI Secretariat is based.

Cyclone relief work, West

BANGLADESH The Dhaka center of the Ramakrishna Mission gives relief to the victims of Cyclone Aila in Bangladesh. The Ra- makrishna Mission Ashrama in Dhaka distributed 15,200 kilos of rice, 6,000 kilos of dal (lentils), 7,998 oral saline tab- lets, 1,010 saris and 4,229 sets of utensils to 7,263 cyclone-affected families of 79 villages in the month of June. Vivekananda University, Belur, India

SRI LANKA The monks of the Ramakrishna distressed families of around 250 villages Order conduct extensive relief opera- hard-hit by the cyclone have been given Ramakrishna Mission conducts relief tions for the victims of Cyclone Aila various kinds of relief. The victims so far work in Sri Lanka after the end of its civil in . In the wake of the have been given around 500,000 plates of war. The Ramakrishna Mission center in devastation, death and suffering caused cooked food, 135,000 kilos (kilograms) Colombo has started relief activities for of flattened rice (chira), 40,000 kilos the victims of the civil war: the refugees of uncooked rice, 10,500 kilos of sugar, and the disabled people in Jaffna, Vavunia, 2,200 kilos of biscuits, 1,800 kilos of milk Mannar and Trincomalee areas. powder, 14,000 kilos of molasses, 4,200 Swami Sarvarupananda, head of the matchboxes, 8,500 saris, 2,200 dhotis, branch of the Ramakrishna Mission in 5,800 lungis, 2,400 kilos of baby food, Colombo, met the Government Agent of 3,005,000 halogen tablets for the purifica- Jaffna on May 23rd, and discussed the plan tion of water, 800 bales of used garments, for relief work. To start the relief work, 2,200 tarpaulins for tents, building ma- the Swami selected a camp with 306 terials like roof tiles and bamboos, etc. families (1320 members) and distributed Cyclone relief work, West Bengal Various kinds of medical relief are also to them food, milk powder, clothes, oil, by the recent Cyclone Aila in West Ben- being given to the people in distressed gal, monks of the areas. have started primary relief operations Donations for relief activities con- among thousands of cyclone victims. The ducted by the Ramakrishna Mission may branches of the Ramakrishna Order at be sent by cash, check or demand draft Belgharia, Manasadwip, Narendrapur, drawn in favor of “Ramakrishna Mission”, Rahara, Belur (Saradapitha), Sargachhi, payable at Kolkata to: Sikra Kulingram, Kolkata (Swami Vive- The General Secretary kananda’s Ancestral House) and Taki are Ramakrishna Mission engaged in relief activities. According to P.O. , Dist. Howrah, W. B. the latest report received from the head- 711 202 quarters of our Order, nearly 100,000 Phone: 2654 1144/ 1180/ 5700/ 5702/ War refugee relief work, Sri Lanka 14 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009 toothpaste, soap, etc. Volunteers of the the congregation. Swami Tyagananda Sri Ramakrishna Samity, Thavady, Jaffna, opened the program and introduced all the provided needed help for the relief work. speakers, including Swamis Swahananda, The relief activities are still continuing. Prabuddhananda, Tathagatananda, Chi- To get more information and view dananda, Aparananda, Chetanananda, many pictures of this relief work Sarvadevananda, Prapannananda, Ishtanan- the reader may visit these websites: , Newly acquired house, Muehlheim, Germany

GERMANY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Vedanta Center in Germany Memorial service for Swami Sarvaga- acquires an additional house near Frank- tananda of the Boston Vedanta Society furt. The opening ceremony for the newly held on May 16, 2009. A memorial ser- acquired house was performed on the vice for Swami Sarvagatananda (1912 Memorial service for Swami Sarvagatananda 17th of May 2009. The new contact ad- -2009) was held on May 16th at the La held in Attleboro, Massachusetts dress of the Vedanta Center is as follows: Salette Shrine in Attleboro, Mass. da, Kripamayananda, Yuktatmananda, Vedanta Gesellschaft; Pestalozzistrasse Attendees were greeted by prelude Paritushtananda and Atmajnanananda, four 2; 63165 Muehlheim (Main); Germany. music and a slide show featuring photos Pravrajikas (nuns), as well as six lay Vedanta Phone: (49) 6108-823105; Fax: (49) of Swami Sarvagatananda spanning his devotees. The program was punctuated by 6108-823107; E-mail address: vedantag- monastic life of over 70 years. Father Cyriac Eastern and Western songs. Swami Yo- [email protected] of the Missionaries of La Salette welcomed gatmananda gave the concluding remarks. Approximately 280 persons came to the JAPAN service. A pamphlet describing the life of Japan Vedanta Society celebrates its Golden Jubilee in Tokyo. The Japan Swami Sarvagatananda was distributed to Vedanta Society in Zushi City has planned a year-long celebration of its Golden all those who attended. Refreshments were Jubilee to be held from May 2009 to May 2010. Accordingly, the Inaugural served to all. Celebration of the Golden Jubilee, together with Swami Vivekananda’s 147th The Vedanta Society of Northern Birth Anniversary Celebration was held at 2:00 p.m. on June 14, 2009, at the California holds its Annual Memorial Indian Embassy Auditorium in Tokyo. Day Retreat on May 25, 2009. The Me- The inaugural address was to have been given by His Excellency Sri H. K. morial Day Special Program was held at Singh, Ambassador of India. But due to a very urgent unforeseen piece of business, the Vedanta Society’s Olema Retreat in he had to go to India. So Sri Sanjay Bhattacharya, Deputy Chief of the Mission Marin County on Monday, May 25, 2009. The guest speakers were Swami Shantaru- pananda, Head of the Vedanta Society of Portland, Oregon; and Laura Magnani, a Quaker and member of the Berkeley Friends Meeting. During the morning session they spoke on “Spiritual Ideal and Goals.” The topic of their afternoon talk was “Spiritual Practices and Their Results.” Nearly 650 people attended. A light lunch and buffet dinner were served to all. Golden Jubilee Celebration, Tokyo, Japan from the Indian Embassy, spoke in his behalf. The other speakers included the Chief Guest Swami Bhaskarananda, President of the Vedanta Society of Western Washington in Seattle, USA; Bishop Kazuhiro Mori of the Catholic Church in Tokyo; and Professor Sengaku Mayeda, President of the Eastern Academy in Tokyo. There were around 300 people in the fully packed auditorium. During the lunch recess refreshments were served to all who attended. The recess was followed by a cultural program consisting of devotional songs sung in both Japanese and Indian languages. The function ended with an Indian Clas- Annual Memorial Day Retreat sical Dance program (Bharatanatyam). Marin County, California

