A Spiritual & Cultural Quarterly eZine of Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago No. 10, 2016 Table of Contents Page EDITORIAL 3 HELP, ASSIMILATION & HARMONY FROM VAISHNAVA POINT OF VIEW 4 SWAMI PRAPANNANANDA SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S PHILOSOPHY & WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO IMPLEMENT IT 6 SWAMI TATTWAMAYANANDA TO SEE POTENTIAL DIVINITY IN EACH SOUL 10 PREPARATION FOR GOD REALIZATION (2) 11 SWAMI ISHATMANANDA ARISE, AWAKE AND STOP NOT 15 ADVERTISEMENTS 16 Editor: Swami Ishatmananda Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago 14630 Lemont Road, Homer Glen. 60491 email: [email protected] chicagovedanta.org ©Copyright: Minister-in-Charge Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago NO 10. 2016 Chicago Calling 2 MOTHER SARADA EDIT RIAL The Phalaharini Kali the person of mother Sarada Devi. The students of Sri Ramakrishna-Ma Saradas’ biographies know that Sri Ramakrishna Dev on many occasions indicated, some times in very clear terms that Sarada Devi is none other than Kali herself. We can recall one famous incident: one day while Mother was with Sri Ramakrishna she asked, “How do you look upon me? “Sri Ramakrishna’s immediate reply – “The same mother how is in the temple (Kali), the same mother who gave birth to this body and is now living in the nahabat (Ramakrishna’s biological mother used to live in the music room of the Dakshineswar temple), the same mother is now rubbing my feet. Truly, I always see you as a form of the blissful Divine Mother”. It was for the people of the modern age, The thought of Phalaharini Kali came in my skeptical and unaware of the divine nature of the mind because June 4th is Phalaharini Kali Puja soul, engrossed in physical comforts, Bhagavan Sri night and our this issue of “Chicago Calling” will Ramakrishna Dev worshipped Divine Mother as be published on June 3rd. “Shodashi” on the Phalaharini Kali Puja night on Phalaharini Kali puja is a very important event May 25th, 1873 at Dakshineswar. for the Hindus. Hinduism believe in “karma Invoking the divine power in Ma Sarada, Sri phala” (Action & its result) theory. Hindus believe Ramakrishna prayed- “O Divine Mother Tripura- that on this night if one can properly and sincerely Sundari ! O eternal virgin, possessor of all power! worship Goddess Kali, the divine power of the Please open the gate of perfection. Purify her body almighty God, the result of one’s work, past & and mind, and manifest Yourself through her for present will be taken away by the divine mother, the welfare of all”. Kali. The life of Mother Sarada is the living example The word “Phala-harini” means – “Phala” or of the manifestation of the divine grace through results of actions and “Harini” takes away (by the the person of mother- the living spirituality. goddess). The Goddess who takes away the fruits Every moment, every day of her life was spent of our actions is “Phala-harini” Kali. One’s free for the welfare of humanity. Her unselfish all from the result off all actions, a Jiva, a human embracing love knew no boundary. She is being is free from the bondage of rebirth circle- Phalaharini Kali, she will remove all misery and circle of birth and death. suffering if only one can call her with sincere heart In the modern age, Bhagavan Sri Rama Krishna as mother. propitiated the divine power of Phalaharini kali in Glory to Divine Mother! Jay Ma Sarada! NO 10. 2016 Chicago Calling 3 HELP, ASSIMILATION & HARMONY FROM VAISHNAVA POINT OF VIEW SWAMI PRAPANNANANDA Minister, Vedanta Society of Sacramento This lecture was delivered on Nov. 10th, 2013 at “Chicago Calling”. Respected Swami Suhitanandaji, respected to be ten. Sri Krishna is considered to be the eighth Swami Chetananandaji, other respected Swamis, incarnation of lord Vishnu, but gradually Sri brother monks, sister nuns and dear devotees. My Krishna was elevated to the position of Lord subject is Help Assimilation and Harmony from Vishnu himself. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Vaishnava Point of view and to the spirit of Krishna said to his disciple Arjuna सर्धव र्मन्पव रित्यज्य Vaishnava I assure you that I shall not test your र्मर्के ं शिणं व्रज अहं 配मं सर्पव मपभ्ये ो र्ोक्षरिष्यमरर् र्म शचु - sarva- patience. Vaishnavism is an important branch of dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja ahaṁ Hinduism, its root can be traced in the earliest tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣhayiṣhyāmi mā śhuchaḥ scriptures of this religion; the Vedas. Through the “abandon all actions good or bad and take refuge centuries it spread extensively in spiritual depths in me, I shall deliver you from all sins; do not and enormous following throughout the length grieve.” In ancient Vaishnavism supreme Lord and breadth of India. It fulfils the spiritual hunger Vishnu was advocated with chief practice for of a vast majority of