Vedanta in practice

Blog from Swami Vimokshananda now in South Africa

About

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This Blog will contain some of the observations or comments or essays of Swami Vimokshananda who is presently the President ofRamakrishna Centre of South Africa in Durban. Off and on some important news items of the Centre also would be included.

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16 Responses to “About”

  1. navashri said

    February 8, 2008 at 7:50 am

    Pranams Swamijee
    What a wonderful way to learn and share ideas about Spirituality.
    This whole world is our own Holy Mother says, so the devotees of the world will benefit from this wonderful blog, what a wonderful way to carry out Mother’s Teachings. Congragulations!

    Reply

  2. Sanjai Partab said

    February 23, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Pranams Swamijee
    Always looking forward to visit your informative blog. It motivates and inspires us all the time.It is indeed beneficial to the whole family.

    Reply

  3. Nirmala Balkaran said

    March 2, 2008 at 6:54 am

    Most Revered Swamiji Maharaj
    I offer my pranams and prostrations. Swamiji Maharaj’s blog is a thoroughly modern approach to making Swamiji accessible to us all, and we are thankful. By embracing this type of technology, the limitations of time and space are transcended. Now it is almost effortless to strengthen our bonds with Swamiji and the great mission of Sri Ramakrishna. Such is Swamiji Maharaj’s compassion for us!

    Reply

  4. Sankri said

    April 1, 2008 at 5:54 am

    Vanakam Swamji,
    Noticed that you have visited my blog. Thank you, I am feeling blessed already. I am stil very new to blogging and am still learning…Swamiji’s blog is simply wonderful and I’ll be a frequent visitor here, to learn. Thank you

    Reply

  5. RANJAN BASU said

    July 19, 2008 at 10:57 am

    Revd.Maharaj,

    At the outset please accept my Prostrated Pronam.The Blog is quite interesting and informative and attracts rapt engrossed attention till the end.
    I always cherish your sweet hospitaluty during my 3 days stay at Durban Ashrama last year and My prayers to THAKUR to make me blessed in visiting Ashrama in time to come.
    Trust this has already found you,Swami Saradananda ji and other devotees in good health and spirit out of THAKUR’s grace.
    Pronam,once again,
    Kind regards,
    Ranjan

    Reply

  6. Sucheta said

    February 4, 2009 at 11:00 am

    Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam
    Pronaam Maharaaj,

    I enjoy at every corner of this blog, only one urge is there: if it is possible to add some of your speeches (I miss them all) like the speech you gave during Navaratri, even through a link to YouTube, it would be a great help.

    Pronaam
    Sucheta, Italy

    Dear Sucheta
    May the blessings of Master be with you!
    All my speeches are recorded in the dictaphone and later transferred to my computer and are in .wav format. So far more than 300 speeches are stored. Each file comes to 80 Mb or so and naturally, I am unable to send you in gmail due to its limitation. But I have asked one of our devotees to convert all speeches into .mp3 format so that the file size is reduced and can be sent by email attachment. I am still searching for a FREE audio website where I can store them online and interested people can listen just by opening that website and clicking the relevant speech. The few that were recommended to me were not upto the mark.
    Italy te aar koto din thakte hobe? Ma tomake rakkha koruk!
    With prayers
    Swami Vimokshananda

    Dear Sucheta
    I came across a site called ‘Soundcloud’. My first impression was good. So, on experimental basis, I uploaded 5 of my Talks. One of them was the Talk delivered on Maha Ashtami evening during Navaratri last year. The other 4 are Discourse on Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Being a ‘FREE MEMBER’ of this Soundcloud has its own limitations. For instance in one month I can upload only 5 Tracks. In March, I shall upload another selected 5 Talks. Even the minimum ProLight version costs 99 Euros for one year! Of course if anybody donates, I shall become Pro member and in that case I can upload 15 Talks per month. Do you know average I give 15 Talks per month?!
    Now please paste the below link in your browser and listen to any Talk and give me feedback either there itself or by separate mail. I would like to know how the reception is at your end.
    http://soundcloud.com/vimokshananda/sets/durga-navaratri
    Thakur, Mayer bishesh kripa borshon hok!
    Swami Vimokshananda

    Reply

  7. Vaibhav said

    February 25, 2009 at 6:42 am

    Swamiji,

    Just read through your conversation above with Sucheta. In case you have not heard about it, one site which can be used is http://www.esnips.com where you can upload upto 5GB data (in any form) with free account, and others can either listen to the tracks or download them. Just thought of sharing this in case it is useful.

