vishwa bhanu april-may 2015

VISHWA BHANUVISHWA BHANUVISHWA BHANUVISHWA BHANU A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

Volume 3 Issue 7 April - May 2015

T hanks to the sustained efforts of our Hon. Prime Minister, the whole world is to receive the blessings of

Maharishi Patanjali, the psychologist par excellence,

the like of one, the world has never known before nor

would see again. Patanjalis Raja yoga goes to the very

depths of human psychology and urges man to

rediscover himself and manifest the divinity or

perfection inherent in him (sans creed, religion and

culture) through controlling his own body mind and

intellect. Each sutra of Patanjali has the capacity to

transform man through apparently elementary

suggestions, from being a wretched creation into a

wholesome being charged with divine energy.

Swami Vivekananda condensed this science of Raja

yoga in his wonderful observation pregnant with

meanings and suggestions. Each soul is potentially

divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity by

controlling nature, external and internal. Here we

present the suggestions from just one sutra (1,33)

which can transform every aspect of human

relationships. Let us hear it in Swamjis own words:

Friendship, mercy, gladness and indifference,

being thought of in regard of subject, happy,

unhappy, good, and evil respectively, pacify the Chitta

(1,33)

We must have these four sorts of ideas. We must

have friendship for all; we must be merciful towards

those that are in misery; when people are happy, we

ought to be happy; and to the wicked we must be

indifferent. So with all subjects that come before us. If

the subject is a good one, we shall feel friendly

INTHISISSUE

{ { { { Editorial

{{{{ Learning Times

{{{{ Nursery Teachers

Training

{{{{ Atma Vikas Camp - I

{{{{ Atma Vikas Camp - II

{{{{ Regular Ac%vi%es

{{{{ Didis Programmes

Do you think you can teach even a child?

You cannot. The child teaches himself.

Your duty is to aord opportuni%es and

to remove obstacles.

Yoga Goes Universal

April - May 2015 Volume 3 Issue 7 April - May 2015 -2-

Come April and everyone heaves a sigh of relief, it is the time for holidays. Schools and related

educational institutions close for long summer holidays. However at Ananda Dham it is the time

of intense activity. We have the different camps and activities for children and teachers.

April is also the month of Vishu. Vishu is the transit of Sun into Meda Raasi and is the day of

the Spring Equinox. The word Vishu is supposedly derived from the Sanskrit word Vishuvam

which means equal and we all know that the day of equinox has a day has equal number of hours

of daylight and darkness.

Vishu was celebrated by the inmates of Vedic Vision Foundation on the 15th of April, with the

traditional Vishukkani. Kkani means that which is seen first, thus viewing the Vishukkani, a

panoramic arrangement of fruits, vegetables, clothes, gold

coins, flowers and an idol of Krishna or Vishnu is

considered divine and auspicious.

The advent of Vishu brings to bloom the golden shower

tree, or Vishu Konna. Vishu conveys the message of

auspiciousness and prosperity and extending this to all.

Learning Times

towards it; if the subject of thought is one that is miserable, we must be merciful towards it.

If it is good, we must be glad; if it is evil, we must be indifferent. These attitudes of the

mind towards the different subjects that come before it will make the mind peaceful. Most

of our difficulties in our daily lives come from being unable to hold our minds in this way.

For instance, if a man does evil to us, instantly we want to react evil, and every reaction of

evil shows that we are not able to hold the Chitta down; it comes out in waves towards the

object, and we lose our power. Every reaction in the form of hatred or evil is so much loss

to the mind; and every evil thought or deed of hatred, or any thought of reaction, if it is

controlled, will be laid in our favour. It is not that we lose by thus restraining ourselves; we

are gaining infinitely more than we suspect. Each time we suppress hatred, or a feeling of

anger, it is so much good energy stored up in our favour; that piece of energy will he

converted into the higher powers.

How elementary yet how difficult yet this can transform human society!!

-3- April - May 2015 Volume 3 Issue 7 April - May 2015 -3-

Five day Nursery Teachers' Orientation Camp was conducted between 16th and 20th April. The non-residential camp would begin by 9 am and end at 3 pm everyday. Sessions were conducted under the able guidance of Smt Madhavi Tai from Nashik, Smt Sushma Padhye from GramMangal, Pune and Smt Bahrati Patil of Navarachana English Medium School, Nashik.

The sessions and activities were mostly based on Madam Maria Montessoris philosophy of education and methods of teaching. The camp participants included 17 teachers from 5

different schools across the state.

