Newsletter May 2012 Words to Inspire Durlabham trayam-evaitat daivanugraha hetukam; manusyatvam mumuksutvam maha-purusa-samsrayah. Only through God s grace may we obtain those three rarest advantages- human birth, the longing for liberation, and discipleship to an illumined teacher. -Vivekacudamani, Verse 3 The Treasury of Truth Four Rare Opportunities [14 (3) The Story of Erakapatta the Naga King (Verse 182)] While residing near Baranasi the Buddha spoke this verse, the reference to Erakapatta, a king of the nagas. Once there was a naga king by the name of Erakapatta. In one of his past existences during the time of Kassapa Buddha he had been a monk for a long time. Through worry over a minor offence he had committed during that time, he was reborn as a naga. As a naga, he waited for the appearance of a Buddha. Erakapatta had a very beautiful daughter, and he made use of her as a means of finding the Buddha. He made it known that whoever could answer her questions could claim her for a wife. Twice every month, Erakapatta made her dance in the open and sing out her questions. Many suitors came to answer her questions hoping to claim her, but no one could give the correct answer. One day, the Buddha saw a youth named Uttara in his vision. He also knew that the youth would attain sotapatti fruition in connection with the questions put by the daughter of Erakapatta the naga. By then the youth was already on his way to see Erakapatta s daughter. The Buddha stopped him and taught him how to answer the questions. While he was being taught, Uttara attained sotapatti fruition, he had no desire for the naga s princess. However, Uttara still went to answer the questions for the benefit of numerous other beings. The first four questions were: (1) Who is a ruler? (2) Is one who is overwhelmed by the mist of moral defilements to be called a ruler? (3) What ruler is free from moral defilements? (4) What sort of person is to be called a fool? The answers to the above questions were: (1) He who controls the six senses is a ruler. (2) One who is overwhelmed by the mist of moral Vedanta Society of Toronto (Ramakrishna Mission) 120 Emmett Ave. Toronto, ON CANADA M6M 2E6 Tel: 416-240-7262 Email: society@vedantatoronto.ca Website: www.vedantatoronto.ca defilement is not to be called by ruler; he who is free from craving is called a ruler. (3) The ruler who is free from craving is free from moral defilements. (4) A person who seeks for sensual pleasures is called a fool. Having had the correct answers to the above, the naga princess sang out questions regarding the floods(oghas) of sensual desire, of renewed existence, of false doctrine and of ignorance, and how they could be overcome. Uttara answered these questions as taught by the Buddha. When Erakapatta heard these answers he asked Uttara to take him to the Buddha. On seeing the Buddha, Erakapatta related to the Buddha how he had been a monk during the time of Kassapa Buddha, how he had accidentally caused a grass blade to be broken off while traveling in a boat, and how he had worried over that little offence for having failed to do the act of exoneration as prescribed, and finally how he was reborn as a naga. After hearing him, the Buddha told him how difficult it was to be born in the human world, and to be born during the appearance of the Buddhas or during the time of their teaching. Explanatory Translation (Verse 182) Manussa patilabho kiccho maccana jivitam kiccham saddhamma savanam kiccham Buddhanam uppado kiccho Manussa patilabho: winning human existence;kiccho: (is) difficult; maccano: of mortals;jivitam: life; kiccham: (is) difficult: saddhamma savanam: hearing the Dhamma; kichham: (is) difficult; Buddhanam uppado: the birth of the Buddha; kiccho: is difficult and rare. It is rarely that one is reborn as a human being, in this cycle of rebirth. It is difficult and rare to get the opportunity to hear the good teaching. It is, indeed, rare for the birth of a Buddha to occur. - 1 -
GANGA, GITA, GAYATRI (Part 1) by V. Kumar Murty (based on a talk at the Vedanta Society on April 22, 2012) 1. Introduction In reading the conversations of Sri Ramakrishna, we find that he employed different didactic styles and techniques depending on his audience. One of these was to use pithy, aphoristic expressions such as mane, vane, kone. Another was Bhagavata, Bhakta, Bhagavan. The simplicity of the words and the poetic combination had the combined effect of making it easy to remember and so it would make a deep impression on the minds of the listeners. The expression that we will discuss today belongs to this category. It is Ganga, Gita, Gayatri. Let us begin by discussing each of these words individually. 2. The Gayatri Mantra The Gayatri mantra is a prayer for wisdom. May that light which is within me illumine my understanding. In fact, it is a prayer for the understanding of the community: our understanding. May that luminous Being illumine our understanding. It is a spiritual prayer because it does not ask for any external outcome. If we have wisdom and understanding, we can face any external circumstances. Moreover, it is a very unselfish prayer as it asks for the community to be illumined in this way, not just the individual. Repeating the Gayatri mantra with this understanding changes our perspective. It forms the transition from petition - 2 - prayer to contemplative prayer. Prayer has three stages. The first is petition in which we ask for certain outcomes, usually in our external circumstances. Eventually, we understand that we are not alone in wanting happiness. Everyone around us, and even those who we can t see, also want and deserve happiness. However, our prayers, if they are granted as asked, may result in the unhappiness of others. For example, if you and I both apply for a position and I pray that I may get the position, I am implicitly praying that you do not get the position, and therefore implicitly praying for your unhappiness. If misery, sadness, unhappiness are states of mind that I find painful and would like to avoid, then it stands to reason that you also find them painful and would prefer to avoid them. Thinking in this manner, we find it difficult to pray for specific outcomes. Then our prayer changes to something different. We ask for guidance and understanding, but we don t specify a particular outcome. 3. The Bhagavad Gita Next, let us review what Sri Ramakrishna said about the Bhagavad Gita. This work covers an amazing range of spiritual and philosophical topics in relatively simple language. Finally, the setting being a battlefield, the Gita is redolent with the idea of living a spiritual life in the midst of the battlefield of daily life, and even in the battlefield of life s crises.
