Society of Toronto ( Mission) 120 Emmett Ave. Toronto, ON CANADA M6M 2E6 Tel: 416-240-7262 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vedantatoronto.ca

Newsletter June 2013 Words to Inspire “Think not that you are weak and miserable. Almighty, arise and awake, and manifest your own nature” -The Complete works of , Vol. 2, Page 304 SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP piteously for food. The means are in your hands. Within you lies indomitable power. Only You blindfold your eyes and say, "I am blind and thinking, "I am nothing, I am nothing", you have can see nothing". Tear off the folds from your eyes become powerless. Why, you alone! The whole and you will see the whole world lighted by the rays race has become so. Go round the world once, and of the midday sun. If you cannot procure money, go you will find how vigorously the life-current of to foreign countries, working your passage as a other nations is flowing. And what are you doing? lascar. Take Indian cloth, towels, bamboo-work, Even after learning so much. you go about the doors and other indigenous products, and peddle in the of others. Crying, “Give me employment”. streets of Europe and America; you will find how Trampled under others' feet doing slavery for greatly Indian products are appreciated In foreign others, are you men any more? You are not worth a markets even now. pin's head! In this fertile country with abundant In America, I found some Mohammedans water-supply, where nature produces wealth and of the Hooghly district had grown rich by peddling harvest a thousand times more than in others, you Indian commodities in this way. Have you even less have no food for your stomach, no clothes to cover intelligence than they? Take, for example, such your body! In this country of abundance, the excellent fabric as the Varanasi-made Saris of India, produce of which has been the cause of the spread the like of which are not produced anywhere else in of civilization in other countries, you are reduced to the world. Go to America with this cloth. Have such straits! gowns made of this fabric and sell them, and you Your condition is even worse than that of a will see how much you earn. All combined efforts dog. And you glory in your Vedas and Vedanta! A In India sink under the weight of one Iniquity-we nation that cannot provide for its simple food and have not yet developed strict business principles. clothing, which always depends on others for its Business is business, in the highest sense, and no subsistence-what is there for it to vaunt about? friendship-or as the Hindu proverb says "eye- Throw your religious observances overboard for the shame"- should be there. present and be first prepared for the struggle for One should keep the clearest account of existence. People of foreign countries are turning everything in one's charge and never, never apply out such golden results from the raw materials the funds intended for one thing to any other use produced In your country, and you, like asses of whatsoever - even if one starves the next moment. burden, are only carrying their load. This is business integrity. Next, energy The people of foreign countries Import unfailing. Whatever you do let that be your worship Indian raw goods, manufacture various for the time. commodities by bringing their intelligence to bear upon them, and become great; whereas you have (From The Complete Works of Swami locked up your intelligence, thrown away your Vivekananda, 7.144; 5.114) inherited wealth to others, and roam about crying

Meditation (Based on a talk delivered by Rev. Swami Swahanandaji in Nov. 2011 at the Vedanta Society of Toronto)