Lakshmi Didi acquainted the participants with teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Mananeeya Eknathji and also included glimpses from their lives.

A short camp, packed with loads of information, practical sessions that provided insights to scenarios that would help the teachers guide and inculcate strong foundations of character, culture and a purposeful life.

Smt. Shemla K.S., Principal, Dr.Palpu Memorial SNDP YOGAM College Of Education and Sri T.Balakrishnan, Chairman & School Manager, presided over the concluding program.

Nursery Teachers Training


Swachabharatham Camp for children from Class VI to VIII started on 11th May at Anandha Dham. Apart from personality and all round development of the child, the camp's focus was on "Cleanliness" and conserving one of Earth's important natural resource, "Water". The camp started with an introduction by Sri Sudhakarji.

The camp was formally inaugurated by Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi with the lighting of the lamp. . Lakshmi Didi spoke to the children about the importance of swachatha. Swachatha or cleanliness needs to start from the self and then spread to the surroundings. The supreme knowledge resides in every individual, however it needs to be awakened, and only then would it benefit the self and the surroundings. The supreme knowledge can be compared to the light from the lantern. When the glass cover of the lantern is covered with black soot light is not emitted. In the same way the supreme knowledge within each individual is covered by the soot of ignorance, greed and desires, desires that manifest as likes and dislikes, which in turn leads to anger and stress. When these weaknesses are removed from the individual the supreme knowledge glows bright and enlightens the self and the surroundings. This will lead to enlightened individuals and an enlightened nation. She also stressed on the conservation of natural resources especially water.

Lecture sessions were good especially the splendid and practical talk by Dr. Jayalakshmi, an Ayurvedic doctor. Dr. Jayalakshmi introduced to the children the Indian philosophy of birth and life of an individual. Birth of an individual is not by chance and luck, it is the result of the individual's own actions and inactions from previous lives. This also means that our present actions and inactions contribute to our future lives. This also means that no two individuals in this world are same, even if they are twins.... there is always a subtle difference. This is the basis on which Ayurveda assesses each individual's problems and concerns as unique and treats them likewise. All diseases originate at the mind level; when the mind is disturbed it affects the immune system which in turn affects the body and what we observe as diseases are manifestations of the disturbed minds, hence diseases have similar symptoms but the root causes may be different, an area modern medicine is yet to comprehend. She emphasized on how our so called traditions and culture play a significant benefitting role in the wellbeing of the individual and society in all spheres. The current trends of fast food, food of non-locale origin, dressing styles and adopted life styles are creating havoc in the society at large. It is the young children who are greatly affected by these ills and in times to come they will create a sick and un-healthy society. She called out to each individual to be a proud "Bharatiya". Our civilization is eternal and universal, whose beginning is

At m a V i k a s C a m p I Swachabharatham


untraceable.

Major General P Vivekanandans session on positive thinking too was enjoyed by the children.The session by Shri Haridas was all about speaking your mind out. Now how difficult can that be, and that is what Shri Haridas instilled in each child. Every child of the group enacted their favourite pastime activity. The children were taken to view the mural art exhibition on the life Swami Vivekananda. Kum. Bindhu wove the life of Swami Vivekananda based on the paintings and each child's imagination took wings, actually witnessing Swamiji amidst his childhood pranks and curiosities which lie behind the various events of his life.

Post lunch Shri Nivin J Nalapadan conducted a session on the basics of theater for the children. The children were immensely enjoyed this session, which was full of fun filled activity based on theatrical presentation .Pencil sketching in the first half and craftwork after lunch were a part of the programme. Sketching session was conducted by Kum. Vivitha and craftwork focussed on creating a flower vase using acrylic beads. Shrimathi Sudha Dileep conducted the session..In today's corporate world it is very common to hear manager's emphasising on "thinking out of the box" smile emoticon now that's something that we lost a long time ago from the time we were kids, after all kids are always kept away from art and craft! Craft on the other hand improves concentration and inculcates patience. Art and craft create growth in two dimensions, unstructured(art) and structured(craft). The result strengthening academics, essential Life Skill qualities like problem solving, cognitive benefits, social skills, appreciating others strength's and at the same time accepting one's own abilities.

On all days of the camp there would be an hour each of vocal music, Yoga exercises in the first half and interactive games before the end of the day.

