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In this Issue: • Sri ’s Comforting Assurance • Pythagoras and the Great Theorem • Training of the Heart • The Investment Gita and more…

Editor-in-chief Swami Bhaskarananda Editors Allen R. Freedman Stafford Smith spring 2010 vol. xv, no. 2 Editorial Assistant Devra Freedman Production/Design/Artwork Charles Mathias Brahmachari David Kathleen Teague Scott Wirth Advertising/Business Assistant Swami Avikarananda This Issue Editorial and Business Offices 2 Sri Ramakrishna’s Comforting Assurance 2716 Broadway East Seattle, WA 98102-3909 4 Training of the Heart Phone: 206-323-1228 Fax: 206-329-1791 6 Honey E-mail: [email protected] 8 Pythagoras and the Great Theorem Global Vedanta, Issue #56 (ISSN 1089-6902) 12 The Investment Gita ©2010 Viveka Press. All rights reserved. Repro- duction of any portion of Global Vedanta without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. ­The opinions expressed by the contribu- tors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Global Departments Vedanta is published quarterly for us $12.00/year in the U.S.A.; us $14.00/year in Canada & Mexico; 1 Letters us $18.00/year in all other countries. 7 Poets’ Corner 11 Humor—The Spice of Life Viveka Press, the publisher of Global Vedanta, is the publishing arm of the Vedanta Society of Western 13 Vedanta News from Around the World Washington, a non-profit corporation founded in 16 In Memoriam 1941. The Society gratefully accepts tax-deductible contributions and bequests to assist its efforts to 16 About the Contributors publicize various aspects of Vedanta with special emphasis on its teaching of the harmony of all religions. All editorial and pre-press work on Global Vedanta is provided on a voluntary basis. Cover: Photography: Ashwani Sharma; Artwork: Brahmachari David President Swami Bhaskarananda Board of Directors Chairman Mr. Stafford Smith Vice-Chairman Dr. Anadijiban Das Treasurer Dr. Allen R. Freedman Secretary Mr. Charles S. Wirth Directors Swami Avikarananda, Swami Brahmatmananda, Mrs. Rita Das, Mr. John E. Flynn, Swami Manishananda, Mr. Charles Mathias, Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, Dr. Usha Sankrithi Emeriti Dr. Santosh Kumar, Dr. Darbari Lal Sharma LETTERs Loved Volume 15, number one, es- to the Bishop for his candid writing. Global Vedanta—the magazine, I love, pecially Selfishness and Dharma, Genuine The article Selfishness and Dharma is like and cherish more than anything else. Love of Your Neighbors, Ask the Swami, and also good and the review of the book on Nani Banerjee The Silent Power. Oh, I guess I’ve named Girish Ghosh is also written well. Sunnyvale, CA the whole thing! Thanks much for this Swami Gautamananda, Sri Ramakrishna lovely issue. Math, Mylapore, , India I truly appreciate receiving Global Sonjia Nikolay Vedanta. Cambridge, WI We enjoy reading each and every issue Padma Somasundaran of Global Vedanta. We wait eagerly for the New Hyde Park, NY The latestGlobal Vedanta (Vol. XV, No. next issue right after finishing reading 1), was excellent. The write-up Genuine one issue. Love of Your Neighbors by Bishop Ka- Nandita and Dipak Bagchi zuhiro Mori is extraordinary. …Hats off Ontario, CA Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 1 SRI RAMAKRISHNA’S COMFORTING ASSURANCE by swami sambuddhananda (Swami Sambuddhananda was a disciple great love and devotion. outburst of grief and sensing that the of the Holy Mother Sri . At the In the same neighborhood where worst must have happened to Kusum, invitation of the Vedanta Society of Hawaii, Kusum lived with her parents, lived a both Mr. and Mrs. Mukherjee ran up to he visited Honolulu twice nearly fifty years certain Mukherjee family. They lived the balcony of the second floor of their ago. The following article, edited by Swami very close to Kusum’s home. Both house from where they could see what Bhaskarananda, is one of his talks given in Mr. Mukherjee and his wife were also was happening at Kusum’s home. After Honolulu.—Ed.) devoted to Swami . When- a little while Mr. Mukherjee saw Khoka nce Sri Ramakrishna said, Maharaj walking out of that house “Those who will come ‘here’ holding Kusum’s hand. Then both will not be born again.” In Kusum and Khoka Maharaj slowly Oother words, those who will come ‘here’ moved out of sight walking down the will attain liberation; they will be free street. from the cycle of repeated births and Mr. Mukherjee wondered whether deaths. he had been seeing some kind of illu- When I first read this saying of Sri sion. So he asked Mrs. Mukherjee, “Did Ramakrishna, it appeared to be a little you see Khoka Maharaj walk out of enigmatic to me. I couldn’t clearly un- that house holding Kusum’s hand? Or, derstand what Sri Ramakrishna had is it that I have been seeing things?” meant by “here.” By the word “here” did Mrs. Mukherjee replied, “No, it’s not Sri Ramakrishna mean his own divine an illusion! I also have seen the same Self, or did he mean something else? thing. But I don’t know how it could So I asked several spiritually exalted be possible!” disciples of Sri Ramakrishna to know Both of them wondered: “How how they had understood it. I had the and when did Khoka Maharaj arrive privilege of asking Swami , here? We are always informed when he Swami and a few others. comes to Ranchi for a visit. And every Unfortunately, their replies didn’t quite time he visits Kusum’s home he visits satisfy me. our home as well.” But, when I was not yet a monk of Later they inquired of Kusum’s the , I had the good parents if Swami Subodhananda had fortune of living for a while with an- come to their home the day Kusum other great disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. passed away. And they were told that He was my honored guest, and spent he hadn’t come. The Mukherjees were about two or three months with me. extremely surprised to hear that, but He was Swami Subodhananda, better Sri Ramakrishna kept silent. They didn’t tell anyone else known in the Ramakrishna Order as 1836–1886 about what both of them had seen on Khoka Maharaj. To him I referred the the day Kusum passed away. matter. And, in reply, he narrated one ever Swami Subodhananda would visit After a few months Swami Subod- incident of his life, which helped me to Kusum’s home he would also visit the hananda came for a visit to Ranchi. Then understand the real significance of this Mukherjees. as usual he came to Kusum’s parents’ utterance of Sri Ramakrishna. After a few years, Kusum became quite home to meet all the members of that Swami Subodhananda had many dis- ill. Her parents, siblings and all others large family. His words of consolation ciples. He had a number of disciples who who loved her were very sad. During helped ease the grief of that bereaved lived in Ranchi, a town in Bihar. It so hap- the period of Kusum’s illness, Mr. and family considerably. pened that all those disciples of Swami Mrs. Mukherjee would come and see her After visiting that home, Swami Subodhananda in Ranchi were Bengalees. frequently. Eventually the doctors, under Subodhananda came to see the Mukher- And one of them was a very good-natured, whose treatment she was, gave up all jees. The Mukherjees were overjoyed, widowed girl named Kusum. Kusum had hopes about her recovery. Then came the and they went on talking happily with no children and lived with her parents and sad day when Kusum breathed her last. the swami for quite a while, and listen- siblings. She was very much devoted to her As soon as she passed away, her par- ing to his spiritually inspiring words. In guru, Swami Subodhananda. Whenever ents, overwhelmed with the unbearable course of their conversation they also the swami visited their home in Ranchi, pain of losing their dear daughter, started talked about what both of them had seen she had the opportunity to serve him with weeping and crying aloud. Hearing that immediately after the death of Kusum. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010 Referring to that strange incident, they During this illness in , one day life she was leading in the Ramakrishna asked Swami Subodhananda, “Although he felt very thirsty. He got up from his Loka4— the spiritual realm of Sri Ra- you hadn’t actually come to Kusum’s home bed with great effort and made an attempt makrishna. that day, immediately after Kusum’s death to drink water. The drinking water was in Kusum said that she was leading a very we saw you walking out of that home his kamandulu2 away from his bed. After peaceful life there, free from all kinds of holding her hand. Will you please tell us drinking a little water, while coming back worry and anxiety. Only peace reigns in why we saw that?” to his bed, he fainted and collapsed on the Ramakrishna Loka. It is hard to describe Swami Subodhananda said to them floor. He remained in that state for some through words the actual condition of that he was unable to answer their ques- time. Then regaining consciousness, he that realm. tion at that time, but he assured them that went to his bed and tried his best to have Then Swami Subodhananda asked her, he would tell them when he would be able a nap. While sleeping, he saw that Kusum “Well, can you tell me what happened to to know what had actually happened you when you died?” that day. Kusum replied, “During my illness, Shortly thereafter Swami Subod- particularly during the last part of my hananda departed from Ranchi. After