vishwa bhanu august-2011

8/4/2019 VISHWA BHANU August-2011

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Vishwa Bhanu 1

With deepa prajwalan by Lak-shmi Didi, on 1st June, the tiny

tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar

were given a warm welcome.With the seven new comers ad-

mitted to the L.K.G section and

the existing students of UKG

strength of the school now is sev-enteen.

All the tiny tots offered flowers atthe feet of Swamiji.

After this there was an infor-

mal parents - teachers interaction

in the presence of Didi.

Vishwa BhanuJUNE 2011 VOL - 1 ISSUE

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE

MONTH OF JUNE 2011

• Reopening of Sandeepani

Sishuvihar. New admissions

in LKG on 1 st June

• Monthly Satsang Prabha-

shana by Dr P. Raman

• Sreemad Sw Nirmalananda

Giriji’s ayurvedic consulta-

tions and study class onKathopanishad

A house magazine of A house magazine of A house magazine of A house magazine of

Vivekananda Kendra Vivekananda Kendra Vivekananda Kendra Vivekananda Kendra

Vedic Vision Foundation Vedic Vision Foundation Vedic Vision Foundation Vedic Vision Foundation

LAKSHMI DIDI WELCOMEING

THE KIDS OF SANDEEPANISISHUVIHAR

From the Director’s pen From the Director’s pen From the Director’s pen From the Director’s pen It was in 1996, while at Chennai that a call came from

some prominent Hindu leaders that we should all start chantingSri Ram Jairam, keeping in mind the sankalpa that the Sri Rama temple should be built at Ayodhya. Since then Vivekan- anda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation has made it a part of our daily bhajan session and chant at least a minimum of 108 times this most wonderful taraka mantra.

Last year a call was made to include Sri Anjaneya also in the chanting yajna and since then we have added “Hum Hanu- Hum Hanu- Hum Hanu- Hum Hanu- mate Rudratmakaya hum phut”.mate Rudratmakaya hum phut”.mate Rudratmakaya hum phut”.mate Rudratmakaya hum phut”. Like the little squirrel who took

part in the construction of the Sethu, let us also add our mite to fulfill the great dream of our country men.

And , what are we going to do to help And , what are we going to do to help And , what are we going to do to help And , what are we going to do to helpMananeeya Anna Hazare’ji’s dream come true? Mananeeya Anna Hazare’ji’s dream come true? Mananeeya Anna Hazare’ji’s dream come true? Mananeeya Anna Hazare’ji’s dream come true?



Vishwa Bhanu 2

Regular Yogasana classes continued. Seven students attended.

Apart from Asanas, they were also taught Neti and Dhouti Kriyas

Dr P.Raman, Dermatologist by profession, but well–versed in Indian scriptures has a beautiful

way of polarizing Science with Dharma. He was invited to speak on Sunday, 5th June, at Anan-dadham to address.



Vishwa Bhanu 3

Sreemad Swami Nirmala Giriji visited

ananda dham on 24th for his regular study

class on Kathopanishad and ayurvedic

consultations to the needy patients.

Swamiji is well known for his ayurvedic

prescriptions and many doctors advise theirpatients for whose problems allopathy

doesn't have any solutions. About hundred

and fifty patients got the benefit of his

advice



Vishwa Bhanu 4

H I G H L I G H T S O F T H E

M O N T H O F J U L Y 2 0 1 1

• Prabhashanam by Sri

Girish Kumar

• Follow up camp for

students

• Gurupurnima Celebra-

tion

• Ramayana parayanam

in the neighbouring

houses starts

• Visit to Vyasa Vid-

yaniketan.

• Visitors at Anandad-

ham

• Prabhashanam on

Ramayana by Sri

Sreekumarji of Erna-

kulam

•

Monthly visit ofSrimad Swami Nirmala

nanda Giri Maharaj

Vishwa Bhanu

JULY 2011 VOL - 1 ISSUE 2

Sri L. Gireesh Kumar, a well known scholar and a sadhaka in the Tantric

studies delivered talks on the in-depth meaning of Lalita Sahasranama for

two consecutive days on 2nd and 3rd of July from 4to 6 pm. To start with heintroduced the seekers to Bodha panchadasakam based on which he is going

to continue his classes every month. About 100 to 125 people derived the

benefit from his classes. At the end of each session he entertained questions

and clarified the doubts of the seekers

0n 9th July children of classesIV to XI who had attended

our personality development

camp in summer were calledfor a follow up programme.

