Thursday, November 08, 2007

Swami Gokulananda: a short Biography, 1929-2007


Recently, I had been to Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi and I came across this beautiful offering at the feet of the Holy Trio
"Swami Gokulananda: a short biography, 1929-2007", dedicated at the loving memory of Swami Gokulanandaji Maharaj by a few Delhi devotees.

Excerpts....

To the Youth, Swami Gokulanandaji used to exhort the following quote from Swami Vivekananda:
"Be Possessed of Shraddha, of strength, attain to the knowledge of the atman, and sacrifice your life for the good of others - this is my wish and blessings"
-
Swami Vivekananda
. p.4

Swami Gokulanandaji delivered his first lecture at Delhi the title aptly called "Meditation with eyes open"
Swami Gokulanandaji has often been exhorting the devotees to practise this attitude to work i.e, work is meditation with eyes open by the following five-fold spiritual disciplines in daily routine, which he had himself found as very efficacious:
  1. Early morning and when alone, reminding ourselves of our divinity
  2. During work and interaction, reminding ourselves of the divinity of the people and situations that we deal with.
  3. Frequently reminding ourselves of our divinity and that of others.
  4. Frequently reminding ourselves that to love others is the highest discipline.
  5. Frequently remembering that all women are the manifestation of the Divine Mother. p.44
Let us Meditate on the above words.........

Monday, November 05, 2007

Swami Gahanandaji Maharaj: a tribute




Swami Gahanandaji Maharaj, 14th President of Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission attained Maha-Samadhi on November 4th, 2007 at 5.35 pm. He was 91 and had been admitted to RK Mission Seva Pratishthan hospital, Kolkata for old age related problems. The cremation (Photos / Video) took place today (November 5th, 2007) at about 12.30 pm. in Belur Math. People from all walks of life paid their tributes to Maharaj was a soldier of humanity. His life was one of service to the sick and needy. He also travelled extensively to different branches of the Ramakrishna Order and to various countries around the world to spread the message of Vedanta and the Holy Trio.

Swami Gahanandaji Maharaj: a chronology
October 1916 - Born in Paharpur village Sylhet district, Bangladesh
January 1939 - Joined the Ramakrishna order in Bhubaneshwar
1949 - Sanyasa from Swami Virajanandaji Maharaj (past president)
1942 - 1952 -
served at Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata
1953 - 1958 -
served at Shillong center
1958 - Asst. Secretary & Head of RK Mission Seva Prathishthan hospital
1965 - Trustee and Member of the Governing body of Math & Mission
1989 -
General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Mission
1992 -
Vice - President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission
1993 - represented the Ramakrishna Order at the centenary of Swami Vivekananda's appearence at the World Parliament of Religions, Chicago commemorative function
May 2005 - Elected President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission
November 2007 - Maha - Samadhi.

News from the Web:
ExpressIndia, The Telegraph, WebIndia, The Hindu, Pushpanjali, BelurMath News, Maha-Samadhi Photos, Maha-Samadhi Video clip.