Vol. xiv, No. 3 GLOBAL VEDANTA 15 Book Review Contributors certain originality and freshness to each Russell Atkinson is a poet and member of of the topics discussed, and even veteran the Ramakrishna-Sarada Vedanta Society Vedanta students will find something of of Sydney, Australia. great value within the pages of this book. Perhaps the most attractive feature—and Swami Atmajnanananda is a monk of this is the specialty of Swami Tathaga- the Ramakrishna Order attached to the tanada’s writing—is his unique historical Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, perspective, seeing the Hindu tradition D.C. through the eyes of both Western histori- Swami Bhaskarananda is the editor in ans, thinkers, and poets, as well as Indian chief of Global Vedanta and the president saints and sages. of the Vedanta Society of Seattle, U.S.A. The second section of the book on the historical transmission of Hinduism is also Dr. Kidoor Bhat is a devotee of the Vive- an expanded version of an earlier work. kananda Society of British Columbia in And yet, we find a seamless transition be- Canada. tween the two sections, for here also, many Pravrajika Madhavaprana is a nun of the important concepts of Vedanta and attached to the Vedanta Society of North- Hinduism are presented in both a philo- ern California in San Francisco. Basic Ideas Of Hinduism sophical and historical setting. And How It Is Transmitted Several independent essays have been Charles Mathias, a devotee of the Vedan- By Swami Tathagatananda included at the end of the text in the form ta Society in Seattle, is a gifted cartoonist and writer. Most of the cartoons and Pub: Vedanta Society of N.Y. (2009) of appendices. All but one are reprints from the Bulletin of the Ramakrishna pictures contained in this issue of Global ISBN 13: 978-0960310487 Vedanta are his contribution. Price $13.95 (paperback), 250 pages Mission Institute of Culture and deal Reviewed by Swami Atmajnanananda with important concepts of Vedanta, Bahut Pagal is an American devotee who such as the nature of the Self in Advaita retired from teaching English in an Asian Swami Tathagatananda is one of the Vedanta and the concept of evolution in university and now lives in Bangkok. more prolific writers among the monks Hinduism. A final essay, entitled “Di- of the Ramakrishna Order serving in the vine Tide of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Joseph Peidle is a devotee associated with United States. A brief glance at the vari- Reaches Western Shore,” deals with many the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of ety of topics he has written on reveals an fascinating new developments within the Massachusetts in Boston. abiding love for all cultures and traditions, global Vedanta movement, including even Pravrajika Preetiprana is a nun attached as well as the great thinkers and spiritual a Yoga group in Iraq. This essay previously to the Vedanta Society of Northern Cali- personalities of both East and West. His appeared in Vedanta Kesari. fornia in San Francisco. great admiration for Einstein, for example, As we might expect, Swami Tathaga- is only one of many instances. That same tananda has once more presented us with sense of respect, along with his knack for a fascinating book, interspersed with placing things in their proper historical fascinating and, at times, unexpected perspective, is on full display in his latest quotations from a variety of sources and book, Basic Ideas of Hinduism and How it filled with intriguing insights. It is of About Contributing to is Transmitted. equal value to the philosopher and the Global Vedanta In some respects, the present book historian, as well as to the beginner and Global Vedanta will gladly consider ar- is an expanded version of his previous old-timer. It is a book to be valued and ticles, poetry, humor, etc. submitted for work, Journey of the Upanisads to the West. enjoyed by all. publication. The subject matter should Swami Tathagatananda himself refers be religious, cultural, or educational, and must appeal to a general and broad- to the initial section of the book as “an Note to Vedanta Centers minded readership. Articles should be edited compilation of the Prologue.” And around the world: entertaining and yet substantial, and be yet, the treatment is so new and fresh, Your news items are welcome and within 1500 to 1700 words in length that one would barely suspect that it is encouraged. You may submit them by (not exceeding 2000 words in any event). not a completely new subject. All of the Articles accepted for publication may email to: [email protected] important teachings of Hinduism and require a release signed by the author For more effective news coverage Vedanta can be found within the pages and, unless prior arrangements are made, please attach one or two high resolu- of this work, and yet there is no feeling no materials submitted to Global Vedanta tion pictures to your email message. that one is reading a textbook version can be returned. of Hinduism. On the contrary, there is a 16 GLOBAL VEDANTA summer 2009