This programme is scheduled

to be held on every secondSaturday in the afternoon.

During the review session

they were given an opportu-

nity to recollect all the thingsthey learnt during camp and

were also introduced to new

stories and games whichwere enjoyed by the children

and all of them were keen to

attend thefollowing classesas well

JULY 2011 VOL - 1 ISSUE



Vishwa Bhanu 5

In Kerala Ramayana month begins on 1st Karkadakam (17th July2011). In almost all Hindu families one will read the holy Ramayana andother members will listen. Elaborate arrangements will be made in mostof the temples to read Ramayana and preach the divine message tolead an ideal life. Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in hischaracteristic simple language has said "There are two powerful

'Taraka Namas'. One is Aum and another is Ramá. All mantras have tobe prefixed with Aum for obtaining the benefits of those mantras,whereas there is no need to prefix Aum when the name 'Ramá' is re-cited because the name itself is 'Tarka Namam' ". This year Ramayanamonth started on 17th of July. Like in the previous year many familiesapproached Kendra to have the Ramayana reading in their houses.Kendra’s Dharma Sevika Kum Bindu with three vidyarthi karyakartasKum Vishnupreeta, Kum. Selvi and Kum. Preeti.and with two other chil-dren from our samskara varga and a lady wellwisher visited nearly 25families and performed the puja involving all the family members. .

To get blessings from elders by touching their feet is a very old custom inIndia. Normally we follow this custom to get blessings from our elders rangingfrom our mother, father, teachers, and other elderly persons. In older dayschildren used to get blessings from their parents and other elders evendaily. Unfortunately, the custom is now fast disappearing. Now, we follow thecustom only during certain festive occasions and during marriage etc. Occa-sions such as Gurupoornima, and Matrupuja, we encourage our children toworship the parents as a part of their training to get inculcated in the valuesenshrined in Shastras. On 15th July, all the Children from Sandeepani Sishu-vihar offered flower at the feet of their parents and teachers. Lakshmi didi

guided the children in doing the puja. This was an occasion which brought parents and children together help-ing to create a strong bond between them.



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On 20th July at the invitation of Vyasa Vidya Niketan, Perumbavur Ma. Lakshmi Didiand other Kendra workers visited the school. The Principal of the School Sri Sureshwelcomed Lakshmi Didi and others. Lakshmi didi in her innovative way enthralled thechildren on the life and message of Swamiji and encouraged all of them to becomeideal children of Swamiji. She also interacted with the teachers and parents and re-quested them to imbibe the spirit of Swamiji and become ideal teachers and parents

VISIT TO VYASA VIDYA NIKETAN BY MA. LAKSHMI DIDI



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27 th JuY: SRI SRIKUMARJI OF ERNAKULAM, VISITED ANANDADHAM AS GUEST SPEAKER .HISPRABHASANAM WAS ON RAMAYANA AND THE IMPOTANCE. OF CHANTING RAMA-YANA.HE LEFT THE AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE ON INDIAN CULTURE.

Swami Nirmalananda

Giri visited Ananda

Dham on 29th July forthe study class on

Kathopanishad and

ayurvedic consulta-tions. Due to Swami

Sakranandajis attain-

ing the Samadhi, hecancelled the class and

recollected his asso-

ciation with Swamijiand dwelt on the sub-

ject of an ideal san-yansi who heads anor-ganisation. The pro-

gramme concluded

with two minutes

prayer in memory of Swamiji.



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Vivekananda Kendra offers our shraddhanjil at

the Samadhi of Revered Pravrajika

Medhapranaji, President of Sri RamakrishnaSarada Math, Puranattukara on 17 July 2011 at

the age of 91 .Till her last breath, Revered

Mataji carried on her duties of RKSM Girl’s

School as manager. Her motherly touch made

one and all feel at home every time they visited

Math. May her soul rest in peace.