Sunday, May 17, was the day of immense activity, being the concluding day. At 3 p.m was the concluding programme. Parents meeting was kept followed by a short and sweet cultural programme by the children. Mananeeya Didi and Dr Jayalakshmi blessed the children.

nnnnnnn


SWACHABHARATHAM


Namami Gange was the main theme for childrens camp for the classes III to V. Parents were eagerly waiting their wards to get admitted in the camp right from 8 am though the camp was supposed to start at 9 am on 19th May. 30 children enrolled themselves. Many repeaters brought their friends and previous camp children encouraged their sisters and brothers to join the camp. Surprisingly couple of elder campers accompanied their sisters to the camp and signed the application form as if they had motivated them. With usual interaction with all the children and knowing their names etc. the camp was inaugurated by Man. Lakshmi Didi accompanied by the youngest participants by lighting the lamp. Didi gave a brief introduction of the camp theme Namami Gange. The camp ran for six days and concluded on 24th May. Parents of all the children were present to watch the programme of their wards on the stage during the concluding function. Smt Jyothi Unniraman, well wisher of Kendra was the Chief Guest. Children narrated their camp experience. Parents too spoke appreciating the positive effect of such camps on their children. Apart from patriotic group songs,skits,a yoga demonstration was put up by the camp children.There was distribution of prizes for the best camper, best group,best in music and craft.The Chief Guest spoke on the importance of faith in oneself which can be inculcated in the children who attend such camps.The programme concluded with Shanthi Mantra.

At m a V i k a s C a m p I I Namami Gange


REGULAR ACT IV IT IES

Satsanga Prabhashana Parampara

An in depth study of Bhagavad Gita, based on

the commentary by Abhinavagupta. This commentary has 15 additional verses than the one by Shankara Acharya and is based on Kashmir Shaiva Philosophy. The Acharayan is Sri. Girish Kumar L. and will be held on the last Saturday and Sunday of every month. The session commenced on 30th May 2015.

Yoga

Yoga Satra was conducted during the months

of April and May. Yoga Varga was attended by

10 ladies and 5 gents.

Ganapathi Homam and Sri Chakra Puja

Both rituals were conducted in April and May


SATYAMEVA JAYATE By Dr Lakshmi Kumari

We are indeed fortunate to have chosen as our national emblem the

Ashoka Cakra with the unparalleled motto Satyameva Jayate inscribed

beneath it. For most of us it remains just an emblem which conveys nothing

of any significance pertaining to our individual or national life. It shouldnt be

so. In it is hidden values which can transform our entire national scene. But

who cares? If not the leaders at least the intellectuals must.

From where came the conviction and faith by which such solid assurance

is given in the sovereign republic of India to its people? Do the politicians of

today, who are the self styled custodians of our nation, its interests and its

people, realize what it means and promises, that truth and justice are closely

interlinked with human dignity, human aspirations and peace and happiness

in the society.

Which other country has made such a profound proclamation of far

reaching consequences, made it part of the very conscience of its people,

interlinked it with each and every aspect of their life? Not only that, almost

every century if not oftener, found its verification and endearment by master

brains who kept up its freshness, validity and meaningfulness. In this so

called modern times when every ancient value system stands devalued in the

human minds nobody has yet found the courage to challenge truth itself.

Mankind is still surviving and progressing because of the invincibility of the

Truth, a fact which man does not seem inclined to accept or appreciate.

Even in recent times there lived amidst us people who made adherence

to truth their very lifes mission as Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramana and Gandhiji

to mention a few and the great moral power they wielded over mankind is

part of our recorded history. They were far far removed from the materialistic

wealth and power that todays leaders of our

Sovereign Republic fight to acquire and

accumulate at the cost of the nation and her

people.

We all know what in the scientific jargon truth or


reality means. What we fail to understand is the nature of that Truth which

lies beyond all these relative truths and in the light of which alone

everything else acquires reality. It was towards this Truth that the Indian

genius had turned its attention from time immemorial, discovered it and

realized it not only on their own Inner self but as the eternal invincible

omniscient, omnipotent Truth and proclaimed it to the world in the above

significant words. It is this Truth that reveals itself through all forms, all forces

and all phenomena. Victory is for that Truth alone.

What is that Truth?

Seeing all round them matter in a flux, our ancient seers and sages who

were in fact super scientist, looking for a permanent hold support and

substratum slowly turned their vision inward and through systematic

negation off all that was transient and impermanent ultimately reached at

the citadel of the Truth within their own Self. With the discovery of this a new

vision was opened to them by which they found the entire universe filled

with supported and nourished by this one Truth. The wholesomeness of the

entire creation and the indescribably subtle ways in which its parts are held

together and linked together also became revealed to them simultaneously.

