Work for Others....

Swami Vivekananda: ....Praise and censure have no value in this world of ours. They only rock a man as if in a swing. Praise I have had enough of; showers of censure I have also had to bear; but what avails thinking of them! Let everyone go on doing his own duty, unconcerned. When the last moment arrives, praise and blame will be the same to you, to me, and to others. We are here to work, and will have to leave all when the call comes.

................Think of this infinite universe with its millions and millions of solar systems, and think with what an infinite, incomprehensible power they are impelled, running as if to touch the Feet of the One Unknown - and how little we are! Where then is room here to allow ourselves to indulge in vileness and mean-mindedness? What should we gain here by fostering mutual enmity and party-spirit? Take my advice: Set yourselves wholly to the service of others, when you come from your colleges. Believe me, far greater happiness would then be yours than if you had had a whole treasury full of money and other valuables at your command. As you go on your way serving others you will, on a parallel line, advance in the path of knowledge.
(excerpts from 'Talks with Swami Vivekananda'. Chapter IV. Surendra Nath Das Gupta, Work for Others. p.498)

Christmas Eve at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

Christmas Eve at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore, originally uploaded by Chetan Hegde M.

Christmas Eve was celebrated at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore on 24-12-2006 with readings from the Holy Bible and the Life of Swami Vivekananda along with Bhajans and Carol singing.

For some more photographs related to Christmas Eve celebrations do click on the following link on Flickr

Holy Mother's Jayanthi at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

Holy Mother's Jayanthi in Mysore, originally uploaded by Chetan Hegde M.

Holy Mother's Jayanthi was celebrated on 11-12-2006 at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore.

Installing the LOVE Software.....

Dear Friend, Are U in Search of LOVE? Would u like to Install the LOVE Software on your system... Then you have come to the right place. All you need to do is just log on to the December 2006, online issue of The Vedanta Kesari, the spotlight of the cover story dealing with 'Nurturing Inter-Personal Relationship' which mentions that...

"No man is an island. We are all interdependent. This interdependency finds its expression through the numerous relationships one comes to form through his or her life. This fact has been portrayed through the puzzle like sketch with some representative line-drawings in the boxes. The relationships-puzzle has loose ends, signifying the ever-happening process of human relationships. But the mere fact of human relationships can be a sheer bondage if the inner spiritual potential of a man does not bloom forth. The lotuses on the wrapper symbolize this spiritual growth. Inter-personal relationships can be nurtured only through cultivating spiritual values in one's daily life."

This Issue contains a very interesting and informative article on 'Installing the LOVE Software'. I found this article amusing and interesting in various respects and I would like to share the same with you all.....

Just follow the link below to 'Install the LOVE Software' and I am sure you would also like to share this software with all your near and dear ones....
http://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/magazine/vk/2006/12-3-9.asp

For details regarding subscription to 'The Vedanta Kesari' (a Cultural & Spiritual monthly of the Ramakrishna Order), or to read the select articles or archives online log on to the following website....
http://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/Magazine/VK/VKhome.asp

The Story of Ramakrishna Mission

The Story of Ramakrishna Mission" will be released shortly in December 2006. For availing it at pre-publication price and other details, please see details given below courtesy Advaita Ashrama website.

"With great pleasure we inform our readers about our forthcoming new book
'The Story of ­Rama­krishna Mission'. It is a tribute to the 108-year-old Mission’s outstanding role in fostering religious harmony, universal peace, and total human well being. Having imperceptibly begun in the solemn temple precincts of Dakshineswar in the second half of the nineteenth century, Ramakrishna Movement gradually carved out a niche for itself at different levels of India’s socio-cultural fabric. Even abroad it has left its mark in distinguished circles.
The book presents a retrospective view of Ramakrishna Mission’s genesis, growth, trials and tribulations, and success. It also delves into its ideology and contributions in different areas of human life in India and abroad. ­Ramakrishna Mission has pioneered many a venture aimed at the socio-economic and spiritual uplift of Indian masses, especially the tribal and poor people. Its programmes for education (mainly women’s education) and medical service have set new trends in India.
There are 65 articles written by eminent thinkers, both monastic and lay. Some of the prominent names that grace the book include Swami Bhuteshananda, Swami Ranganatha­nanda, Swami Atmasthananda, Swami Smaranananda, Swami Prabhananda, Swami Bhajanananda, Prof Sankari Prasad Basu, Prof Amitabha Mukherjee, and Prof M Sivaramkrishna. Their illuminating articles narrate the inspiring saga of the Mission’s silent, selfless, dedicated service to humanity during the past century.
This massive book of 1260 pages is divided into five sections viz. Sources of Inspiration, Historical Perspectives, Contributions of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Ideological Perspectives, and Epilogue. More than 130 colour pictures stud these pages, which further enrich the book.
The book has been nominally priced Rs. 350/- only (US $7) intending to make it affordable to the many. The postage charge will be Rs. 50/- for India and US $16/- for foreign countries. We are ­offering the book also at a special pre-publication rate of Rs. 300/- (US $6), plus postage, to those who place their order prior to the book’s release. We hope to release the book in December 2006. Those interested in getting the book at the pre-publication rate should forthwith contact."