The passing away of Revered Sreemad Swami Sakranandaji Maharaj on the 29th

of this month left many of his devotees in the midst of grief. His life was a won-

derful example of simple living and high thinking.. He inspired not only monastic

members but teachers of RKM school and householder devotees too. Swamiji was

the pioneer behind Ramakrishna Bhakta Sammelan, which is held in Kerala every

year . It was a golden opportunity for the members of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic

Vision Foundation in the year 2009 when our campus became the venue for that

year’s Bhakta Sammelan. Along with Sreemad Swami Gautamanandaji , representing

Belur Math, we were fortunate to have Swami Sakrananda too as one of the speak-

ers .Swamiji inspite of his ill health, eagerly attended almost all the programmes on

all the three days. We offer our shranddhanjali to the memory of Revered Swamiji



Vishwa Bhanu 9

SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT By Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari

Science has become a way of living in this 21st century and may become more so as the century

advances further. The world today stands at cross-roads in its cultural evolution from where two grand

routes open up. One is a continuation of the present trend and is characterized by rapid exploitation of

natural resources, wasteful production and consumption, self assertion, competition, intolerance and

violence in personal and public life and would sooner or later land this world in utter chaos, doom and

destruction. The other route, on the contrary, though initially appearing difficult, slow and

‘retrogressive’, can lead us to the bright dawn of inner fulfillment, universal understanding, co-

operation and social justice where man is at peace with himself and Nature. There lies the key to sus-

tainable development.

WHERE HAVE WE GONE WRONG : Though science has entered deep into our lives in 21st cen-

tury, yet for most of us science is only a world of machines and mechanistic approaches to problems of

day to day life. Hardly anybody bothers to exercise truly scientific temper towards one’s own life and

living. In our ignorance of the WHOLE we are trained to look at the world and reach towards it as

though it is separate and different from us which we must conquer and keep under our control. This

feeling of otherness is at the root of all our resentments, stresses, strains, tensions, irritations and

intolerance which sooner or later get expressed in our thoughts, words and actions, disrupting peace

and harmony both within us and without.

STOP LOOK AND PROCEED : The countdown has started. We have to apply the break – STOP

LOOK AND PROCEED and cry a halt to this reckless living and exploitation. Fortunately the very sci-

ence which had held mankind under its hypnotic spell has itself now started the process of de-

hypnotization. The latest discoveries of science are moving into realms which were unimaginable and un-

acceptable a few decades back. A new holistic or spiritual view of life, a new paradigm of reality is

slowly emerging compelling man to recognize the essential self-sustaining quality of natural systems.

This is a move in the right direction. Some notable observations from well known scientists deserve

special mention. To quote Albert Einstein, “Science without religion is blind, for religion gives us the vi-

sion of what ought to be done and science gives us the power to do so.” Arthur Eddington says,” I as-

sert that the nature of reality is spiritual, not material, nor a dualism of matter and spirit”. Erwin

Schrodinger points out, “ the scientific picture of the real world around me is very deficient … it cannot

tell us a word about red and blue, bitter and sweet, physical pain and physical delight; it knows nothing

of beautiful and ugly, good or bad, God and Eternity”. This is the background why academics and forums

like the present one are intensifying their search for discovering a new meaningful spiritual dimension.

It is thereby hoped that humanity would willingly accept and adopt the route of self-discovery and

come to recognize the beauty, rhythm and harmony that are part of creation and of sustainable devel-

opment.

IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUALITY : Spirituality and science have come to be recognized as

the main channels for self discovery and self improvement, factors contributing to sustainable develop-

ment. If both can be harmoniously combined, the inner world and the outer, it would indeed be an ideal

situation. We in India have the rare good fortune of inheriting such a harmoniously blended tradition.

Our scientific discoveries always bordered on spiritual revelations and spiritual exercises were always



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backed up by a precise scientific methodology. India, therefore, has a special role to play in the present

crisis when mankind is looking for a new paradigm of reality, in the hope that such an approach would

restore sanity to mankind, bring peace and happiness and along with it sustainable development. It is

most appropriate that the Philosophical Congress is holding such a seminar which is the need of hour,

especially in Kerala.