illness, I was extremely worried. I was leaving Ranchi he went to Varanasi. He suffering terribly. Still I didn’t forget wanted to spend some time in tapasya1 you. Then during the last moment of there. After a little searching he found my life I saw that you had come to me. a room in a very solitary area of the You told me, ‘Come on with me. Why city. The Ramakrishna Order has two should you wait any longer here?’” Ashramas in Varanasi. Had the monks “So I went with you. You held my of those two Ashramas come to know hand and led me. After going a certain of his presence in the city, they would distance, when I looked toward you, immediately come and take him to one I couldn’t find you. Instead, I saw Sri of those Ashramas. In apprehension of Ramakrishna in your place!” that possibility, Swami Subodhananda “I asked him, ‘Revered Khoka Ma- took great care to conceal his presence haraj was all along with me. Where has in Varanasi from the monks of those he gone?’” two Ashramas. In order not to be seen “Then Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘It was by them, he also had to be very careful not Khoka whom you saw; it was I. I about his movements within the city. took the form of Khoka and led you He took these measures, because he from your home to this place. It wasn’t wanted to perform his tapasya undis- Khoka, but all along it was I who was turbed and with all earnestness. accompanying you.’” In performing tapasya one has to Swami Subodhananda Then Kusum said to Swami Subod- 1867–1932 live alone, completely depending on hananda that she was all the time with God. Just to sustain his body, following was sitting by his bedside and was fanning Sri Ramakrishna in Ramakrishna Loka, the ancient monastic tradition, Swami him with a hand fan.3 and was passing her days in great happi- Subodhananda would procure a little Swami Subodhananda was extremely ness and peace. food every day from outside by begging. surprised to see her and asked Kusum, Hearing that, Swami Subodhananda said He would spend the rest of the day in the “How could you come here? Who brought to her, “Very well, Kusum, now you may go contemplation of God. you here?” back to where you have come from.” In this manner time went on. But after Kusum replied, “I was with Sri Ra- When Swami Subodhananda narrated some days, Swami Subodhananda fell makrishna, and he told me, ‘Khoka has this incident to me, the meaning of Sri sick. He had a fever and his temperature fallen sick and he is remembering you. Go Ramakrishna’s utterance—“Those who was rising day after day. As a result, he there and serve him.’ He has sent me here; will come ‘here’ will not be born again.”— was not in a position to go out every day that’s why I have come here.” became very clear to me. I understood and beg for his food. As the days went Khoka Maharaj asked her what kind of that whoever would come to accept Sri on, due to his persistent fever and lack of Ramakrishna as his or her spiritual ideal food, he grew weaker and weaker. Around 2. Kamandulu is a water pot that sadhus carry. through the gurus of the Ramakrishna this time he remembered that in the past, 3. Editor’s note: Swami Subodhananda was Order would be liberated. They won’t be when he had once fallen ill in Ranchi, not only a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, born again. Kusum served him with great love and but also a spiritually illumined soul. He devotion until he recovered from that had experienced God. Therefore his mind illness. had a preponderance of sattva guna. This is why whatever he experienced in his 4. The devotees of Sri Ramakrishna call Brah- 1. Austerity in spiritual practice. dream was nothing but the truth. maloka by this name. Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 3 training of the heart by swami bhaskarananda (Adapted from a talk by the author–ed.) the emotion love can be either positive ing our inherent Divinity in the fullest or negative. As you belong to a society of measure is called experiencing God. The here is something in all of us that human beings, love of your fellow human only way to transcend suffering in this helps us to know things. That beings is considered a positive emotion. world is to experience this Divinity. And “something” is none other than But love of something that is detrimental Divinity can be experienced only by theT mind. It’s the conscious mind that to society as well as to yourself is consid- the pure mind. Purification of the mind knows everything. Truly speaking, know- ered a negative emotion. Love of higher is called in Sanskrit “Chitta-shuddhi.” ing is the only function of the conscious learning is a positive virtue, but love of Without Chitta-shuddhi or the “purifica- mind. Even when you say, “I don’t know narcotics is surely not so. Similarly, every tion of mind” no God-vision is possible. anything,” you must know that you don’t emotion can sometimes be interpreted Following this line of thinking, the title know anything. of my article, “Training of the Heart” Thinking, feeling and willing are should mean training of the mind. And all functions of your mind. If you Manifesting the purpose of this training is God- analyze, you will discover that experience. they are no other than “know- our inherent divinity in Now let us try to find out ing.” Thinking and knowing are how the mind can be trained identical. When you say, “I am the fullest measure is called to develop that emotion which thinking,” you must have the will enable us to have God ex- knowledge that you are think- experiencing God. The only perience. And the most helpful ing. It is impossible for you to emotion that can help us to ex- think without knowing that way to transcend suffering in this perience Divinity is intense love you are thinking. It is the same and yearning for God. with feeling or willing. Nobody world is to experience this How can we develop such can feel or will anything without intense love of God? Can we de- knowing that he or she is feeling Divinity. velop this emotion by suppressing or willing. or annihilating all harmful emotions Yet there is some superficial differ- or thoughts? The answer to this second ence between feeling and willing. When as positive and at other times as negative question is “No.” your thoughts are associated with your depending upon how it relates to society Once a young man named Harinath emotions you say that you are feeling. or the individual. came to his great saintly teacher, Sri Willing is a feeling of strong determina- In the context of social as well as indi- Ramakrishna, and said, “I want to get tion to achieve something. vidual behavior, the terms “positive” and rid of lustfulness; I hate the company of When we use expressions like “train- “negative” can easily be substituted by the women!” ing of the heart” we are referring to such terms “helpful” and “harmful.” Sri Ramakrishna said to Harinath, thoughts of ours that are associated with As the title of my article is “Training “Hating women won’t help; it will only our emotions. When you say, “I feel in my of the Heart,” I have to dwell on how we harm you. You can’t get rid of lustfulness heart great compassion for those who are can get rid of our harmful emotions and that way. Instead, learn to direct your lust- suffering,” you are obviously not talking replace them with helpful ones. ful emotion toward God.” about your anatomical heart that pumps As discussed earlier, emotions are none Through these words Sri Ramakrishna blood all over your body. By the word other than thoughts, and such thoughts taught his disciple Harinath the secret “heart” you must at that time mean that are all located in our minds. Therefore, the of how to transform lustfulness into love kind of thinking that is called “feeling.” expression “heart” can safely be replaced of God. Following his guru’s instruction, Feeling can be of various kinds, de- by the word “mind.” For example, the fa- Harinath eventually became a spiritually pending on your thoughts associated with mous statement of Jesus, “Blessed are the illumined soul—a genuine saint. In the your different emotions. Love, compas- pure in heart, for they shall see God,” can Ramakrishna Order of monks he is highly sion, sympathy, happiness, grief, anger, be replaced by the statement “Blessed are respected as Swami . hate, lustfulness, greed, jealousy, envy, they whose minds are pure, for they shall This example shows us how, by training etc. as well as devotion to God or any see God.” the mind, we can transform all negative higher ideal, are some of your emotions. There is no difference between the or harmful emotions into positive, help- Sometimes you divide them into two heart and the mind. According to the ful emotions, such as love and devotion classes—positive and negative. But such ancient teachings of Vedanta, Divinity is to God. According to Vedanta, love of classification is totally dependent on equally present everywhere, but it is not God is identical with love of the Ultimate how you interpret them. For example, equally manifest in all places. Manifest- Truth. In the scriptures of Vedanta, God 4 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010 has been mentioned as Satyasya Satyam— of mine acts like a broom; it cleanses my the Truth of all truths. mind of all other thoughts. After that, I b o o k s f r o m The Bhagavad-Gita, the famous scrip- throw away the broom—my last thought. viveka press ture