Advaita Ashrama
5 Dehi Entally Road
Kolkata 700 014
Email: mail@advaitaashrama.com
Website: http://www.advaitaashrama.org/

PrarthanaPushpanjali....

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belguam has uploaded files on ESnips
(share & upload upto1 gb storage free) for the benefit of the devotees of Holy Trio.
Just click the Tinyurl link below.
http://tinyurl.com/gfyt2
The link contains 4 public folders the most famous being PrarthanaPushpanjali by
Swami Purushottamanandaji maharaj.

Jai Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore Website

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore now has a website of its own.
The url is as follows:http://www.srkmys.org/
U can also perform Virtual Arati on the site.

How to overcome Mental Tension: Google Video

'How to Overcome Mental Tension' and other Lectures delivered by Most Revered Swami Gokulanandaji at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi Auditiorium. Other Video Links posted on Geocities and on The Holy Trinity Group on Google Groups.

Days in an Indian Monastery - Sister Devamata

Today we will be able to view a partial Solar Eclipse which would be visible in India after 4.30 p.m. Coincidentally, yesterday I came across this wonderful paragraph about an Eclipse in a book by Sister Devamata titled "Days in an Indian Monastery" published by
Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. Talking about Spiritual practices and Religious Observances being followed in India Sister Devamata writes and I quote:
"A slight eclipse called forth from Swami Ramakrishnananda the mention of another interesting religious custom. "An eclipse," he said, "means that the Cosmic Mind is a little clouded. When we know that this Universal Mind is overclouded we should be watchful. At the time of an eclipse we are enjoined by our Scriptures to take a bath, repeat some holy name, pray and meditate, being careful to allow no frivolous thought to cross our mind." p.98 - 99.

Days in an Indian Monastery is available at Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. 'It is a Spiritual Diary of Sister Devamata replete with spontaneous and pregnant comments of the great ones whose presence she avidly absorbed.'

National Youth Day

In India, January 12th of every year is celebrated as National Youth Day. It is the Birthday of Swami Vivekananda, the patron of Youth. Swami Vivekananda's Biography by Swami Nikhilananda is available online on RamakrishnaVivekanada , this site also has got a link to the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.

Quotations from the Works of Sw. Ranganathananda

Today, I came across the Quotations of
Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj (1908 - 2005), 13th President of the Ramakrishna Order culled from his works available on the website of the Vedanta Society of New York (Westside).
Swami Ranganathananda was a great orator and scholar of repute, a brief biography of Swami Ranganathananda is available on the official website of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission President.

Photo of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa - Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa - Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore, originally uploaded by Chetan Hegde M.

Photo of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa taken on Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's Jayanthi on 23rd December 2005 at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

Kalpataru: Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Yesterday, 1st January 2005 was a Day of great significance for the Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, it is the day on which Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa blessed all those present thus: "Be Illumined!" at the Cossipore garden. Since then, this day is being celebrated as 'Kalpataru Day'.

Holy Mother's Birthday Celebrations - Mysore

153rd Birthday Celebrations of "Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi" at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore was celebrated with Arati, Bhajans and a discourse in Kannada by Swami Nithyasthanandaji Maharaj, President of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore on 23rd December 2005 at the Ashrama premises.