    Hari Om!
    ~Vaibhav.

    Reply

    • vimokshananda said

      February 27, 2009 at 5:56 am

      Thanks Vaibhav for your helping attitude.
      Another reader Saison also indeed referred to esnips.
      So I joined as a free member and uploaded one Ram dhun which unfortunately was not even opening in many browsers.
      Hence recently I am experimenting with SoundCloud, which so far seems to be working well.

      Reply

  8. Chirag Patel said

    March 4, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    Namaste Swamiji.

    I have a question which I haven’t asked anyone yet. Thakur believed in all different paths. He devoted his life for MAA in SAAKAARA form as well as NIRAAKAARA. He asked for devotion and DHYAANA from all. He also did not want anybody calling him GURU or BHAGWAAN.

    Why then Ramakrushna mission worships Thakur as God? Isn’t that different practice from what Thakur himself taught us all?
    Pranam,
    Chirag Patel, USA
    http://rutmandal.info

    Dear Chirag
    You are welcome with your question.
    Firstly, congrats for reading about Sri Ramakrishna! Where did you get that Thakur “did not want anybody calling him Guru or Bhagawaan”?
    There are instances where HE CATEGORICALLY TOLD TO SOME OF HIS “DISCIPLES” specially “MONASTIC DISCIPLES” (for eg. to Swami Yoganandaji) and in some cases even Householder Disciples (for eg. Girish Chandra Ghosh), that they can continue worshipping HIM as GOD.
    I have encountered the question in our youth meetings whether Thakur is a simple human. saint, or avatar or God. The best answer is Thakur is what He really is and what He makes you understand of Him. He is Unknown but definitely not unknowable. It is the conviction of every monk that Thakur IS God.
    See the mystery of his birth…Both Master’s parents had visions that the Lord will be born in their home….. Kshudiram dreamt at Gaya that Lord Vishnu will be born in his home and then Chandramani had a light engulf her body from the Shivaling…also before the birth of Master.
    Ordinarily mortals attain self realisation through a course of intense spiritual discipline, while eternally perfect beings (Avatar) come down on earth with the realisation already in them. Most of the time they disguise themselves as ordinary mortals. After reading the Life and Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna ….ONE MUST DECIDE FOR HIMSELF WHAT SRI RAMAKRISHNA WAS! Or IS! His actions, His words and deeds will speak for themselves.
    In order to arrive at a somewhat intelligible assessment, I give below two links which when you click, will open and please read them.
    http://issuu.com/vimoksha/docs/sri_ramakrishna_the_unknown
    http://issuu.com/vimoksha/docs/devotees_visions_of_the_master
    May Thakur provide the necessary illumination to understand Him.
    Swami Vimokshananada

    Reply

    • Chirag Patel said

      August 28, 2009 at 7:27 pm

      Thank you very much Swamiji for strengthening my belief. Actually, I have Gujarati version of “SHRI RAMAKRUSHNA KATHAAMRUT” by SHRI M.
      Per that, THAKUR spoke of not being GURU to any. But, I believed always that he is the GOD and the GURU. Maybe his words were in different context?
      I will surely go thru’ the links.

      Pranam,
      Chirag Patel, USA

      Reply

      • SV said

        August 28, 2009 at 11:37 pm

        ||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
        Dear Chirag
        I am happy that you are reading Gujarati translation of Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita. Sri Thakur used to say that right understanding is always provided by God who resides within every one. Yes, please go thru’ the links at your convenience.
        May Sri Thakur’s grace be on you all !
        Swami Vimokshananda

        Reply

  9. Nirmala Balkaran said

    March 9, 2009 at 11:04 am

    Most Revered Swamiji Maharaj
    “Om namo Naaraayanaaya!”
    While reading some of Swami Vivekanada’s works, the following excerpt caught my attention. There it was hidden among the spiritual jewels bequeathed to us by Swamiji.

    It is our privilege to be allowed to be charitable, for only so can we grow. The poor man suffers that we may be helped; let the giver kneel down and give thanks, let the receiver stand up and permit.

