Newsletter December 17, 2008

Past Events

Synopsis of Last Week's Classes

Friday - Bhagwad Gita - Dec. 12
Ch. 3 Verse 13-16:Those who respect this cosmic principle of sacrifice (Yajna), do not incur any sin through the actions. For these actions are performed with the co-operative spirit and for collective benefit. Those selfish people, who 'cook only for themselves' eat only the sin; they are destructive to themselves and to the society & surroundings too. Lord Krishna then describes how the sacrifice is going on in the universe making the life of people sustainable. There is the Yajna-cycle: food->beings->Yajna->Rains->food-> which is necessary for our living. So our actions need to be done in the spirit of sacrifice. This is also the teachings of the scriptures which guide/orient us towards the goal. This deliberately directed living is the specialty of human beings. If one is not living in this way then he/she is just wasting the precious life.

Sunday - The Divine Motherhood - Fr. Francis X. Clooney, Harvard Divinity School - Dec. 14
A comparative study of Divine Motherhood in Hindu tradition and in Christian tradition was presented with the conclusion that both the traditions are very similar in their approach towards God as mother in their journey from humanity to divinity. The hymns in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to the Divine Mother sung by the devotees and the Christian hymns - a hymn by prophet Joel, the Akathistos Hymn and Stabat Mater, a hymn that meditates on the suffering of Mary, Jesus Christ's mother, during his crucifixion, were discussed.
The devotees and admirers of varied dispositions that gathered around Sri Ramakrishna during his last illness were charmed by his spiritual presence. Although they had intellectual discussions, soon they realized that the existential problems of life like birth, death, aging etc. can be resolved only when one takes refuge in the Divine Mother. Fully charged with this idea they expressed their devotions through singing to the Mother. The Divine Mother is the Inner self, beyond all thoughts and speech and can be grasped only through ecstatic love.
Similar situation is seen in the history of Christian religion where the core of the community was Jesus. In Akathistos Hymn, Mother Mary is held in great respect as the 'crown of all tenets regarding Christ', 'heavenly ladder by whom God came down', 'bridge carrying earth into heaven' etc. She is beyond the learning of the wise and She enlightens the minds of the faithful. The hymn, Stabat Mater consoles the disciple who is mourning the death of Jesus, assuring him that the Holy Mother, Mary never abandons her children. The hymn describes the Mother as the protecting force and 'giver of the glory of paradise' and seeks from her blessings in the form of devotion to Christ.

Tuesday - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - Dec. 16

The real meaning of the scriptures manifest when a Divine Incarnation comes to the earthly plane. One of the beauties of Sri Ramakrishna's words is that they are modern and easily understandable. We all want to achieve ultimate bliss but how? The Master is able to show the way.
Sri Ramakrishna advised Narendra that no real spiritual progress could be made without giving up lust and greed. True joy is within and doesn't come running after external things of the world. Our ignorance deceives us into thinking that way. To be happy, we have to go to the Source of happiness and that has always been inside us.
The question was posed, "What should a householder do"? The Master, looking at the newcomer, who had no spiritual inclination, replied that he could enjoy woman and gold. Ramakrishana went on to say another devotee householder Mahimacharan, " go forward". In other words, there's a gradual progress in life. What is important is the direction we take. Something holds us back. Here Ramakrishna says to implore Kali, the Goddess of time.
Q discussed at the end of the class:1) Does greed mean only trying to hold on to what we have or includes trying to acquire more? 2) What is the meaning of 'householder' in the present society?