ENVIRONMENT : Environment is an important factor when we try to blend spirituality, science

and sustainable development. Environment as it stands today is the nature around us modified to suitman’s whims and fancies, not only his needs but his greed as well. It will do well for us to remember

that time when man lived in close communion with nature. Nature provided all his needs and he in turn

worshipped nature. It is a fall from this state ignoring the truth of unity that has led to the present

day crisis.

Therefore when we talk of man’s rights and responsibilities they should emphasize the deep in-

volvement we have with nature and our multifaceted relationship with our environment. This is the key

factor for sustainable development and for the survival of Earth as a living planet. It is most unfortu-

nate that from the near perfect relationship which man had with his environment, presently it has

slipped down to a very degrading low level, of man recognizing the environment merely as a resource tobe exploited to satisfy his greed. The live relationship is almost totally gone especially from nations

who call themselves ‘scientifically and technologically ’ advanced.

SPIRITUAL DIMENSION : Recognizing the spiritual dimension, could be of great significance

for understanding and improving man-environment relationship, because only from that dimension can

man hope to get a correct vision of reality, vision of the Whole and the true nature of the inter con-

nectedness, interrelatedness and interdependence that are part of the Whole. Lack of such a vision has

taken mankind to the brink of total annihilation. It is however fortunate that men of true scientific vi-

sion, who guide the destiny of mankind in the real sense, have started speaking of spiritual dimension

creating a new ray of hope all round. Werner Heisenberg points out,”….since ethics is the basis for thecommunal life of man and ethics can only be derived from that fundamental human attitude which I

have called the spiritual pattern of the community and we must bend all our efforts to reuniting our-

selves, along with the younger generation, in a common human outlook”. In Indian terms this recognition

of the spiritual pattern can be included in that highly comprehensive term Dharma.

SCIENCE REDEFINED : It is in this light that modern researchers realize the necessity to re-

define science as the search for Truth, Reality and more important, Unity and Wholeness. A truly sci-

entific temper would thus mean a capacity for the unified vision of the whole, not of parts but

including parts. In this vision there is neither subject nor object. There exists only an indivisible One-

ness. When Sri Krishna speaks in Gita,” Yo mam pashyathi sarvathra sarvam ca mayi pashyathi, it pointsto this indivisible unity. Out of this scientific spiritual vision should man learn to fashion his life and fit

it more and more harmoniously into the whole.

Introduction of the West to this immensely potent, valid and relevant value system, ecological,

organic or holistic – or in Indian terms ‘spiritual’, ‘yogic’ or ‘vedantic’, was what Swami Vivekananda initi-

ated way back in 1893, starting with his famous Chicago addresses. His Vedantic discussions echo the

following words, “just as a physicist, when he pushes his knowledge to limits, so a metaphysician will find



Vishwa Bhanu 11

that what he calls mind and matter are but apparent distinctions, the Reality being One. This spiritual

awareness or dimension that Swamiji introduced at that time, predicting half a century earlier the di-

rection in which science, technology and human aspirations would turn, is surprisingly the same as what

the modern scientists recommend today to the world – weary mankind. Such an understanding led the

nuclear scientist J.H.Wheeler to suggest the word, “participator” replacing the idea of “observer” in a

scientific experiment.

SCIENTIFIC SPIRITUALITY : The most important aspect of the problem is understandingand reaching out to the spiritual dimension. This is where the lessons from the Indian heritage can pro-

vide many a guideline, not only to enrich our environment, but also to restructure our own attitude and

behaviour towards environment, and above all, through that exercise lead us to a life of great blessed-

ness. Just a few statements from our Upanishadic lore could be used to substantiate this point.

“Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti”

The relentless search for Truth and nothing but the Truth, which our learned seers took up a

few thousand years ago, at a time when civilization and culture as we understand today were almost non

-existent in other parts of the world, led them to the astounding discovery, that behind the façade ofmultiplicity of material forms there is one Ultimate Truth or Reality which is the real ‘material and ef-

ficient cause’ behind the Universe. The goal and purpose of life were to recognize this Truth and real-

ize it. The names by which it may come to be called by different seekers or sects of people were of no

importance.