Holy Mother: Sri Sarada Devi

Chronology:
Birth … December 22, 1853
Marriage and first visit to Kamarpukur … May 1859
Second, visit to Kamarpukur … December 1860
Third visit to Kamarpukur … May (?), 1866
Fourth, visit to Kamarpukur … December 1866 – January 1867
Fifth visit to Kamarpukur
(With the Master there) … May – November 1867
First visit to Dakshineswar … March (?), 1872
Shodasi-puja … June 5, 1872
At Jayarambati … Middle of 1873
Sever Attack of Dysentery and
Awakening of Simhavahini … 1875
Commencement of Jagaddhatri Worship … November 1875
Death of her Mother-in-law … February 27, 1876
Shambhu Babu’s donation of a house … April 11, 1876
Third visit to Dakshineswar
(Meeting with robbers at Telo-Bhelo) … January 1877
Fourth, visit to Dakshineswar … February or March 1881
Hridaya left Dakshineswar … June 1881
Fifth visit to Dakshineswar … February 1882
Sixth visit to Dakshineswar … 1884
Seventh visit to Dakshineswar … March 1885
With the Master at Shyampukur … October 1885
With the Master at Cossipore … December 11, 1885
Vow of fast at Tarakeswar … During this period
Passing away of the Master … August 16, 1886
First pilgrimage to North India
(Mainly Vrindaban) … August 30, 1886
At Kamarpukur (for about nine months) … from September 1887
At Nilambar Mukherji’s garden (Belur) … up to October 1888
At Puri … from November 1888
At Kamarpukur … from February 1889
Pilgrimage to Gaya … March 25, 1890
At Ghushuri (Belur) … May – September 1890
At Jayarambati … October 1890
At Nilambar Babu’s garden (Panchatapa) … 1893
At Kailwar (two months) … 1894
Second pilgrimage to Vrindaban … 1895
To Kamarpukur and Jayarambati … May 13, 1895
At Sharat Sarkar’s house, Calcutta … April 1896
At Bosepara Lane, Calcutta … 1898 – 99
Opening of the Nivedita School … November 12, 1898
Passing away of Swami Yogananda … March 28, 1899
At Bosepara Lane, Calcutta … 1901 – 02
Durga worship at Belur … 18th – 22nd October 1901
In Baghbazar street … 1904 – 05
Second pilgrimage to Puri … 1904 – 05
Death of Shyamasundari Devi … end of January 1906
Durga worship at Girish’s house … October 1907
First, visit to the Udbodhan … May 23, 1909
At Kothar … December 1910
In the South … February – March 1911
Marriage of Radhu … June 10, 1911
Durga worship at Belur … 16th – 21st October, 1912
At Banaras … November 9, 1912 – Jan. 15, 1913
At Koalpara … August – September 1915
In the New House at Jayarambati … May 15, 1916
Durga worship at Belur … 3rd – 6th October, 1916
At Koalpara (fever) … March – April 1918
In Calcutta … May 7, 1918
At the Nivedita School … December 31, 1918
At Koalpara with Radhu … January 30 – July 23, 1919
At the Udbodhan … February 27, 1919
Mahasamadhi … July 21, 1920

***************************
Source:
Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi/ by Swami Gambhirananda._ Chennai, Sri Ramakrishna Math, 2004.

ISBN 81-7823-186-7 Rs. 90/-

153rd Birthday of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi

SRI RAMAKRISHNA ASHRAMA
Yadavagiri, Mysore - 570020
Ph: 0821-2417444, 2412424

Dear Friend,
The 153rd Birthday Celebrations of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi will be celebrated in the Ashrama as per programme given below. You are cordially invited to participate in the celebrations along with your family and friends.
Yours in the Lord
Swami Nityasthananda, President

153rd Birthday of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi
Friday 23 December 2005

Programme

Morning	5.30 am.	Arati, Bhajans
	9.00 am.	Puja
	9.45 am.	Bhajans
	10.35 am.	Reading
	10.45 am.	Arati
	11.00 am.	Homa
	12.00 pm.	Prasad distribution
Evening	5.00 pm.	Bhajans
	6.00 pm.	Discourse in Kannada:
		'Sri Sarada Devi'
	7.00 pm.	Arati, Bhajans

RÂMAKRISHNA: His Life & Sayings

Prof. Max Muller was one of the eminent Orientalists of all times. He has written many books on Oriental Philosophy, one such book is Ramakrishna: Life and Sayings published in 1898. The full text of the book is available on Sacred-Texts.

Way to learn religion - Swami Vivekananda

Views of an athma: Way to learn religion - Swami Vivekananda by Ramesh L is worth reading.

You Will be a Paramahamsa

Today I read a great book on the Life and Reminisences of Swami Kalyanandaji Maharaj, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda who dedicated his Life for Unselfish, Loving Service.
Title: You Will be a Paramahamsa
Author: Swami Sarvagatananda
Publisher: Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata
ISBN: 81-7505-271-6
Price: Rs. 25/-
The Preface of the book reads thus:
Impressed by the spiritual mettle of a young monastic disciple named Swami Kalyananda, Swami Vivekananda once said to him, 'Kalyan, one day you will be a Paramahamsa.'
These inspiring reminiscences of Swami Kalyananda revel how he wonderfully exemplified Swamiji's great ideal of service by showing in his own life the immeasureable love, care, sympathy and self-sacrifice that are required of one who wants to truly serve others.

Biography in Pictures: Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

SRI RAMAKRISHNA : a Biography in Pictures published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Delhi Entally road, Kolkata. ISBN: 81-7505-131-0. Rs. 130/-
"In a Narrow society there is depth & intensity of spirituality. The Narrow stream is very rapid. In a catholic society, along with the breadth of vision we find a proportionate loss in depth & intensity. But the life of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa upsets all records of history. It is a remarkable phenomenon that in Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa there has been an assemblage of ideas deeper than the sea & vaster than the skies.
Such a unique personality, such a synthesis of the utmost of Jnana, Yoga, Bhakti & Karma, has never before appeared among mankind. The Life of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa proves that the greatest breadth, the highest catholicity & the utmost intensity can exist side by side in the same individual, & that society also can be contructed like that for society is nothing but an aggregate of individual. The formation of such a perfect character is the ideal of this age." - Swami Vivekananda (about Sri Ramakrishna)