Meditation is deep spiritual thinking leading to necessary? He said-Satchidananda is the Guru. realization of Atman. Swami Vivekananda used to Satguru means ‘Eternally existing Guru’– God say – when you sit down for meditation, first of all alone can be eternal. To the same question, Swami send well-wishing thoughts around the world – let Brahmananda said that Guru is absolutely all people be happy, peaceful, free from troubles. necessary. How to know if the teacher is proper one Vedanta implies that God is everywhere or Isha – if his teachings are in line with the teachings of vasyam idam sarvam. Thinking this can prove to be scriptures like the Upanishads, etc. helpful to fix our minds and prepare for meditation. Then you can know for sure that the teacher is In ancient days every person used to perform proper. Why do you have to get the mantra from a sandhya, japam and certain rituals. These are Guru? You can get a book full of mantras and just actions necessary to express our love towards the practice the one which you like. But if the mantra is chosen deity. There is a necessity of a symbol. It given by a holy man, then the power of that mantra can be a photo of the deity and the main aim is to increases. Just like if your mother had said show our respect or love. Swami Vivekananda said something in your childhood, it gets stuck to your – I am yet to see a person who says ‘O Tree please mind throughout your life. The mantra contains fulfill my desire or O Stone, please give me God’s name that is why it becomes powerful. money’. The tree or the stone is just a symbol, the Swami Vijnananandaji Maharaj, a disciple of Sri emotions behind everything is God. Ramakrishna, in his earlier days did not give Main purpose is spiritual realization. But modern initiation. But when he became the Vice-President, man needs quick results, so we say that meditation he was requested to initiate devotees. In Madras, makes your mind calm. Meditation helps to get once a devotee approached him for initiation. The control over our mind, makes us less restless. When Swami asked him–do you believe in me? How we meditate a thought comes up, you may be able could the devotee say that he did not believe in the to see it beforehand and control your action. Swami to whom he approached for initiation? So he Meditation consists of Pratyahara and Dharana – said- Yes Maharaj! Then Swami Vijnananandaji withdraw the mind from the world and focus on pointed towards the photo of Sri Ramakrishna and God. Every form of God is a limitation, so through said– Will you believe if I say that Sri Ramakrishna meditation we have to proceed towards the infinite. is God? The devotee said– Yes Maharaj! Then the In the Gita it is said that when virtue declines, vice Swami did not give him any initiation, but his word prevails then God incarnates himself. In this yuga, was the initiation. The theory is, whatever a siddha Sri Ramakrishna has come to impart the good Guru says, comes true. qualities to the devotees. As a son inherits his Ishta means the ‘chosen one’ or the ‘loved one’– it father’s properties, similarly those who think of Sri helps to focus our mind and establish that special Ramakrishna will inherit his qualities. Sri relationship with that chosen form of God. But as Ramakrishna says that when we call on God, we Sri Ramakrishna said– you may not follow the other must try to establish a relationship– My father, My forms, but you must respect them, since they are the Mother etc. It is difficult to experience the purest manifestations of the same Brahman. In the principles of the Vedas & Upanishads, so by beginning you should meditate with your Ishta establishing these relationships, we try to devata in front of you. But ultimately you must understand those high principles. In relationship bring him in your heart and meditate on him there. you may ask anything. Keep your focus on the main goal, the other smaller goals will take care of itself. There are many varieties of meditation, based on said to Arjuna in the Gita – Keep your religion, sect, groups and countries. But they can be mind on me, but fight the world. He did not say that grouped under six major heads – Arjuna should only think about Krishna and not 1. Empty your minds of all thoughts. This will fight. allow the natural glory of the Atman to shine. Some sects started accepting the Guru as their God. 2. Think of godly qualities–kindness, love, Sri Ramakrishna was asked the question – Is Guru goodness, beauty.

3. To think that life is transient and perishable – Christianity, Sikhism, Judaism and some Buddhists often use this type. It may be terrible sections of Buddhism and Hinduism believe in to think about life in this way, but it is good for that kind of God. Here, God exists but does not people who are afraid of death. If you are afraid have a form. How do we think of that kind of of blood, then visit a hospital and work there for God? You may think of a light in your heart, 3 months and you will be used to it, that fear hallow around you, a lamp glowing in the factor will go away. Fear is of six types – three darkness of your heart. of them relates to your body – felling sick, 3. The next idea of God is Saguna-Sakara – getting old & death. The other 3 are-fear of with qualities, with form. Most sections of losing stability of life, losing loved ones & fear Buddhism and Hinduism believe in this idea of of God. To get rid of fear, the devotee seeks God. These forms are the result of the divine shelter at the feet of Mother. visions seen by great sages in their Samadhi. The next 3 types are meditation about God. The visions depend upon which form they would There are three basic ideas about God – meditate– few meditated on the divine form of 1. God is absolute –Nirguna-Nirakara–no Mother, so came the forms of Durga, etc., qualities, no forms. There is oneness, one few meditated on manly qualities, so came the Brahman. Unless we give a name to someone, forms of Narayana, Shiva, Brahma, etc.. Later we will not be able to recognize that thing. If we on came the idea of avatara or human say that a man has come, you cannot understand incarnations– Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, by this, as to who has come. But if you say Ramakrishna, Holy Mother. The schools Gopal has come, then you know for sure which arose and created varieties of Mantras. Generally person has come. So Rig-Veda, the oldest book these mantras are focused on one particular form of the world, named Brahman as ‘OM’. OM is of God– it helps our minds to focus and need not the oldest mantra of the world. Hinduism, scatter on many forms. Buddhism has OM as the first mantra before their sectarian mantras. Because millions of Prayer is a part of life, any type of unburdening people has recited this OM and meditated on it, can be done to God. At least once a day pray for it has acquired special power. spirituality, devotion, jnana, etc. Sri How to think about that absolute God– it is Ramakrishna tells us not to ask God for any infinite, how to think about infinite? To think worldly things but spirituality. So the devotees about infinity, we have to start with vastness but used to approach Holy Mother and ask her that finite– say meadow, sky or water expanse like they had immense desires and what should they ocean, anything that can be seen or imagined but ask God. Holy Mother told them they can ask unending, vast. Then you start thinking that you everything to God, even their worldly desires. are a part of that vast light or wave of that ocean. This shows that Father will give only those So the focus is not on our self, but on the things, that are needed and good for the child, vastness of existence. Visualizing the vastness is but Mother says that she will take care of Her impersonal meditation. Swami Vivekananda children in every way. gives another explanation of OM– A-U-M– the three positions of the tongue by which all other Vedanta says not to weep and feel weak, but to sounds are produced. So it is also called the assert yourself that you are divine and have great Root sound or Naada Brahman. strength. 2. The next idea of God is Saguna-Nirakara– with qualities but without form. Islam,