people, this fact is evident reaching the highest goal of spiritual life that is from the large number of Vaishnava temples and moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and festivals. It was nourished by a large number of death. Different ways of reaching the goal of life outstanding mystics and saints from different were preached by different acharyas or teachers. In regions of India. the process, different sects and sub-sects were born Lord Vishnu is one of the three aspects of Hindu in Vaishnavism. The prominent teachers were the trinity, he is entrusted with the sustenance of the Alvars, Ramanuja, Madhva and Nimbarka in the cosmos, and he is also equated to the sun God in southern part of India. Ramananda, Kabirdas, some places. Without any doubt he is one the most Vallabha and Sri Chaitanya in the north. Mention popular aspect of God and he is widely also must be made to saint signers Tuslidas, worshipped. Narayana is another name by which Tyagaraja, Jnaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath, Tukaram, he is addressed in many places of the Vedic Surdas, Mirabai and Narsinh Mehta. The literature in the epics and the Puranas too. He is devotional songs of the saint singers along with a highly eulogized and in many places is given the host of others made Vaishnavism a very simple stratus of the supreme spirit. Vaishnavism is also religion and also truly practical for common called Bhagavata Dharma or the religion of the people. Swami Vivekananda’s passionate words at Bhagavatas, the worshipers of the Bhagavata. the concluding of the parliament of religion; help Being the deity entrusted with the charge of and not fight assimilate and not destruction preservation of the created world, he is often harmony and peace and not dissention are required to take birth as a mortal being known as reflected in many songs and poems which were avatar or incarnation. Possibilities of incarnations spread by Vaishnava saints and singers. I would are limitless but most prominent ones are counted like to share a few of them with you. NO 10. 2016 Chicago Calling 4 Mahatma Gandhi the prophet of non-violence one of his very few compositions he addresses and patriot of India was born and brought up in a (तृणमदऽरप सनु ीचने तिोिऽरप सरहष्णनु म अर्मरननम र्मनदने कीतनव ीिः Vaishnava family. He was an admirer of Swami सदम हरिः - trinaadapi sunicena, taror api sahishnuna Vivekananda and drew inspiration from him. amaanina maanadena, kirtaniya sadaa Hari “O my Gandhiji loved one song which was composed by mind, be humbler then a blade of grass; be well-known Guajarati saint singer Narsinh Mehta. patience and forbearing like the tree. Take no It describes the qualities of a follower of honor to thy self, give honor to all; chant the name Vaishnavism. The song is this, Vaishnav jan to tene of the Lord.” kahiye je peed paraayi jaane re, “One is known as a Finally, I would to close my talk by referring to a Vaishnava that means one who is a devotee of song a tribute the great poet saint Goswami Vishnu who feels the pain of others.” par dukhkhe Tulsidas; the composer of Ramcharitmanas upkaar kare toye Man abhimaan na aane re -- “Does (श्रीरामचररतमानस). Regarding this book a famous good to others especially to those ones who are in Muslim poet Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana who was suffering; never allows conceit to enter his mind.” the poet laureate of the Mughal king Akbar has – sakal; lok maan sahune vande nindaa na kare keni re, said “Ramcharitmanas vimala santa jeevana prana, “A Vaishnava tolerates and respects the entire hinduvan ko veda sama jabanahi prakat Quran - The world; does not censure or belittle anyone.” -- immaculate Ramcharitmanas is the breath of the vaach kaachh man nishchal raakhe dhan-dhan janani life of saints, it is similar to the Vedas of the teni re, “Keeps his or her words actions and Hindus and it is similar the Quran manifest for the thoughts pure; O Vaishnava your mother is musalmans.” Mahatma Gandhi adapted one song blessed.” sam drishti ne trishna tyaagi par-stree jene attributed to saint Tulsidas and used for his maat re, “A Vaishnava sees all equally; renounces congregational singing. The song is called Ram greed and avarice; considers another’s wife or Dhun, “Chief of the house of Raghu, Lord Rama, daughter as his mother.” -- jivha thaki asatya na bole uplifters of those who have fallen, Sita and Rama, Par dhan nav jhaalee haath re, “Will never utter false God and Allah are your names, bless everyone words with his or tongue; does not even touch with a real wisdom; O Lord.” िघपु रत िमघर् िमजमिमर्, someone else’s property.”– moh maya vyaape nahi परतत पमर्न सीतमिमर्, ईश्वि अल्लमह तिे ो नमर्, सब को सन्मरत दे jene dridh vairaagya jena man maan re, “A Vaishnava भगर्मन - raghupati rāghav rājārām, patit pāvan sītārām, does not succumb to worldly attachments; who īśvar allāh tero nām, sab ko sanmati de bhagavān.