Newsletter December 16, 2009

Past Events

Sri Sarada Devi Birth Anniversary - Sun. Dec. 13
About seventy devotees attended the 11:00AM ritual worship/puja of Sri Sarada Devi, performed by Swami Yogatmananda. About forty devotees viewed the DVD: 'Unsolicited Grace: Accounts of Holy Mother'; attended music-hour, with Bengali and English songs and a Symposium on Holy Mother (see synopsis below). The program concluded with 'Sri Sarada Sankirtanam', Aarati and dinner afterwards.

Click here to see the photos.

The birth anniversary of Swami Shivananda, direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, was observed on Saturday, Dec. 12 in the morning with a chant and in the evening with a song, biography reading and Prasad.

Synopsis of last week's classes

Friday, Dec. 11 - Bhagavad Gita - Ch. 5 (Verses 3-6)
In the previous class we heard that Arjuna asks Sri Krishna to choose the right path for him, all the while hoping Sri Krishna will tell him to renounce all works and therefore not fight the battle. As the great psychologist, Sri Krishna knows this, and assures Arjuna that when we are on one path and wish we could follow another, we will make no progress on either path! Lord Krishna then clarifies that only the ignorant think that external renunciation leads to liberation and selfless action does not. In truth, although these paths appear to be different, they will both lead to realization of Truth. Arjuna, like most of us, should follow the path of action. The reason is explained in the 6th verse: 'O mighty-armed one, the path of renunciation is fraught with many difficulties and not attainable unless one has performed the duties selflessly in the spirit of Yoga. A contemplative person (muni), through the practice of Yoga attains to the Truth, the all-pervading One without a second Reality very quickly.'
The idea of following one's own path with dedication is re-emphasized in these verses and will be developed further in verses to come.

Sunday, Dec. 13 - Symposium on Holy Mother
A three-speaker Symposium was arranged as a part of birth-anniversary celebration of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.
Donna Maurer spoke about Holy Mother's guileless and all-embracing character. In today's society being guileful or artful is considered an essential requirement to gain success in life. Holy Mother's transparent, pure life was a blend of divine and human characteristics which crossed the boundaries of caste, culture, society and nation and was far more than just 'success'. Holy Mother may have been guileless, as well as straightforward and innocent, but she certainly was not "clueless."
Monaswita Saha spoke about the ideal womanhood as exemplified by Holy Mother. It is seen in the Indian society (and in other societies too) that in spite of the high position given to the women by the scriptures, it has remained mostly on the paper. The lives of Holy Mother and Sri Ramakrishna show how they had different roles to play and yet they adored and respected each other. Holy Mother's advice of 'Do not find fault with others; make the whole world your own' is a key to a successful life and requires a big shift in our attitude.
Ben Baker spoke about Holy Mother as an embodiment of the Truth and explained briefly how her characteristics such as modesty, simplicity, love of all and unattached nature, are also essential characteristics of the Truth. Holy Mother's self-effacing and yet the most impressive personality is very similar to the Truth which remains hidden behind our senses and ego. Her amazingly simple life and love of all mirrors the one-ness of existence, the non-dual Truth. She exhibited supreme non-attachment because her all-lovingness was based on total selflessness.
In concluding remarks Swami Yogatmanada said that unlike Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother had to interact with people having diverse temperaments at a mundane, domestic level and yet at every level she expressed the Highest Truth in a dynamic way.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Chapter 39)

Many things that are written in the scriptures were experienced by Sri Ramakrishna more intensely. Master taught that God realization could be achieved by practicing sadhanas, or spiritual disciplines. Ramakrishna explained about the distractions that come about on the spiritual path. Girish used to say that he could cure diseases with Master's name. Master warned, it is for people of small intellect who seek occult powers, meaning these powers are a detriment and an obstacle to true progress. A genuine devotee seeks nothing but the lotus feet of the Supreme. Once Sri Ramakrishna asked Narendra if he wanted some occult powers. Naren asked will they be useful in realizing the Lord. The Master said no, but they may come in handy after you reach the goal. Naren declined the offer which shows just how pure and one pointed he was. The powers are potentially dangerous. If we get them, there will be the big temptation to show off. so they should be avoided at all costs and the mind should stay focused on the original path and goal which is oneness with the God.

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