Women Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Gauri-Ma Gauri-Ma's original name, given by her family, was Mridani. She was also called Rudrani. She was born in 1857. Her father, Parvati Charan Chattopadhyay, and mother, Giribala Devi, were both very devoted to God. Giribala composed many devotional songs and hymns. Even as a child, Gauri-Ma was fearless and uncompromising, and no external pressure could make her deviate from a resolution which she considered right. Her relatives arranged her marriage against her will when she was thirteen, but her mother allowed her to run away and hide herself. She later on accompanied a group of monks and nuns to Hardwar and spent several years wandering alone, sometimes disguised as a man. During her itinerant days, Gauri-Ma practised severe austerities, such as fasting, observing silence, meditating and studying scriptures. Finally she returned to . Drawn by a mysterious pull, Gauri-Ma came to Sri Ramakrishna in the company of . Sri Ramakrishna wanted to fulfill a special mission through Gauri-Ma. He realized that the women of the society were terribly neglected, especially in the area of education, and it was his wish that Gauri-Ma should work among them. Gauri-Ma looked upon Sri Ramakrishna and the Holy Mother as her own parents. She had a strong desire to practise austerities in a secluded place, and left for Vrindaban. There she met the Holy Mother when the latter was visiting Vrindaban after the Master's passing away.

Later, when she took sannyas, Gouri Maa came to be known as "Gourivrata Puri". In 1894, Gauri-Ma founded the Sri Saradeshwari Ashrama for women on the banks of the Ganga at Barrackpore in Kolkata. The Holy Mother praised the way she took care of the girls there. During the Master's birth centenary in 1936, Gauri-Ma gave an address in Bengali, which was broadcast on All India Radio. On 28 February 28 1938, the day of Shivaratri, Gauri-Ma started consciously preparing for death and passed away the following day. Aghormani Devi (popularly known as Gopaler Ma) was born in a brahmin family in the year 1822 at , a northern suburb of Kolkata. She was a child widow. She was initiated into spiritual life by her husband's family, with the child Krishna as her Chosen Ideal, and was given the Gopala Mantra. Her love and energy were thus directed towards her beloved Gopala. She sold her jewellery and husband's property, invested the money she got from it and lived on the interest accruing from it. She shaved her head as was customary amongst widows, and led an intensely contemplative life in a temple garden at Kamarhati. She would rise at two in the morning and continue her spiritual practices till eight. She would then clean the temple and the worship vessels, pick flowers, and make garlands and sandal paste. She would meditate under a Bilva tree after a bath in the Ganga, cook food and offer it to the boy Gopala, partake of the Prasad and then rest a while. She would practise japa again until evening, listen to the vespers, have a simple light supper and then practise japa again until midnight. She followed this routine from 1852 to 1883.

In 1884, she came in contact with Sri Ramakrishna. But whenever she came to Sri Ramakrishna, the latter would say nothing of spiritual matters, but would ask her to bring whatever she had cooked at home for him. This, at times, evoked mixed feelings, but the Master's pull was too great. In the spring of 1885, she gained a vision of Sri Ramakrishna which melted into the boy Gopala. She started having an uninterrupted vision of her Chosen Deity. Sri Ramakrishna told her that she had attained the goal of her spiritual practices.

After the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, Gopaler Ma was grief-stricken, but repeated visions of the Master consoled her. She would occasionally visit the Baranagore . In 1903, she fell seriously ill, but her exalted mood did not wane a whit. During her last days, she was looked after by . The end came on 9 July 1906. She was carried to the Ganga, where she breathed her last at dawn, touching the holy waters of the river.