Despite the wide variety of thoughts expressed in the Gita, Sri Ramakrishna said that the significance of the Gita is what you get if you repeat the word backwards, namely tyagi indicating one who has renounced. While this is the translation one finds most often, a more accurate translation of tyagi would be one who is detached. The message of the Gita involves facing the battles and crises of life, and so it will certainly not advocate renunciation in the outward sense of leaving the arena of action. It does advocate renunciation of a selfish perspective, and that is what we mean by the word detachment. Mahatma Gandhi also used this approach in describing the Gita as Anasakti Yoga, that is, the yoga of detachment. He was certainly not one to flee from the arena of action and yet he was able to maintain a spiritual perspective in the midst of all of his activities. Thus, his interpretation should be considered seriously. What exactly do we mean by detachment? There is a negative and a positive aspect to detachment. The negative aspect is a withdrawal of selfishness. The positive aspect is to attach ourselves to a more wholesome ideal. A more wholesome ideal is more inclusive. 4. The Ganga Next, we come to Sri Ramakrishna s reference to Ganga. Sri Ramakrishna had a reverence for the river Ganga. He considered its water to be pure and holy. It was from the Ganga that two of Sri Ramakrishna s most important teachers came, namely the Tantric master Bhairavi Brahmani and the Advaita master, Tota Puri. From a philosophical point of view, he knew that all water is the same. However, he also knew that all water could not therefore be used for the same purposes. There is water in the gutter, there is water in the pond and there is Ganga water. One is fit for use in worship, another is fit for drinking, another for washing and another is not fit for anything. Though it is all water, its suitability and uses are different. He actually used this to illustrate a very important philosophical principle. The student of Advaita will hear that everything is the manifestation of the universal spirit: sarvam khalvidam Brahma. Sri Ramakrishna taught that though everything is the manifestation of the same spirit, in the world of multiplicity, each has a different purpose and role to play and these have to be respected. As far as I am aware, this teaching is a new addition to the Advaita philosophy and I do not believe that you will find it in the teachings of Sankara. Contd next month 3
The Institute for Vivekananda Studies During the year 2012-2013, centres of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission all over the world will be observing the 150 th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Vedanta Society of Toronto is also marking the occasion with a number of special events and initiatives. As already announced, this includes a special cultural program on September 8, 2012, an interfaith music program on January 12, 2013 and a special dinner in April 2013. In addition to these special events, the Society is creating the Institute for Vivekananda Studies. This will be an ongoing activity of the Society. The purpose of the Institute is to provide a venue for an investigation into the ideas of Swami Vivekananda in the context of contemporary society. Swami Vivekananda can be studied from many different perspectives. Besides his direct instructions and guidance on spiritual life, he may be seen as a philosopher, an educator and an orator. He made perceptive observations about history, the structure of society, the evolution of civilization, the relationship between science and religion and many other topics besides. The aim of the Institute will be to encourage study and discussion of these ideas, primarily (but not exclusively) in an academic setting. The Institute will be responsible for the administration of the Vedanta Vidya Mandir, the school that the Society has been running for the past 9 years. The Institute will also develop related activities such as a Public Speaking Competition. The first such competition will be held this summer. It will be open to students in grades 9 and 10 in a high school in the greater Toronto area. The Institute will also examine themes such as education and world civilization. More than two decades ago, Swami Nityaswarupananda (founder Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture) proposed a World Civilization Centre whose purpose would be to design and implement a form of education that would bring about human unity and world civilization. Such a system of education would be rooted in the consciousness of the spiritual unity and solidarity of humankind. Swami Vivekananda felt that education was the foundation of development. Through education, there is an awakening of people s faith in themselves and in their ability to determine their own destiny. That faith would drive the initiatives that would bring about development. The Institute will examine these ideas through seminars, conferences and projects. The Institute will also try to throw light on Swami Vivekananda as a philosopher. It will attempt to place his ideas in the context of other thinkers, and thus encourage further study and comparative analysis of his thought. The Institute forms a cornerstone of the building expansion that is being planned for the Vedanta Society. Located in the new construction, the Institute will bring a new dimension of activity in the Society and beyond. Vivekananda Public Speaking Competition The Vedanta Society of Toronto is organizing the First Annual Vivekananda Public Speaking Competition. All students in grade 9 and 10 registered in a high school in the GTA are eligible to participate. The competition will take place on June 17 th and 25 th, 2012. Details can be found on the link www.viveka-institute.org/programs/public-speaking-competition - 4 -