of , tells us how the Thus my mind becomes free from all available from emotion expressed as love of sense objects, thoughts.” if obstructed, can successively become Even then, he couldn’t have denied The Vedanta Society of transformed into anger, delusion and that his ego would still linger on behind Western Washington confused thinking, thus causing great his last thought, as the thinker of his last (most can also be harm to the individual’s mind. Accord- thought. Ego is a thought, so as long as obtained from ing to Sri Ramakrishna, the emotion or his ego persisted, the young man wouldn’t thought of lustfulness cannot be sup- really be able to make his mind free from AMAZON.COM) pressed, repressed, or annihilated with the all thoughts. thought of hatred toward the opposite sex. An average person’s mind and body Life in Indian Monasteries—$14.95 We have to learn the art of transforming are closely connected to each other. If The Philosophical Verses of lustfulness into love of God. something bad happens to the body the Yogavāsishtha—$9.95 This is “the training of the heart”; mind becomes affected, and vice-versa. Meditation, Mind and worded differently, this is learning how to Then again, our bodies are the product Patanjali’s Yoga—$14.50 think “helpfully,” and not “harmfully,” to of the food and drink that we take. The The Essentials of Hinduism—$14.50 achieve the divine Truth in all of us. gross portion of our food and drink form Reminiscences of We know that as long as an average our physical bodies. Our minds also de- Swami Brahmananda—$14.95 person’s mind is conscious, it will have rive strength from the subtle portion of The Wonder that is thoughts, whether those thoughts are the food and drink that we take. So, in Sri Ramakrishna—$8.95 helpful or harmful. There cannot be any order to develop a pure mind we have to Journey From Many to One—$15.95 conscious mind from which all thoughts learn to take the right kind of food and (This book is now available on Amazon’s “Kindle”) can be totally annihilated. drink. Food or drink that excites the mind The first thought that arises in a con- should be strictly avoided. This will help scious mind is the ego or the thought us to acquire a serene and pure mind. of “I.” This thought or ego enables us to One also has to learn how to control separate ourselves from everything that the mind and make it one-pointed. When we are not. It is this ego that performs the entire energy of the mind is concen- all kinds of action, mental or otherwise. trated on just one thought, that thought Behind all kinds of physical and mental becomes the most intense thought. It activities is the ego as the doer of such becomes like a laser beam in which all the activities. photons have been controlled and concen- Once a western young man came to see trated in order to flow in a straight line. A From the review of Journey From me in our Ashrama in Seattle. He said to beam of dissipated light cannot penetrate Many to One by Mountain Path me, “Swami, I would like to talk to you even a thin layer of opaque paper. But a ( January-March 2010 issue) A journal about a new technique of meditation that laser beam can easily penetrate through a published by Sri Ramanashramam, I’ve developed.” plate of the hardest steel. Tiruvannamalai, South India. ‘What’s that new technique?” I en- When love of God becomes that quired. intense, it becomes like a laser beam. “His presentation is a joy to read. He replied, “I make my mind free from It penetrates through the barrier of It cuts to the core of Advaita and all thoughts, —this is my new technique unknowing and enables us to reach our elucidates its principles with apt, fresh of meditation.” inherent Divinity. When that happens, analogies and stories. The swami cov- “But when you have made your mind we transcend this world of time and ers all the salient points helpful in free from all thoughts don’t you know, space. We transcend the mind and the understanding the nature of Brahman. ‘I have made my mind free from all ego. Only Divinity—the eternal state of The essential aspects of time (eternity), thoughts’?” infinite Knowledge, never-ending Bliss space (infinity) and causation (change- “Yes, I do!” said the young man. and Consciousness—remains. This is lessness). The importance of a pure “In that case, your mind is not free experiencing God by becoming one with mind is intelligently explained and the from all thoughts,” I argued, “because Divinity. This is the goal for which we conundrum of whether the world exists you still have one thought in your mind, should learn to train our hearts. or not is convincingly presented. There which is: ‘I have made my mind free from is much food for reflection….” all thoughts.’” The young man was puzzled, thanked SEE PAGE 10 FOR BOOK me nervously, and left shortly thereafter. ORDERING INFORMATION He could have argued: “This thought Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 5 ask the swami

Honey by russell atkinson ll this is honey to all this,” the old man said, his means of becoming all.” * honey-brown flesh shining from his outstretched Shvetaketu wondered about this strange teaching a long time. arms. Up and over his head they went until his fluid Going back past the marigold garden, bees were buzzing about, “Afingers touched the leaves on the forest floor. His hands, still busy as usual. Again he sat under the banyan watching the buzz- beautiful in their grace, swept down his body and arched toward ing about and the bee-line flights back to the hive. “Such activity! the youth Shvetaketu, sitting before him. “All this is honey to all So much work! How much they must love their honey.” this,” the old man said. Far away, in the depth of the jungle, peacocks called. Nearby, Shvetaketu, still as stone, waited and wondered. “This is a goat herders moved their flocks along, singing, tapping the strange teaching,” he thought, “What does he mean, honey?” ground or the goats’ behinds with their staffs. Boatmen strid- The old sage Kapya sat on his mat of Kusa grass, unseeing ing back and forth, rowed their country boats against the flow, eyes half closed. When Shvetaketu asked, “Revered sir, what is chanting mantras to Mother Ganga or singing fragments of honey?” no answer came. love songs. The sweet odour of jasmine rose with the heat from Far away, in the depth of the jungle, peacocks called. Nearby, below the forested hill. As dedicated as hermits, the bees, never goat herders moved their flocks along, thinking of themselves, worked for each singing, tapping the ground or the goats’ other, the Queen and the hive, without behinds with their staffs. Boatmen strid- “All this is a stop. ing back and forth, rowed their country Early next day, as the cows were driv- boats against the flow, chanting mantras honey to all this,” en to pasture, Shvetaketu went to Kapya, to Mother Ganga or singing fragments the old man said. still sitting motionless on his Kusa grass of love songs. The sweet odour of jas- mat. “Gurudev, I understand that honey mine rose with the heat from below the Shvetaketu, still as stone, is love but I do not understand your forested hill. Aware of it all, Shvetaketu waited and wondered. teaching.” he told the placid old man, sat wondering. who said: Then, muttering “Namaste Gurudev,” “This is a strange teaching,” “This sun is the honey of all beings, Shvetaketu pranamed. Wondering still, and all beings are the honey of this sun. he walked towards the village. At the he thought, “What does he Likewise, the bright immortal being who temple he saw many bees, little mean, honey?” is in this sun and the bright, immortal dollops of pollen on their legs, flying being who is in the body are honey both. straight into the jungle from the mari- These four are but this Self. This underly- golds the brahmins grew to make garlands ing unity is the Great One. Knowing this is for Kali, the Holy Mother. “Let me think about this,” he said to immortality and the means of becoming all.” * himself. He found shade beneath a banyan tree, propped himself Shvetaketu wondered about this strange teaching a long time. against the trunk and closed his eyes. Going back past the marigold garden, bees were buzzing about, Far away, in the depth of the jungle, peacocks called. Nearby, busy as usual. Again he sat under the banyan watching the buzzing goat herders moved their flocks along, singing, tapping the about and the bee-line flights back to the hive. “I will follow them,” ground or the goats’ behinds with their staffs. Boatmen strid- Shvetaketu said to himself. By the pond in the village he found the ing back and forth rowed their country boats against the flow, smallest puff of goose down and wetting it, stuck it on the end of chanting mantras to Mother Ganga or singing fragments of a bee, dizzy with delight, legs laden with pollen. Flying not as fast love songs. The sweet odour of jasmine rose with the heat from as it would like, the bee made off for the hive, Shvetaketu running below the forested hill. Aware of it all, Shvetaketu sat thinking after, straight to the hive in an ancient tree, scaring the wild deer, the about honey. “Honey is golden brown, sticky and sweet to us, squirrels, the birds and ruining the aim of chameleons. but what is it to bees? They hoard it as a miser does his wealth. Cautiously he approached the hole the bees were in. To a Maybe honey is riches,” he thought. guard bee at the entrance he pranamed saying, “A little halt busy Early next day, as the cows were driven to pasture, Shveta- one. Please tell me, what is honey?” The bee buzzed in a grumpy ketu went to Kapya, still sitting motionless on his Kusa grass fashion and said, “What a silly question! Honey is everything! mat. “Gurudev, I understand that honey is riches but I do not What is life without honey?” understand your teaching.” he told the placid old man, who, Early next day, as the cows were driven to pasture, Shvetaketu smiling, said: went to Kapya, still sitting motionless on his Kusa grass mat. “This earth is the honey of all beings, and all beings are the “Gurudev, I understand that honey is life but I do not under- honey of this earth. Likewise the bright immortal being who is stand your teaching,” he told the old man, who said: in this earth and the bright, immortal being who is in the body are honey both. These four are but this Self. This underlying * These quotes are adapted from Swami Nikhilananda’s translation of the unity is the Great One. Knowing this is immortality and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. 6 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010 ask the swami