They found that this Truth was a great subjective spiritual realization carrying man beyond his

body, mind and intellect into the realm of spirit, of Self. Its realization involved eradication of all divi-

sive ideas which are operative in our lives, consequent on our living only at the level of sensual attrac-

tions, interests and indulgences. An intensely unifying force had to be created within, to arrive at this

Truth, the fundamental basic substratum of life. These efforts go under the names of Sadhana,Upasanas, Tapas and so on; finally leading into a state of deep meditation or Samadhi.

Such a realization of the spiritual Self would have remained as a subjective experience had our

seers stopped at that. But they did not. Their meditations gave them a vision of Reality, of Oneness,

where there was neither subject nor object. The One Truth pervaded everything and everywhere. Na-

ture outside was seen as an externalized expression of the same Truth within. This was truly a

‘quantum’ leap in knowledge – from unity to universality. This vision of the Whole, an awareness of man’s

interrelatedness with and interdependence on all that exist – is what has made the Indian approach so

unique, at once spiritual and in modern terms highly scientific. It is this very same idea of the Oneness

that gets repeated throughout in the spiritual literature of our country.

“Isavasyamidam sarvam”

This is another very significant and relevant declaration from that Isavasya Upanishad. A more

harmonizing and positive statement of truth, with ways and means of practising it as our ‘dharma’, is

hard to find in any scriptural literature. Everything in this universe – moving and unmoving , living and

non-living, whatever there be, are all pervaded by the same divinity which is Infinite, Indestructable



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and Eternal. Swami Vivekananda in one of his lectures puts it in a very scientific way almost in ‘quantum

physical terms’. “Everything that is finite in the universe would find its ultimate rest only when classi-

fied into the Infinite”. Later using it as a means to urge man realize his Infinite Self – he put it thus

“Each soul is potentially divine. The goal in life is to manifest this divinity,

by controlling nature external and internal”. Again this concept of truth

would have remained at the conceptual level if technique of its application

in our lives had not been incorporated in the second part of the statement.

That is,

“Tena tyaketana bunjitha, ma gridah kasya siddhanam” This is a

very pertinent statement. As a natural consequence of the spiritual SO-

LIDITY OF THE UNIVERSE the Upanishad reminds us that there is only

one way we can enjoy – through self-restraint, never coveting another’s

wealth. It does not require much stretch of our imagination to understand

that if the first part be the Truth, the second injunction is the one and

only way to put it into practice. When ‘I’ am part of the ‘whole’ where is the

question of indulging in exploitation , overutilization, aggrandizement and

all other associated maladies which are presently tearing apart human life and devastating our environ-ment.

This is a very pertinent statement. As a natural consequence of the spiritual SOLIDITY OF THE

UNIVERSE the Upanishad reminds us that there is only one way we can enjoy – through self-restraint,

never coveting another’s wealth. It does not require much stretch of our imagination to understand

that if the first part be the Truth, the second injunction is the one and only way to put it into practice.

When ‘I’ am part of the ‘whole’ where is the question of indulging in exploitation , overutilization, ag-

grandizement and all other associated maladies which are presently tearing apart human life and devas-

tating our environment. We find here in this highly spiritual statement a subjective truth for the ad-

justment within the human personality as also a spiritual and scientific basis for man to establish hisrelationship with his environment.

“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”

The third statement gives a more familiar approach to the problem and a homely remedy for the

ills which are creeping into man’s life spoiling his relationship with the environment. The utter simplicity

of the statement reveals what intricate training of the mind has been achieved by our seers, what ex-

pansion, what identification with the Whole!

The statement says that ‘the whole universe is one family. The welfare of the family rests onthe proper exercise of the rights and responsibilities by all its members individually and collectively.

Respect, regard, love, sacrifice, service – manifold are the expressions through which those rights and

responsibilities are exercised in real life. In the togetherness, mutuality, each member responsibly car-

rying out one’s duties remaining as part of the whole and ever keeping at bay his individualistic egotism,

lie the wholesomeness of a family. To get at this beautiful cohesiveness what else, but the awareness

of the spiritual solidity of the whole, could be the basis?

………….to be continued

vishwa bhanu august-2011

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