It must be this Grand Vision of the Whole that brought out the unparalleled

proclamation Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma, Isavasyamidam sarvam,

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and so on. Truth was revealed to them not only

as the One but also as the One in many. After that there was no more

confusion in their minds and the world around them appeared not as a chaos

but as a cosmos. All that was to be done was to make this truth living in

all aspects and activities of human life.

How to achieve that? Nature - her rhythm, harmony and

the spirit of yagna hidden therein gave the answer. The

One way to be in tune with Truth was to live in tune with

natural laws.Peace and harmony and fulfillment became

part of such a life style. To have was of less importance

than to be. The entire fabric of Indian life was the

resultant of this grand thinking and discovery and

consequent application of this knowledge in day to day

life.

Rs. 200/-


Whenever this truth of Oneness is upheld and preserved there would be virtue and truth. Noble qualities naturally led to this oneness love and understand cementing this togetherness of the parts. Through sacrifice and service are created the ties for the interlinking of the parts. Realization of this truth alone can release man free from bondage and misery whether it be in love, work, knowledge or prayer.

Sooner than later the whole world will have to recognize and accept this Truth. All tendencies, interests and actions which fragment the Whole through actions which are self oriented and self motivated have not only no permanent value but they destroy harmony and peace and take the individual community and society to decay and destruction. On the contrary positive virtuous thoughts, words and deeds, though apparently not showing any immediate result would slowly but surely wind their way to peace and harmony both within and without. It is this magnificent conviction, running deep in our national veins that has made us to choose the emblem and the motto proclaiming the invincibility of the Truth.

The character of our people and the ethos of our nation should be rebuilt upon this conviction. This is the one and only scientific truth on which can be based all our inter-human relations, knowledge and philosophy. That it is possible to do so has been so convincingly established by so many of our great teachers.

The modern science has fortunately come to our aid and proved this as a physically verifiable fact. Each and every speck of matter in this universe is only a part of the Whole, interconnected, and interrelated in a mysteriously subtle way to everything else. Not even on atom can move without taking the entire universe with it as Swami Vivekananda puts it. Knowledge of even a little bit of this Truth can save man from untold miseries, Krishna reiterates in the Gita.

Actualization of this truth in our national life alone can hold us together as a Nation. Without it the emblem we have and the motto written there are of no value whatsoever How to do it? Let the lives of our great Masters be our guide which show the movement from complexity to simplicity, from darkness to light from many to One. So be our life journey too.

Today shattered as we are as a nation, lets use, this unfailing remedy, this smoothening balm of truth alone triumphs and rebuild our lives round that Truth. Through this alone can India play her crucial and vital role in the comity of nations as the harbinger of a New World Order.

Ddddddd


DIDIS PROGRAMME

9th Talk at Palpu College residential camp of B.Ed

students.

12th Talk at Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Kodungallur

16th to 20th Nursery Teachers' Orientation Camp

22nd to 24th Interview for Eknathjis Documentary

25th Seminar - Women and Prasthanatraya

Dr. Suvarna Nalapat Trust

26th Valoor Koottala Sree Dharmasastha Kshethram

April

2nd NSS Students Camp

6th to 8th Chinmaya Birth Centenary Celebrations, Ernaku-

lam. Talk by Didi on 7th May.

8th Vedic Conference, Ernakulam

10th Talk at Youth Club, Pori Bazar

11th to 17th Atma Vikas Camp I - Swachabharatham

19th to 24th Atma Vikas Camp II - Namami Gange

May

She is my sister! - Swami Chinmayananda

Didi addressed the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Swami Chinmayananda. Didi considers Swami as an avatar of Swami Vive-kananda, and recollected many inspirational moments with the Gurudev - Chinmaya Amrutham. She also talked about nimitta-matram, a notion from Bhagavad Gita, wherein Lord Krishna in-forms Arjuna that he is merely an instrument of the Lord. In the same way when one feels like leaving every-thing and running away, seclude yourself in a quite room, chant this and remind yourself that you are nimitta-matram.

vishwa bhanu april-may 2015

Documents

vishu konna

month of vishu

advent of vishu

day of equinox

subject of thought

science of raja yoga

patanjalis raja yoga

elementary suggestions