Vivekaananda. Naren, Narendra, Narendranath Datta, Swami Vivekananda, 163 [12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902]. Dundhubi, Pushya, krsna saptami; Makara Sankranti. Parivrajaka – wandering monk, philosopher. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s chief disciple. His landmark speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago – Sisters and brothers of America…. Established: Vedanta Societies; Founded: Ramakrishna Math, a monastic order; Ramakrishna Mission, dedicated to social services, education, and humanitarian work. Both are based at Belur Math. The members of the Math’s Board of Trustees also constitute the Mission’s Governing Body. Key motto: Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha – For one’s own salvation, and for the welfare of the world. Potential monks undergo a rigorous training for at least 9 years, before getting initiated as a Sanyasin or into monkhood. Vivekaananda himself walked the length and breadth of India, over 5+ years, before ‘settling’ down. Like a flowing river, washing away all dirt, and cleansing itself continuously.
Ramakrishna Movement emphasises the harmony of all faiths. It comprises four streams – monks (math, order); volunteers (mission); Sarada math, mission (for women); other ashrams. 300+ centres/ sub-centres.
11 September – World Brotherhood Day; 12 January – National Youth Day.
Youth. Young men, women. Young adults, 15/18 to 24-45/50. People who are at the peak of one’s life, health. Therefore, they need to be worked to peak up: energy, character, kindness-compassion, courage, vigour, self-reliance, competence, and leadership. They need to be educated; given an agenda, purpose, and a reason for existence. To be useful to the world. To the poor, vulnerable and marginalized. To social change. To have agency for this. They need to be together, in coexistence; teamed up, collectivized, with hope, faith, promise and love.
Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) teaches Sahaj Marg – Heartfulness Meditation. Its headquarters are at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Kanha village, near Hyderabad, Telangana. Kamlesh Patel, Daaji is the current head and President. After P Rajagopalachari, Chariji; Ram Chandra, Babuji; Ram Chandra of Fatehgarh, Lalaji. SRCM works in 160 countries. Kanha Shanti Vanam spans 1,200 acres. It houses the world’s largest meditation centre, accommodating 100,000+ people at a time for meditation.
History: Kaiser Wilhelm II, ruler of Germany from 1888 to 1918, dismissed Bismarck. Bismarck laid the foundations of modern Germany. He insulted foreign leaders openly. He let key alliances collapse. He changed his mind constantly. He undercut his own ministers; fired people unpredictably. Governance ended. The ruler was managed through flattery, manipulation, and suppression of bad news. Militarists and nationalists got empowered, while moderates got attacked. The system got destabilized. Slowly, it established conditions for the rise of Nazism. First for the First World War and subsequently for the Second World War. Are we learning from history? Can we learn?
Can we keep moving, walking, and stretching. Not retiring physically, mentally. Drive the mind. Be curious. Learn, Read, Write, Do Maths, and Do puzzles. Can we take more protein, less sugar, and less salt? Can we open up emotionally, remain connected, and be social? Can we discover the reasons for existence, purpose, and agenda? Can we appreciate that we can change? Can we be happy, joyous, fulfilled?
Can we be together? With ourselves, with our innermost. Cell-to-cell. With 6-7 senses. Seen, listened, talked; touched, caressed, wetted; felt, thought; taken in, and given in/out. Drunk, eaten. Perspired, sweated. Walked, in water, in air, and in public. Alone, in a group. Done together, jointly, in parallel; serially, and severally. To a portfolio of plans, in sync. Hand-in-hand, as one, but not one, heart-in-heart, mind-in-mind. In, enveloped. Near, in the same place, in the same way, absorbed in, for now, for good. Fully bound, unbound, unfree, free, and liberated. Into eternity. In all dimensions. Can we?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Together. In N? hamsayoga for 7L.