UPCOMING EVENTS PRADARSHANAM by the Vedanta Vidya Mandir students will be held on Sunday, June 10 th at 11:00 am. VIVEKANANDA PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION open to grade 9 and grade 10 students of the schools in GTA will be held on June 17 th, 2012 at 1:30pm. ANNUAL SUMMER RETREAT will be held on Saturday, June 23 from 6 am to 9 pm and on Sunday, June 24 from 6 am to 5 pm. REGULAR PROGRAMMES SCRIPTURE CLASS: Friday Scripture Classes begin at 7:30 pm, following the regular evening prayer at 6:00 pm. The class, held at the centre, is open to all interested persons. VIGIL: On Saturday, May 12, 2012, a vigil consisting of japa and meditation will be observed, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. To participate, please call the centre at 416-240- 7262. RAM NAM: Sunday May 20, 2012 at 5:00 pm. INTERVIEWS/INSTRUCTION: Swami Kripamayananda will be happy to give interviews to those interested in knowing more about Vedanta and meditation. Individual interviews are also given for spiritual instruction. Appointments for interviews should be made in advance with the Swami at 416-240-7262. DAILY MEDITATION: Meditation is observed at the Centre every morning from 6:00 am to 7:00 am. Devotional singing and meditation is held in the evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK: Many less fortunate families are dependent on the food bank for their daily nutrition. Please help us by contributing non-perishable food items that we may pass along to the Daily Bread Food Bank. SOUP KITCHEN: The is cooked at the Vedanta Society and offered 10 days a month serving 450 meals at Syme Woolner Neighbourhood & Family Centre, 2468 Eglinton Ave W, Unit 3, Toronto, ON, M6M 5E2. Please contact the Centre, if you are interested in participating. Donations for the will be highly appreciated. BOOK STORE: The Book Store is open after Sunday Services and special programmes, and arrangements can be made by phone for weekday and Saturday visits. We carry selected titles from the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature, as well as other Vedantic materials. SWAMI VIVEKANANDA S 150 TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY will be celebrated on a grand scale on Saturday, September 8, 2012. The details of the programme, venue and time will be informed in due course. Please mark the date in your calendar. VOLUNTARY SERVICE is looking for volunteers to enable to continue its activities. Volunteers are required for 2 hours to prepare soup & salad. Please drop in on Tuesdays at 9:30 am & on Saturdays at 10:00 am. Vedanta Vidya Mandir is looking for volunteers to help in the instructor led classes and also in kids snack arrangements. If you are interested, please contact the society at 416-2407262 or society@vedantatoronto.ca The VST is launching a new website. We need some historical photos /old photos/ photos for key events of the VST / photos of senior monks visiting the VST to put on the website. If you have any or if you know of anyone who has them please let us know. In case it is a hard copy / print, kindly give them to Swami Kripamayananda -We will make copies of them and return the original. 5
Vedanta Society of Toronto Minister and Teacher - Swami Kripamayananda, Ramakrishna Order of India CALENDAR OF EVENTS MAY 2012 Sunday Mon Tuesday Wed Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 Vivekachudamani 6 11 am BUDDHA JAYANTI 7 8 9 10 11 Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 12 VIGIL 6 am to 6 pm 13 9:30-10:30am Yoga Exercises 11am Guest Lecture: Buddhism: Transformation of Heart-Mind by MARCO MASCARIN VVM 1:30 pm 14 15 16 17 18 Vivekachudamani 19 20 11 am Lecture: Friends Forever ------------------- 5:00 PM RAM NAM 21 22 23 24 25 Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 26 27 9:30-10:30am Yoga Exercises 11 am:video Lecture on a spiritual subject VVM 1:30 pm 28 29 30 31 ANNUAL SUMMER RETREAT Annual Summer Retreat this year will be held on Saturday June 23 from 6 am to 9 pm and on Sunday June 24 from 6 am to 5 pm. The Retreat will be on Practical Vedanta of Swami Vivekananda and will be conducted by SWAMI VIDYANATHANANDA of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Belur Math and Swami Kripamayananda. The details about the Retreat are given in the Registration Form which is available on page 8 of the April 2012 Newsletter in the website: www.vedantatoronto.ca. - 6 -