“This moon is the honey of all beings, and all beings are the honey of this moon. POETS’ CORNER Likewise the bright immortal being who is in this moon and the bright, immortal being Life’s River Grace who is in the body are honey both. These four are but this Self. This underlying unity Last year has gone like a ripple on a river I. is the Great One. Knowing this is immor- or a leaf print in the snow. Flowing Time You can only go tality and the means of becoming all.” * is ours like a piece of fog to rub on the where your life has prepared you Going home past the marigold garden, face of Truth—ours to fumble and scramble to go. Shvetaketu went into the jungle to the into confusion. Until we know it belongs bee’s hive where he asked for an interview to none. To reach further is folly, with the Queen. “Not possible.” said the an egotistical delusion. drone on guard, “Her Majesty never leaves We search for Joy, but Joy we breathe all day. The first step on the road Her chamber, but perhaps She will answer We seek it in a flash of light around the will tell you that. a question through me.” corner of the temple of Good Works, in love “Thank you”, said Shvetaketu, “please and introspection. All of life-death is You will learn what you have forgotten, ask her: what is honey?” self knowing, all of understanding is self- find out A little later the drone came back, revealed, it has become unearthed of lower what you did not even know (during his absence, Shvetaketu counted understanding. We cannot say we are deluded to remember 753 bees bustling into the hive laden or that word would be canceled. to bring. with marigold pollen). The drone said, We are not deludable. “Her Majesty said that honey is bees and Better to humbly sweep the floor of the bees are honey and that they are mutually Our concepts come, they grow, they play master’s mansion interdependent One is the effect of the with us, they die. Our shallowness is mud than to build a shack of your own other. Honey is the effect of bees and bees we learned to love. Our depth is Truth that in a lowland are the effect of honey.” never knew a measure and our hope is keyed where the river floods. Early next day, as the cows were driven to where no dreams arise. to pasture, Shvetaketu went to Kapya, still II. sitting motionless on his Kusa grass mat. All nature makes us struggle I am the handmaiden “Gurudev, I have gone to great lengths to while in struggle we are free. of the handmaiden understand about your honey doctrine— Life’s river flows through troubles of God. even consulting the Queen of the bees. but no troubles reach the sea. In my impurity She told me that honey is the effect of I dare not come closer. bees and that bees are the effect of honey —Swami Bhaktimayananda and all is interdependent.” But in time “Just so!” Kapya said, “They are one; the the fire in my heart same though different. This is the mystery may burn away the dross, understood by the wise. ‘Verily this Self is scour the deepest crevices the King and Ruler of all beings. Just as of their darkness. the spokes of a chariot wheel are fixed in the nave and the felloe, so all beings, all Meanwhile I shall set about my work the gods, all worlds, all organs and all these About Contributing to as best I can, many creatures are all fixed in the Self.’ ” Global Vedanta weaving through this dense web of Far away, in the depth of the jungle, dharma peacocks called. Nearby, goat herders Global Vedanta will gladly consider ar- toward the dim glow ticles, poetry, humor, etc. submitted for moved their flocks along, singing, tapping of a distant light. publication. The subject matter should the ground or the goats’ behinds with be religious, cultural, or educational, their staffs. Boatmen striding back and and must appeal to a general and broad- III. forth, rowed their country boats against minded readership. Articles should be No one deserves to dwell the flow, chanting mantras to Mother entertaining and yet substantial, and be in the presence of God. Ganga or singing fragments of love songs. within 1500 to 1700 words in length From this recognition flows The sweet odour of jasmine rose with the (not exceeding 2000 words in any event). the gift of grace. heat from below the forested hill. Articles accepted for publication may A small bud burst open, unseen, in a require a release signed by the author —Stafford Smith and, unless prior arrangements are made, dark cleft of the gorge, becoming a glow- no materials submitted to Global Vedanta can be returned. See Honey…page 10 Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 7 Pythagoras and the Great Theorem by allen r. freedman any years ago I read that gain a degree of power and control over ently, he believed that these constituted a mathematician in ancient the whole population through political all the numbers that existed in nature and Greece committed suicide (in activity sounds like a recipe for disaster. beyond. He also accepted number as the aM particularly gruesome manner) because Indeed it was. The record shows that foundation of the universe, that all things he discovered that the square root of 2, Pythagoras and his followers were run are essentially mathematical in nature. If i.e. √2, was not a “rational number.” The out of town and the cult’s meeting places Pythagoras actually discovered the fact mathematician was Pythagoras whose in Croton were burned to the ground. that the easily constructed number, √2, is name is known by nearly every person Pythagoras was forced to spend the not a rational number, it would certainly on earth mainly because of its association remainder of his lifespan of roughly 75 have been a big shock to him, since a with a famous mathematical fact called years in other areas. major assumption of his philosophical the Pythagorean Theorem concerning the His secret society survived, however, system would prove to be false. But then, squares of the sides of a right triangle,* and its teachings through the next several if he were any kind of scientist at all, he which every school student learns. centuries exercised considerable influence would soon have marveled at the discov- I was just a teenager at the time, so over many of the philosophers and math- ery, realizing that the universe (at least I can tell you without too much shame ematicians who wrote during that period, the universe of mathematics) was much where I read that “fact.” It was in a small the Greek Classical Period, including wider and more interesting than he had paperback entitled Ripley’s Believe it or Plato and Aristotle. Neither Pythagoras originally thought. Not that someone had left lying around nor his immediate followers produced A completely analogous situation oc- our house. any known written texts. This agrees with curred in mathematics around 2300 years I never forgot that item of Ripley’s, and the secret nature of the Pythagorean cult. later. The question arose as to whether years later, after becoming a mathemat- So most of the information about him or not transcendental numbers existed. ics teacher, I chose NOT to believe it. comes from writings composed centuries A transcendental number is one which (Mr. Ripley is kind enough to give you a after he flourished. In particular, his name is not the solution to a simple equation choice.) The truth is that very, very little first became associated with the famous of a certain type. For example, √2 is a 2 reliable historical data is available for theorem about triangles some 500 years solution to the equation x – 2 = 0. So Pythagoras. Much of what has survived after his demise. And it was not until the √2 is not a transcendental number (it is sounds more like mythology than his- 4th century AD (that’s AD) that Pythago- called algebraic). In the early 19th century torical fact. One commentator, writing ras was considered to be the discoverer of virtually all mathematicians believed that centuries after the time of Pythagoras, that theorem. transcendental numbers did not exist. Like claimed that Pythagoras was the son of Pythagoras they believed that numbers the god Apollo! were limited to what they knew, that is, The mathematics of Pythagoras they thought that the integers, rational It would seem that Pythagoras