    This completely shattered my illusions about charity and left me in a daze. I recall reading and re-reading it. Particularly interesting is the reversal of roles between the so-called “giver” and the so-called “receiver”. How often we believe we are doing others a service when engaging in some form of charity when truly, it is about our being allowed to be charitable. It makes one realize that one is blessed to give and that one ought to give with an attitude of humility – not superiority.
    Hari Om Tat Sat.
    Nirmala Balkaran
    Ladysmith, SA

    Dear Sister
    Yes, Swamiji’s statement is, indeed bold! I always feverishly quote this when I dwell upon the Charity concept in my Talks. Don’t we see poor ladies in rags practically standing on the road junctions and seeking help? What if we can part with a little money or food items that are wasted anyway? The objection comes that how do we know that they are genuine and would they utilise our ‘gift’ properly? To this, the above-quoted Swamiji’s inspiring words are the only answer.
    And you have rightly concluded that It makes one realize that one is blessed to give and that one ought to give with an attitude of humility – not superiority.
    Swami Vimokshananda

    Reply

  10. Satwik Joglekar said

    August 20, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    Revered Swamiji Maharaj,
    I am Satwik from Bangalore. Being a devotee of the Holy Trinity, I consider it to be my great fortune to have visited your Blog and I am indebted to my co-devotee, friend and sister Avithaaji for guiding me to this wonderful site.
    I have been undergoing a tough time for last few months and with Mother’s grace I have learnt to take it up all in its own stride. Having “laid off” from work, I was making every possible effort to find a decent job or even freelancing consulting assignments, but Mother thinks otherwise. With Her blessings and her wish I was fortunate enough to spend the “idle” time in spreading Mother’s nector words.
    Tomorrow I am going to attend another interview for the position of Principal of an engineering college in Punjab and if Mother wills and I get this opportunity, my goal is to bring in the changes in the educational system (may be in a small way!) inspired by Swamiji’s vision and guidance.
    Once Swami Atmeshanandaji (who was earlier at Ulsoor Ashram, Bangalore and now I think he is at Sydney) wrote to me quoting Swami Brahmanandaji’s words “Be like a leaf fallen from the tree… accept the place wherever the wind takes you” and I really find true solace contemplating on these words. Mother knows the Best and Mother does the Best!!!
    Seeking your blessings and wishes,

    Yours in the Holy Trinity,

    Satwik
    Bangalore, India

    Reply

    • SV said

      August 20, 2009 at 9:15 pm

      ||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
      Dear Satwik
      Thank you for visiting this blog!
      Holy Mother said “One who makes a habit or prayer will easily overcome all difficulties and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the trials of life”. The strength and self confidence that you possess is remarkable indeed, and this can only be achieved by your constant prayer to “Ma”. It is also heartening to note that you are facing life’s challenges with a positive attitude. I feel very happy indeed that you try to spread nectarine teachings of Mother! That is a great blessing in itself.
      Hope you do get the job. Besides the earning part of it, your keen desire to mould the educational system on the basis of Swamiji’s vision is deeply appreciated. Let Swamijee’s teachings be the solid rock for you to stand on…on your onward journey to realise the truth!
      May Holy Mother Sarada continue to guide, protect and bless you and your family!
      Swami Vimokshananda

      Reply

      • Satwik Joglekar said

        August 28, 2009 at 6:19 am

        Aadarniya Maharaj,
        Saadar Pranaam,
        Your blessings and Mother’s Grace have prevailed on me :)
        Today I start the journey to Punjab to take up this new challange. Being Mother’s son, I am confident that She will continue to guide me and be with me always.
        I am not sure when I will get the internet connection after reaching there on sunday.
        With best regards and shatakoti pranaam,
        Satwik Joglekar

        Reply

        • SV said

          August 28, 2009 at 11:56 am

          Dear Satwik
          You are already a blessed child of Holy Mother!
          Mother has silently weaved a “silver thread” in your life! As one door closes another one opens, and I am sure this new beginning, on the eve of the ensuing spring, will bring hope and renewal in your life, and with that wonderful rewards. May your devotion to Ma be increased by leaps and bounds! God speed and God bless!
          Swami Vimokshananda

          Reply

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