Why read the Gita?

An old farmer lived with his grandson. Each morning grandpa would red his Gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him. One day the grandson asked, 'Grandpa! I try to read the Gita just like you but I don't understand it and what I do understand I forget. What good does reading the Gita do?' The grandfather quietly replied, 'Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.' The boy did as he was told but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back. This time the boy ran faster but again the basket was empty. Out of breath, he told his grandfather, that it was impossible and went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible but he wanted to show that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath he said, 'See grandpa, it's uselless!' 'So you think it is useless?' the old man said, 'Look at the basket.' The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. 'Son, that's what happens when you read the Gita. You might not understand or remember everything but slowly you will be changed inside and out.'

courtesy: Samvit, No. 57. March 2008. published by Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata

Read about the Bhagavad Gita here:
Swami Vivekananda about his Thoughts on the Gita
Bhagavad Gita, the divine song translated by Swami Tapasyananda

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore Photographs.....

Photographs of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore...

Sri Ramakrishna Sharadashrama, Ponnampet Website

Sri Ramakrishna Sharadashrama, Ponnampet a branch centre of
Sri Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission now has a website. The centre was started in the year 1927 and is located in the scenic and natural beauty of Kodagu district of Karnataka. To read more about Sri Ramakrishna Sharadashrama, Ponnampet visit the following url: http://rkmponnampet.org/.

Ramakrishna Darshan: a humble offering...

An Appeal

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore to spread the life giving message of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is in the process of organizing an exhibition titled "Ramakrishna Darshan: a humble offering" based on his Life and Teachings. The exhibition consists of 40 multi - colored 19" x 29" poster kit made of thick card, mounted on plastic flute board available in the following languages; English, Kannada, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Oriya and Assamese.

Individuals and Institutions willing to contribute for the noble cause and conduct the exhibition at different places, please contact for further information, download brochure from the following links:

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama,
(Ramakrishna Darshan Dept.)
Yadavagiri,
Mysore - 570020
Ph: 0821-2417444/2412424

Unsolicited Grace: Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi

Found this beautiful promotional video on Youtube, regarding 'Unsolicited Grace: Accounts of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi', posted by Thakurma...



Jai Sri Guru Maharaj ji ki Jai
Jai Sri Mahamayee ki Jai
Jai Sri Swamiji Maharaj ji ki Jai

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.........

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.

Arise Awake....video on Life and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

Found this Video 'Arise Awake: Life and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda'....on Google Video made by Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore.

Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission Custom Search...

Search Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission websites through a Custom Search...

Select...RamakrishnaMath & MissionSearch The Web

Do let me have your comments on improving the custom search.....

Shri Ganesha Chaturthi 2007.....

Shri Ganesha Chaturthi was celebrated at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore on 15th September 2007.....
Click on the Album to get a glimpse of the Lord.....

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

Pranama Mantra...Sthapakayacha Dharmasya: Podcast...

Here is the Pranama Mantra of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa....beautifully rendered,and posted for all the devotees of
Sri Ramakrishna by HolyTrio.

pranama Mantra - S...

Aratrikam Hymns and Bhajans: Podcast....

Today, I came across the following link related to the Aratrikam Hymns and Bhajans sung at Sri Ramakrishna Math and Mission...
http://odeo.com/channel/144845/view/
the following link has been posted on Odeo.com, a site for podcasting and hosting mp3s on the internet...

powered by ODEO

Jai Sri Ramakrishna

the Master's Grace....

Anyone who takes shelter in the Master with all sincerity and with his whole being, anyone who loves the Master, will surely attain liberation. There is a story about a sweeper named Rasik who lived at Dakshineswar. He used to call the Master “Father”. One day the Master was returning from the direction of the Panchavati, absorbed in a spiritual mood. At that time Rasik knelt down before him and prayed with folded hands: “Father, why don’t you bless me? What will happen to me?” The Master assured him: “You have no need to fear. You will have your wish fulfilled. You will see me at the time of death”. And that is exactly what happened. Shortly before his death, Rasik was carried to a holy spot near the tulsi plant (Its leaves are used for worshipping Vishnu). As the moment of death approached, Rasik cried out: “You are here! You have come to me, Father! You have really come, Father!” And thus he breathed his last.”

Ch. 8. Swami Shivananda. ‘Days in Dakshineswar’. p.127.
Ramakrishna as we saw him/ edited and translated by
Swami Chetananda._ Calcutta; Advaita Ashrama, 1999.
ISBN: 81-85301-03-4. Rs. 100/-

the Master's Photograph......

Disciple: Mother, that photograph of Sri Ramakrishna which you have is a very good one... Is it a good likeness of him?

Sri Sarada Devi: Yes, that picture is very, very good.....I kept it with the pictures of other gods and goddesses and worshipped it. At that time I lived on the ground floor of the nahabat. One day the Master (Sri Ramakrishna) came there and seeing the picture said, 'What is all this?' Then I saw him take the bel leaves and flowers kept there for worship and offer them to the photograph. He himself worshipped that picture.

p.13
Samvit (Semi Annual English Journal). September 2006
published by Sri Sarada Math, Dakshineswar, Kolkata

Sri Ramakrishna: an image of transcendence.....

The Master's photograph reveals an image of transcendence of all the six chakras (centres of consciousness)... I see many things in it and so I talk about them.
p.42

Invoke the Master mentally with all your heart. Surrender yourself completely to him. And that is all what is needed. He will do what he thinks is good for us. p.43

To invoke the Master means imbibing some of his virtues. When a man thinks intently about someone else, he comes to acquire some of the virtues of the latter.

The Master himself said, 'You should meditate on this picture of mine and that will do.' By invoking the Master one can have so many visions of light. But he must be invoked heart and soul. He is the light of the world - self-revealing and all-pervading. His manifestations are everywhere.

The purer a person is, the more will the Master reveal himself to him. p.44

excerpts from
'Swami Vijnanananda: life and teachings'
written by Swami Vishwashrayananda,
translated by Devabrata Basu Ray
published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.
ISBN: 81-7120-722-1. Rs.12/-

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/