was numbers and algebraic irrational numbers The little that is known about quite involved with the study of math- (like √2, among others) constituted all the Pythagoras with relative certainty ematics. Some researchers, however, numbers in the universe. By the middle Pythagoras was born on the island of believe that this was a fabrication of the of the century, however, several numbers Samos in the Eastern Aegean Sea around early writers who were adherents to the were proved to be transcendental, includ- 570 BC. He may have travelled widely in sect. But ancient history (modern history ing the well known number, π, the ratio his younger days. He moved to Croton as well) has many examples where the of the circumference to the diameter of a in Southern Italy when he was about rudimentary properties of numbers are circle. Most mathematicians rejoiced in the 40 years old, and there he established a supposed to have a mystical connection new discovery. For a few, even some very society whose occult practices were kept with religious, philosophical and physi- famous ones, the shock of the existence of highly secret. He was intensely involved cal world notions. There is no reason to transcendental numbers was too great, and with mathematics, music (mostly as it assume that Pythagoras did not apply they could not overcome their prior beliefs, related to mathematics), religion (along mathematics to his religious teachings, refusing to accept the proofs. One famous with the development of secret mystical even though it is likely that he was not mathematician, when he was told of the practices) AND politics! much of a scientist, but primarily a phi- proof of the transcendence of π, was led to Leading a religious sect with cult-like losopher. remark, “that would be interesting, if tran- practices that are kept secret from the Pythagoras investigated the whole scendental numbers existed, but since they public and, at the same time, trying to numbers (integers) 1, 2, 3, etc. and the don’t exist, the proof is merely a curiosity!” next step up the hierarchy of numbers, So Pythagoras’ situation is not limited to * In British English it’s called right-angled tri- the rational numbers, which are the ratios the remote past only. angle. of integers like 1/2, 3/5, 17/3, etc. Appar- Music was another area of Pythago- 8 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010 rean study. It seemed to be a device to In India, Baudhayana’s Sulba Sutra, the truth of the theorem. Did they also show how the world boils down to num- which may predate Pythagoras by more know Euclidean geometry? Not neces- ber (that is, rational number). He was than 200 years, states the theorem per- sarily. It does show, I believe, that when aware of the standard 12 tone scale and fectly, apparently just as we do today, but one tries to conceive of geometric figures the ratios which, if a taut string’s length offers no proof. This is typical of Indian (points, lines, triangles, etc.) on a small is changed accordingly (under the same mathematics throughout its long history: scale, say on a table top or the floor of tension, of course), produces a particular the mathematicians provide the statement your living room, one automatically uses tone when plucked. For example, if the and application of many theorems (i.e. the Euclidean geometry. It is sort of “hard length of the string is doubled (ratio 2:1) truths, facts), often centuries in advance of wired” into the human intellect. the tone will be the octave below the the discovery of the same in other societies, To illustrate, suppose you want to original tone and if the length is halved but give no indication (i.e. proof), except draw an extremely large right triangle, (ratio 1:2) the tone will be the octave for an occasional slight hint, as to why a one that would not be contained within above the original tone. If you make the stated theorem is true. I believe that this your living room, or within your city, or string 2/3 the original length (ratio 2:3) is due to cultural factors, but I won’t argue even your country. For example, suppose the tone will be “the fifth above” the that point now. you find yourself on the earth’s equator at original tone. It is evident that, in China also, the longitude 30° East. You are in Africa, a The Pythagoreans made musical instru- theorem was well known around the little west of Lake Victoria. Start draw- ments (basically, wooden boxes with taut time of Pythagoras and that proofs were ing a “straight” line to the west along the strings or tonal bars of various lengths) attempted. equator and keep going. We will ignore that demonstrated the connection be- It seems that the historians of every the problems you would encounter draw- tween mathematics and music. One can culture that has an ancient mathematical ing a stable straight line over mountains, imagine that the din caused by a hundred history want to show that their culture through forests and over the Atlantic young adherents to the Pythagorean cult was first to discover this or that theorem. Ocean. Think of the earth as solid and plucking away on their musical boxes for This is silly as far as my thinking goes. We smooth as a cue ball. Now keep draw- half the night could have disturbed the will likely never know the who, where or ing your line until you reach the point neighbors so much that that might have when of the first discovery of what we call on the equator where the longitude 60° contributed to the group being expelled the Pythagorean Theorem. The greater West crosses it. You will find yourself in from Croton. probability is that it was discovered in- the Amazonian Jungle in the far north of dependently (and repeatedly) in many Brazil. Longitude 30° East to 60° West cultures throughout antiquity. So there at the equator is one quarter of the way The Pythagorean Theorem seems to be no good reason to name the around the earth (90°), roughly 6,200 Most of us know that in a right triangle theorem after Pythagoras. Clearly, a more miles. Now the line you have drawn is not the sum of the squares of the two shorter correct name would be “Baudhayana’s really straight (in Euclidean Geometry) sides (the legs) equals the square of the Theorem.” But better still might be “The because it follows the curvature of the hypotenuse (see the illustration). Ancient Theorem on Right Triangles.” earth. But you may not have noticed this. At any point in your drawing, everything c looks flat and the line looks as straight as a 2 2 2 An interesting fact concerning The a + b = c it would on your living room floor. Ancient Theorem on Right Triangles. Now back to the end of your line in b While many people are aware of the Brazil. You have drawn the first leg of This is generally called the “Pythago- theorem, most are probably not aware a right triangle. Turn 90° to face true rean Theorem” although there really is no of the fact that the truth of it depends north and continue your line in a north- evidence that Pythagoras discovered it, inextricably on the fact that the sum of erly direction. You will not pass through worked on it or provided a proof of it. He the three angles of any triangle equals the USA but will touch the easternmost was probably aware of it, because histori- 180 degrees. Since one of the angles in a part of Canada. Continue drawing until cal research has shown that this result, or right triangle (the “right” angle) is 90°, the you reach exactly the North Pole of the at least facts which are very closely related other two angles must add up to 90°. All earth. You have now drawn the second to it, were widely known around the world the cultures that conceived of the great leg of your right triangle (again about since the most ancient times. theorem must have made this assumption. 6,200 miles long). Finally, you have to Earlier than 2000 BC, in Egypt, Now this fact about the sum of the angles draw the hypotenuse to finish the giant Mesopotamia and elsewhere, facts like in a triangle being 180° is not universally triangle. 3 2 + 4 2 = 5 2 and 5 2 +12 2 = 13 2 were used true in all “geometries.” It is true in Eu- From the North Pole draw a line regularly in the construction of monu- clidean Geometry which is the geometry (heading due south) along the 30° East ments and altars. These constitute special formulated through a famous set of axi- longitude. After about 6,200 miles you cases of the theorem and other historical oms by the Greek mathematician Euclid will hit the equator and be back precisely data suggest that a more general form was (circa 300 BC). But this formulation is at your starting point in Africa. also known. dated centuries after several cultures knew You have now finished drawing your Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 9 triangle on the earth (see illustration below). If you analyze it observed that c was not the ratio of any two integers, i.e. not carefully you will see that each of the angles in this triangle is a rational number. He surely would have been aware of many 90° for a total of 270°. Furthermore, the Pythagorean Theorem simple facts about the integers and that is all that is required to does not hold good for this triangle since all three sides are equal devise a proof of the fact. in length. Observations of this type came much later in the his- For those interested in seeing how Pythagoras might have tory of mathematics. reasoned, see the proof in the box below.