SUMMARY OF PAST EVENTS

Sri Buddha Purnima was held on Saturday, Memorial Service for Swami Swahananda May 25, 2013 at 10:30am. The programme was held on Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 11am. included bhajans, reading, puja, Powerpoint Swami Harinamananda of San Diego, USA presentation on ‘Pilgrimage to Kailash- participated in the programme that included Manasasarovar’ followed by prasad distribution. sharing memories of Swami Swahananda.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sri Guru Purnima will be celebrated on Monday, Sri Krishna Janmashtami will be held on July 22, 2013 at 6:30 pm. The programme will Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 6:30 pm. The include bhajans, reading, puja, flower offering programme will include bhajans, reading, puja, followed by prasad distribution. flower offering followed by prasad distribution.

REGULAR PROGRAMMES

SCRIPTURE CLASS: Friday Scripture DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK: Many less Classes begin at 7:30 pm, following the regular fortunate families are dependent on the food evening prayer at 6:00 pm. The class, held at bank for their daily nutrition. Please help us by the centre, is open to all interested persons. contributing non-perishable food items that we VIGIL: On Saturday, June 8, 2013, a vigil may pass along to the Daily Bread Food Bank. consisting of japa and meditation will be SOUP KITCHEN: The Soup is cooked at the observed, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. To Vedanta Society and offered 9 days in a month participate, please call the centre at 416-240- serving 450 meals at Syme Woolner 7262. Neighbourhood & Family Centre, 2468 RAM NAM: Sunday June 16, 2013 at 5:00 Eglinton Ave W, Unit 3, Toronto, ON, M6M pm. 5E2. Please contact the Centre, if you are INTERVIEWS/INSTRUCTION: interested in participating. Donations for the Swami Kripamayananda will be happy to give Soup Kitchen will be highly appreciated. interviews to those interested in knowing more BOOK STORE: The Book Store is open after about Vedanta and meditation. Individual Sunday Services and special programmes, and interviews are also given for spiritual arrangements can be made by phone for instruction. Appointments for interviews weekday and Saturday visits. We carry selected should be made in advance with the Swami at titles from the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda 416-240-7262. literature, as well as other Vedantic materials. DAILY MEDITATION: Meditation is observed at the Centre every morning from 6:00 am to 7:00 am. Devotional singing and meditation is held in the evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. VOLUNTARY SERVICE Soup Kitchen is looking for volunteers to enable to continue its activities. Volunteers are required for 2 hours to prepare soup & salad. Please drop in on Tuesdays at 9:30 am & on Saturdays at 9:30 am. Vedanta Vidya Mandir is looking for volunteers to help in the instructor led classes and also in kids snack arrangements. If you are interested, please contact the society at 416-2407262 or [email protected]

Vedanta Society of Toronto Minister and Teacher - Swami Kripamayananda, Ramakrishna Order of India CALENDAR OF EVENTS June 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 9:30am Soup Kitchen 2 11 am Lecture: 3 4 5 6 7 7:30pm 8 ‘Practicing 9:30am Scripture class: Renunciation’ Soup ‘Gospel of Sri Vigil

Kitchen Ramakrishna’ 6am to 6pm VVM 1:30 pm 9 11am 10 11 12 13 14 7:30pm 15 9:30am Guest Lecture: 9:30am 9:30am Scripture class: Soup Kitchen ‘Nurturing India’s Soup Soup ‘Vivekachudamani’ greatest contribution to Kitchen Kitchen 1:30pm Human Thought’ by Chander Khanna VVM Rehearsal VVM 1:30 pm for Pradarshanam

16 11am 17 18 19 20 21 22 9:30am VEDANTA VIDYA MANDIR 9:30am 9:30am SUMMER Soup Kitchen Soup Soup RECESS Kitchen Kitchen PRADARSHANAM BEGINS RamNam:5pm 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ANNUAL No Lecture 9:30am SUMMER Soup Kitchen RETREAT DAY-1 30 ANNUAL SUMMER RETREAT DAY-2

2013 SUMMER RECESS The Vedanta Society of Toronto will observe its regular summer recess this year from June 21 to September 7. The Annual Seminar will be held on September 8, 2013. Regular services will resume after the Seminar. Please note, however, that Guru Purnima will be celebrated during the recess on Monday, July 22nd at 6:30pm and Krishna Janmashtami on Wednesday, August 28th at 6:30pm. Morning and evening prayer and meditation at the Centre will continue throughout the summer. The Newsletter will not be published in July and August. The Vedanta Society of Toronto wishes everyone a happy and safe summer!