Proof that √2 is irrational. Suppose that √2 = a /b. We may assume that this fraction is “reduced,” that is, the integers a and b have no common factor. We show in 10 easy steps that this leads to an impossible situation, i.e., this is a proof by reductio ad absurdum or proof by contradiction.

(1) √2 ·b = a [multiply both sides of √2 = a /b by b] (2) 2b 2 = a 2 [square both sides of eq. (1)] (3) a 2 is even [from (2), a 2 is 2 times an integer] 2 (4) a is even [if a were odd then a = a•a would also The irrationality of the square root of 2. be odd since the product of two odd integers is odd] Assuming that Pythagoras was aware of the theorem which (5) a = 2d [any even integer is 2 times an integer] bears his name, he would also surely have been aware that 2 is (6) 2b 2 = 4d 2 [from (2) and a 2 = 2d 2d = 4d 2] equal to the square of the length, c, of the hypotenuse of a right (7) b 2 = 2d 2 [divide both sides eq. (6) by 2] triangle both of whose legs have length 1 (see illustration). (8) b 2 is even [from (7), b 2 is 2 times an integer] Hence, in our modern language, c = √2. (9) b is even [similarly as for (4)] (10) a and b are both even. [from (4) and (9).] 1 c Now this is impossible, because, when we started, a and b had no common factor, and now they do, namely 1 the factor 2. QED QED stands for Latin quod erat demonstrandum, “that 2 2 2 which was to be demonstrated,” i.e., the proof is finished. c = 1 + 1 = 2 We do not know if Pythagoras proved that this number, c, is irrational. But, if he studied numbers and ratios anywhere near as much as we are led to believe he did, he easily could have

Honey…from page 7 the beginning. Mothers put babies to the breast and elder sons lit the fires. Smoke ing white star in the gloom. In the Ganga, drifted about the village and the smell Book Ordering Information a group of dolphins herded a school of of burning cowpats floated about with Special offer: FREE SHIPPING to fish against the bank with a noisy surge of it—a smell the wild things knew well. As USA addresses on orders of two or water that frightened the ibis into flight. the light faded, birds went to roost and more Viveka Press titles. The temple elephant, sad and bored, teth- the creatures of the night sniffed the air Vedanta Society of Western Washington ered by a stout chain attached to a spike to know the direction they should take. 2716 Broadway East driven deep into rock, swayed slowly side Silence as deep as the dark hung heavily Seattle, WA 98102-3909 to side, dreaming of freedom. in the warm air, made more intense by Phone: (206) 323-1228 Deep in the jungle depths a tiger made a the short sudden hoot of an owl or the Fax: (206) 323-1791 kill. Tired and panting, the tiger sat with its clucking of geckos. Email: [email protected] forepaws on the body of a buck. The wester- Aware of it all, Kapya opened his eyes Shipping and Handling (US only). Prior- ing sun, large and dusky red, shed its misty and said: “All this is honey to all this.” ity mail $5.00. Media mail $2.50. Two or light on the radiant clouds floating over a Blissful, free and unafraid, he stretched more books shipped without charge. For distant land. About the village, the cows out upon the leaves and, with a contented shipping outside the USA, please call or were being driven lazily home for milking. sigh, slipped into sleep. write. In the temple the brahmin rang the big bell and began chanting the Gayatri Mantram—mystical sounds from before 10 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010 HUMOR — THE SPICE OF LIFE Abraham Lincoln’s Wit The Scholar The Doctor’s Diagnosis While Lincoln was president, a rank- A scholar was one day walking along A woman rushed to see her doctor, ing man in the post office died and a job a very narrow path, when he came face looking very much worried and all strung applicant waylaid President Lincoln as he to face with a rival scholar. The path was out. She rattled off: “Doctor, take a look left the White House, asking, “Mr. Lin- too narrow for the two to pass. The rival, at me. When I woke up this morning, I coln, you know the Chief Postal Inspector pulling himself up to his full height, said looked at myself in the mirror and saw just died. Can I take his place?” haughtily, “I never make way for fools.” my hair all wiry and frazzled up, my skin “Well,” replied Lincoln, “it’s all right Smiling, the first scholar stepped aside was all wrinkled and pasty, my eyes were with me if it’s all right with the under- and said, “I always do!” bloodshot and bugging out, and I had taker.” this corpse-like look on my face! What’s WRONG with me, Doctor!?” The doctor looked her over for a couple Tobacco Is Good for Jobs of minutes, then calmly said: “Well, I can The tobacco industry reports that it tell you that there is nothing wrong with provides jobs for 2.3 million Americans— your eyesight….” and this doesn’t include physicians, x-ray technicians, nurses, hospital employees, Hearing Problem firefighters, dry cleaners, respiratory specialists, pharmacists, morticians, and An elderly retired gentleman had had gravediggers! severe hearing problems for some time. He went to the doctor, and the doctor was able to have him fitted with a hearing aid This Will Rot More than Your Teeth that allowed the gentleman to hear better The hospital’s consulting dietician was than he had ever heard before. The doc- giving a lecture to several community Charles Mathias tor asked the gentleman to report back to nurses from the Southampton area of him one month later. Hampshire: One month later, the elderly man went “The rubbish we put into our stomachs back to the doctor. The doctor said, “Your How to Go to Heaven and consume should have killed most of hearing is perfect. Your family must be us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is ter- A teacher was testing the children in really pleased that you can hear again.” rible. Fizzy drinks attack your stomach her Sunday school class to see if they un- The gentleman said, “Oh, I haven’t told lining. Chinese food is loaded with msg. derstood the concept of getting to heaven. my family yet. I just sit around and listen Vegetables can be disastrous because of She asked them, “If I sold my house and to their conversations. I’ve changed my fertilizers and pesticides, and none of us my car, had a big garage sale and gave all will three times!” realizes the long-term damage being done my money to the church, would that get by the rotten bacteria in our drinking me into Heaven?” The Heart Surgeon water. However, there is one food that is “No!” the children answered. incredibly dangerous and we all have, or “If I cleaned the church every day, Jerry was removing some engine valves will, eat it at some time in our lives. mowed the yard, and kept everything from a car on the lift when he recognized “Now, is anyone here able to tell me neat and tidy, would that get me into a famous heart surgeon, who was wait- what food it is that causes the most grief Heaven?” ing for the service manager. Jerry, who and suffering for years after eating it?” Again, the answer was, “No!” was somewhat of a loud mouth, shouted A 65-year-old nursing sister sitting in Now she was smiling. “Hey, they’re get- across the garage, “Hey Doc, come over the front row stood up and said, “Wed- ting it,” she thought! “Well, then, if I was here a minute.” ding cake.” kind to animals and gave candy to all the The famous surgeon, a bit surprised, children, and loved my husband, would walked over to where Jerry was working that get me into Heaven?” she asked. on the car. Jerry, in a loud voice that all A Good Sermon Again, they all answered, “No!” could hear, said argumentatively, “So, Mr. The secret of a good sermon is to have “Well,” she continued, “then how can I fancy doctor, look at this work. Like you, a good beginning and a good ending, and get into Heaven?” I too take valves out, grind them, put in to have the two as close together as pos- A five-year-old boy shouted out, “YOU new parts, and when I’m finished, this sible. —George Burns GOTTA BE DEAD!” baby will purr like a kitten. So how come

See Humor…next page Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 11 Humor…from the previous page Officer?” your vehicle please!” you get the big bucks, when you and I are The policeman answers, “Sir, you were The man steps out of his vehicle. “Is doing basically the same work?” speeding. Can I see your license please?” there a problem sir?” The doctor, very embarrassed, shook his The driver responds, “I’d give it to you “One of my officers told me that you head and replied, “Try doing your work but I don’t have one.” have stolen this car and murdered the with the engine running.” “You don’t have one?” owner.” “No, I lost it four times for drunk “Murdered the owner?” driving.” The officer responds, “Yes, could you Invitation to Dinner The policeman is shocked. “I see. Can please open the trunk of your car?” “Honey,” said the husband to his wife, I see your vehicle registration papers The man opens the boot, revealing “I invited a friend home for supper to- please?” nothing but an empty trunk. night.” “I’m sorry, I can’t do that.” The officer says, “Is this your car, sir?” “What? Are you crazy? The house is a The policeman says, “Why not?” The man says “Yes,” and hands over the mess; I didn’t go shopping; all the dishes “I stole this car.” registration papers. are dirty; and I don’t feel like cooking a The officer says, “Stole it?” The officer, understandably, is quite fancy meal!” The man says, “Yes, and I killed the stunned. “One of my officers claims that “I know all that.” owner.” you do not have a driving license.” “Then why did you invite him for sup- At this point the officer is getting irate. The man digs in his pocket revealing per?” “You what!?” a wallet and hands it to the officer. The “Because the poor fool’s thinking about “She’s in the trunk if you want to see.” officer opens the wallet and examines the getting married.” The Officer looks at the man and license. He looks quite puzzled. “Thank slowly backs away to his car and calls for you sir, one of my officers told me you back up. Within minutes, five police cars didn’t have a license, stole this car, and Traffic Ticket show up, surrounding the car. A senior murdered the owner.” A policeman pulls over a car and ap- officer slowly approaches the car, clasping The man replies, “I bet the lying fellow proaches the driver’s door. his half drawn gun. told you I was speeding, too!” The driver asks, “Is there a problem, The senior officer says, “Sir, step out of the investment gita by andrew oliver Alan Brownscan, the Eternal Lord begun to doubt that investing in the stock who acquire spectacular wealth through of the Federal Reserve, has assumed a market is anything other than gambling. Poker, Roulette, Blackjack, and such, but normal body in order to teach men how And, if it is a sin, and if it is my duty to it seems to me that not one man in all the to properly invest their money. His world is making money in the stock foremost disciple, Alvin Greedman, market right now. Please resolve my one day asks him a question: doubts, O All-Powerful, for I know Alvin said: not where to invest my capital. O Preserver-of-the-Economy, The Blessed Lord of the Federal Foe-of-Recession, Eternal-Lord-of- Reserve answered: Federal Reserve-Loka! My mind is O Son of Your Father, shake off troubled and confused. Everywhere this fear! It is unseemly for an in- I look, I see the stock market plung- vestor to tremble and quiver so at a ing. It seems foolish for me to keep mere downturn in the economy. Do my money invested in something so not imagine that these stock prices uncertain. But I have no other source you see before you on your com- of income. Is it best for me to with- puter screen have never been down draw my money from the markets before, or that they will never again and starve, or is it my duty to remain go up. They have been both up and steadfast, keeping my money firmly Charles Mathias down many times, only you do not invested until it is all lost to falling remember those times. I, however, prices, and starve that way? Furthermore, commit this sin, then might it not be more remember them all. You should stick to is it a sin to invest in the market, since in- profitable to do some real gambling in the your investment plan, only do not invest vesting is so much like gambling? It seems casino? For, O Showerer-of-Compassion- with hopes of making profit for yourself. to me that gambling is a great sin, and, to-the-Universal-Body-of-Investors! You must think, with every investment O Controller-of-Global-Markets; I have There are some, however few they may be, you make, that you are doing it for the 12 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010 good of the national economy. Profits may still come to you; but, then, so might VEDANTA NEWS FROM losses. O Best of the Greedmans, when- ever stock prices decline and inflation AROUND THE WORLD increases, I announce that I will lower INDIA event. interest rates. This is my divine play. The headquarters of the Ramakrishna The Foundation Day of the Ra- As for your question about gambling, Math and the ob- makrishna Mission observed in Dhaka. you should realize that everyone goes serves the birthday of Sri Ramakrishna. On May 1st, 2010, the Dhaka branch on gambling all the time. When you eat The birthday of Sri Ramakrishna was of the Ramakrishna Mission celebrated dinner, you gamble that the food was not celebrated at with due solem- taken from the back of the refrigerator. nity and grandeur on Tuesday, February When you visit certain parts of Irian Jaya, 16th. Anna Prasad was served to about you gamble that the tradition of can- 38,000 devotees. Swami Smaranananda, nibalism really has completely died out. Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Or- When you cross the street, you gamble der, presided over the public meeting held that the other side will be better than the in the afternoon. one you are on. So, you should not give up The “Public Celebration” of Sri gambling; instead, gamble with the right attitude. Give up all your money as lost the moment you invest it; then there can Audience at Foundation Day Celebration only be good surprises. This is the secret at the Dhaka Ashrama in Bangladesh of true happiness. Alvin said: the 114th Foundation Day of the Ra- O He-Whose-Name-Is-Often-Heard- makrishna Mission with a day-long On-The-Business-Channel! Please tell program consisting of a special worship me, how can I recognize a man who is an of Sri Ramakrishna, religious discourses, ideal investor? How does he talk? Where distribution of Prasad to devotees, drama, does he eat lunch? What kind of car does film show, etc. he drive? Marble image of Sri Ramakrishna The Blessed Lord of the Federal Re- at Belur Math Temple MAURITIUS serve answered: Ramakrisna’s birthday held on Sun- Know him to be an ideal investor day, February 21st, at Belur Math drew Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna whose mind is steady in both profit and more than one hundred thousand visi- observed in Vacoas. On Sunday, February loss. He is truly successful who does not tors. 21st, the Ramakrishna Mission Ash- spend all day at his computer, buying rama in Vacoas celebrated the birthday and selling stocks every time some trivial of Sri Ramakrishna at its spacious Sri BANGLADESH announcement is made regarding those Ramakrishna Temple. The celebration businesses in which he has invested. He The birth anniversary of Sri Ra- consisted of worship, religious discourse does not pull out his hair even if the Dow makrishna celebrated in Dhaka. The and devotional singing. All the 300 devo- drops many points. Likewise, he does not 175th birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrish- tees, who attended the event, were given treat his friends to dinner just because na was observed by the Dhaka center Anna Prasad (food sanctified through there has been a momentary jump in the of the and the Ra- offering to God). NASDAQ. He sees all stocks the same: makrishna Mission from February 15th When deciding which stocks to buy, he to February 19th. A large number of does not calculate which stocks are likely devotees and friends participated in the to rise and which ones are likely to fall; more likely, he pastes the names of every available stock upon a dartboard; then fixing his mind steadfastly upon me alone, he will throw a dart, investing heavily in whichever company I cause his dart to fall upon. Such a man is dear to me.

Homa Ceremony on Sri Ramakrishna’s Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna Birthday in Mauritius in Dhaka, Bangladesh Continued on the next page Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 13 VEDANTA NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Continued from the previous page the Deities associated with Vastu (basic was the Honorable Sri Vikas Swarup, SRI LANKA elements and the planets), followed by Consul General of India in Osaka. Other Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna an elaborate worship of Sri Ramakrishna, speakers were Mr. Mukesh Punjabi, Mr. observed in Colombo. On February 28th, Holy Mother and by Keishin Kimura, and Mr. Tomio Miz- Saturday, Ramakrishna Mission (Ceylon Swami Chandrashekharananda. A large okami. The event was attended by nearly Branch) held the public celebration of 500 guests. Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday. Many people Many copies of Swami Medhasan- participated in the event. anda’s Japanese and English versions of

Worship at the new shrine, Sydney

number of devotees from both Sydney and other parts of Australia participated Worship of Sri Ramakrishna in the program. Ribbon cutting at the opening of the at Student’s Home, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. historical exhibit on Indo-Japan relations, The worship of Sri Ramakrishna was Osaka JAPAN also performed at the Ramakrishna Mis- the book, Swami Vivekananda and Japan, sion Student’s Home in Batticaloa, Sri The VedantaS ociety of Japan holds the along with the booklet, Inspirational Mes- Lanka. third phase of its Golden Jubilee celebra- sages, were given away to the guests. tion in Osaka. On Sunday, January 24, the The cultural event consisted of a Bharatanatyam dance performance AUSTRALIA by Ms. Subha Kokubo Chakravborty Sydney center dedicates a new and her troupe, and a sitar recital by shrine. The Vedanta Centre of Syd- Mr. Amit Roy accompanied on the ney had a very small shrine, which tabla by Takashi Komura. was inadequate to accommodate the The event also featured a com- growing number of devotees visiting prehensive historical exhibit on the the center. It was decided to build pioneers of the modern Indo-Japan a temporary shrine cum classroom relationship, Swami Vivekananda until a larger Temple, classrooms, and Tenshin Okakura. library and other facilities are built at a later date. Accordingly the center THE UNITED KINGDOM built and dedicated the temporary structure on Sunday, the 28th of Birth Anniversary of Sri March 2010. Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday Celebration was held Ramakrishna observed in Bucking- The newly constructed shrine was Sunday, February 21st, in the Japan Vedanta Society hamshire. The Ramakrishna Vedanta beautifully decorated with flowers (Nippon Vedanta Kyokai). Here Swami Medhasananda Centre celebrated the birthday of and a traditional priest officiated in performs Homa in connection with that Celebration. Sri Ramakrishna in Bourne End on the worship of Lord Ganesha and February 28th. Over 120 devotees Vedanta Society of Japan held the third participated at the event. The celebration phase of its golden jubilee celebration at began with devotional singing by a number the Tenshin Hall of Osaka’s Chuo-ward. of singers, young and old. It was followed The event was sponsored by the Consulate by a ritualistic worship of Sri Ramakrishna General of India, the Indian Chamber of performed by Swami Dayatmananda. Dur- Commerce-Japan, Indian Social Society ing the worship Uma Basu chanted some of Kobe, Kobe India Club, and Kansai hymns. All those who attended the event Participants at the new shrine dedication Japan-India Social Society of Osaka. were given Anna Prasad. of the Sydney Ashrama The chief guest speaker of the event 14 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010 VEDANTA NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Ashrama in Sao Paulo. The institute aims to serve mainly the poor people, especially women, by teaching them how to manu- facture various handicrafts with recycled materials. The sale of these handicrafts is expected to enhance their income.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Worship of Sri Ramakrishna Worship of Sri Ramakrishna held at the at Bourne End, UK All of the Vedanta centers in the U.S. Vedanta Society of Toronto celebrated the Birthday Anniversary of BRAZIL Sri Ramakrishna in February, 2010. New building for the Ramakrishna THE NETHERLANDS Institute of Human Development in- Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna observed augurated in Belo Horizonte. On April in Amstelveen. The Ramakrishna Vedanta 21st, Wednesday, Swami Prabhananda, Society celebrated Sri Ramakrishna’s General Secretary of the Ramakrishna birthday at its premises in Amstelveen, Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, on the outskirts of Amsterdam. Swami inaugurated the newly constructed build- Sarvatmananda performed the worship ing for the Institute in a simple but joyous in the presence of around fifty devotees. ceremony. In 2007 Swami Bhaskarananda, Devotional singing followed the worship. President of the Vedanta Society in Worship of Sri Ramakrishna, Boston, USA All the participants were treated with Seattle, consecrated the plot on which Anna Prasad. CANADA Sri Ramakrishna’s Birth Anniversary observed in Vancouver, BC. On April 22nd, Thursday, the birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna was celebrated by the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of British Columbia at its premises in Vancouver, BC, in the presence of many devotees and friends. Swami Bhaskarananda, who had come from the Vedanta Society of Newly built Institute at Seattle, performed the worship. There was Worship of Sri Ramakrishna at the Belo Horizonte, Brazil devotional singing by the devotees after Vedanta Gesellschaft (Society) in Mühlheim, Germany the worship. Anna Prasad was given to all who attended the event.

Swami Prabhananda examining the various handicrafts manufactured by poor people whom the Institute serves Worship of Sri Ramakrishna at the Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore the building stands. The Institute is an activity of Centro Ramakrishna Vedanta, Worship of Sri Ramakrishna a sub-center of the Ramakrishna Vedanta in Vancouver, Canada Vol. xv, No. 2 GLOBAL VEDANTA 15 in memoriam Contributors the ideas of Vedanta, and attended lec- Russell Atkinson is a poet, writer, and tures every Sunday while she lived in New member of the Ramakrishna-Sarada Ve- York. After moving to Berkeley, Califor- danta Society of Sydney, Australia. nia, she started attending the lectures of Swami Bhaskarananda is the editor in Swami Shantaswarupananda in Berkeley chief of Global Vedanta and the president and those of in San of the Vedanta Society of Seattle, U.S.A. Francisco. Later she took initiation from Swami Ashokananda, and after finish- Swami Bhaktimayananda, now deceased, ing her university studies she joined the was a monk of the Ramakrishna Order Vedanta Convent in 1962. She took and was attached to the Sacramento Ve- her brahmacharya vows in 1974 and was danta Society. He was a gifted poet. given the name Brahmacharini Jyoti; and Allen Freedman is a mathematician and in 1987 she had from Swami devotee of the Seattle Vedanta Society. Aseshananda. He is a member of the Global Vedanta Turiyaprana offered her many skills to editorial team. the Vedanta Society, most notably being responsible for the Society’s monthly Charles Mathias, a devotee of the Vedan- bulletin, transcribing and typing Swami ta Society in Seattle, is a gifted cartoonist Pravrajika Turiyaprana, formerly Mar- Ashokananda’s lectures, as well as typing and writer. Most of the cartoons and garet Seon, a member of the Vedanta the books of Marie Louise Burke. In the pictures contained in this issue of Global Convent in San Francisco for forty-eight convent she served in various capacities, Vedanta are his contributions. years, passed away in San Francisco on such as the class leader and bookkeeper. Andrew Oliver is a devotee of the Seattle April 7, 2010, at the age of 84. Born in She was much appreciated for her intel- Vedanta Society. He is an immigration New York City on February 24, 1926, she ligence, impartiality, self-discipline, warm lawyer. was an earnest and dedicated student all heart, and ready sense of humor. As her life. She excelled in both academic one of the sisters said, she never tried to Swami Sambuddhananda was a disciple and business fields; in fact, she was adept change people to accommodate her needs of the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi. He at whatever she tried her hand at. She and wishes, but rather she adapted her served as a Trustee of the Ramakrishna was specially known for her artistic skills, behavior to others. Order for many years. He was in charge of be they sewing, upholstery, decorating, In 2003, as her Alzheimer’s progressed, the Center of the Ramakrishna publication layout and formatting, etc. she moved to a San Francisco nursing Math and Mission for a long time. He The death of her brother, her sole sib- facility where she died peacefully. A me- visited the Vedanta society of Hawaii ling, in World War II, was a great loss to morial service was held at a funeral home twice on invitation. her, and at that time a friend brought her with chanting, singing, and talks by her StaffordS mith is a member of the Global to hear a lecture by Swami Nikhilananda. fellow convent members. Vedanta editorial team. A graduate of From the first she was deeply moved by May her soul rest in peace! Harvard Law School, Mr. Smith is a re- tired land-use hearing examiner for King Weapons do not cut it, fire does not burn it, water County in the State of Washington. does not moisten it, and wind does not dry it. ThisS elf Note to Vedanta is indeed incapable of being cut, incombustible, incapa- Centers around the ble of being moistened and of being dried; it is eternal, world: all pervading, stable, immovable, and primordial. Your news items are welcome and encouraged. You may submit Srimad them by email to: Chapter 2, Verses 23, 24 [email protected] Translation by Swami Vireswarananda For more effective news coverage please attach one or two high resolution pictures to your email message.

16 GLOBAL VEDANTA spring 2010