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Vishwa Bhanu

Vishwa Bhanu
JUNE 2011 VOL - 1 ISSUE

From the Directors pen


A house magazine of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH OF JUNE 2011 Reopening of Sandeepani


Sishuvihar. New admissions in LKG on 1 st June Monthly Satsang Prabhashana by Dr P. Raman Sreemad Sw Nirmalananda Girijis ayurvedic consultations and study class on Kathopanishad

It was in 1996, while at Chennai that a call came from some prominent Hindu leaders that we should all start chanting Sri Ram Jairam, keeping in mind the sankalpa that the Sri Rama temple should be built at Ayodhya. Since then Vivekananda 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 HanuHum 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 Mananeeya Anna Hazarejis dream come true?
LAKSHMI DIDI WELCOMEING THE KIDS OF SANDEEPANI SISHUVIHAR

With deepa prajwalan by Lakshmi Didi, on 1st June, the tiny tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar were given a warm welcome. With the seven new comers admitted to the L.K.G section and the existing students of UKG strength of the school now is seventeen. All the tiny tots offered flowers at the feet of Swamiji. After this there was an informal parents - teachers interaction in the presence of Didi.

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Dr P.Raman, Dermatologist by profession, but wellversed in Indian scriptures has a beautiful way of polarizing Science with Dharma. He was invited to speak on Sunday, 5th June, at Anandadham to address.

Regular Yogasana classes continued. Seven students attended. Apart from Asanas, they were also taught Neti and Dhouti Kriyas

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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 their patients for whose problems allopathy doesn't have any solutions. About hundred and fifty patients got the benefit of his advice

Vishwa Bhanu

Vishwa Bhanu
JULY 2011 VOL - 1 ISSUE

JULY 2011

VOL - 1 ISSUE 2

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH OF JULY 2011

Prabhashanam by Sri Girish Kumar

Follow up camp for students

Gurupurnima Celebration

Ramayana parayanam in the neighbouring houses starts

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 he introduced 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

Visit to Vyasa Vidyaniketan.

Visitors at Anandadham

Prabhashanam on Ramayana by Sri Sreekumarji of Ernakulam

Monthly visit of Srimad Swami Nirmala nanda Giri Maharaj

0n 9th July children of classes IV to XI who had attended our personality development camp in summer were called for a follow up programme. This programme is scheduled to be held on every second Saturday in the afternoon. During the review session they were given an opportunity to recollect all the things they learnt during camp and were also introduced to new stories and games which were enjoyed by the children and all of them were keen to attend thefollowing classes as well

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To get blessings from elders by touching their feet is a very old custom in India. Normally we follow this custom to get blessings from our elders ranging from our mother, father, teachers, and other elderly persons. In older days children used to get blessings from their parents and other elders even daily. Unfortunately, the custom is now fast disappearing. Now, we follow the custom only during certain festive occasions and during marriage etc. Occasions such as Gurupoornima, and Matrupuja, we encourage our children to worship the parents as a part of their training to get inculcated in the values enshrined in Shastras. On 15th July, all the Children from Sandeepani Sishuvihar 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 helping to create a strong bond between them.

In Kerala Ramayana month begins on 1st Karkadakam (17th July 2011). In almost all Hindu families one will read the holy Ramayana and other members will listen. Elaborate arrangements will be made in most of the temples to read Ramayana and preach the divine message to lead an ideal life. Paramacharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in his characteristic simple language has said "There are two powerful 'Taraka Namas'. One is Aum and another is Ram. All mantras have to be prefixed with Aum for obtaining the benefits of those mantras, whereas there is no need to prefix Aum when the name 'Ram' is recited because the name itself is 'Tarka Namam' ". This year Ramayana month started on 17th of July. Like in the previous year many families approached Kendra to have the Ramayana reading in their houses. Kendras Dharma Sevika Kum Bindu with three vidyarthi karyakartas Kum Vishnupreeta, Kum. Selvi and Kum. Preeti.and with two other children from our samskara varga and a lady wellwisher visited nearly 25 families and performed the puja involving all the family members. .

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VISIT TO VYASA VIDYA NIKETAN BY MA. LAKSHMI DIDI

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

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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 RAMAYANA.HE LEFT THE AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE ON INDIAN CULTURE.

Swami Nirmalananda Giri visited Ananda Dham on 29th July for the study class on Kathopanishad and ayurvedic consultations. Due to Swami Sakranandajis attaining the Samadhi, he cancelled the class and recollected his association with Swamiji and dwelt on the subject of an ideal sanyansi who heads anorganisation. The programme concluded with two minutes prayer in memory of Swamiji.

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Vivekananda Kendra offers our shraddhanjil at the Samadhi of Revered Prav rajika Medhapranaji, President of Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Math, Puranattukara on 17 July 2011 at the age of 91 .Till her last breath, Revered Mataji carried on her duties of RKSM Girls 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 wonderful 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 years Bhakta Sammelan. Along with Sreemad Swami Gautamanandaji , representing Belur Math, we were fortunate to have Swami Sakrananda too as one of the speakers .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

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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, cooperation and social justice where man is at peace with himself and Nature. There lies the key to sustainable development. WHERE HAVE WE GONE WRONG : Though science has entered deep into our lives in 21st century, 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 ones 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 science which had held mankind under its hypnotic spell has itself now started the process of dehypnotization. The latest discoveries of science are moving into realms which were unimaginable and unacceptable 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 vision of what ought to be done and science gives us the power to do so. Arthur Eddington says, I assert 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 development. 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 development. 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 suit mans 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 mans rights and responsibilities they should emphasize the deep involvement 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 unfortunate 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 to be 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 connectedness, 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 vision, 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 the communal 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 ourselves, 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 redefine science as the search for Truth, Reality and more important, Unity and Wholeness. A truly scientific 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 Oneness. When Sri Krishna speaks in Gita, Yo mam pashyathi sarvathra sarvam ca mayi pashyathi, it points to 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 initiated 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

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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 direction 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 understanding and reaching out to the spiritual dimension. This is where the lessons from the Indian heritage can provide 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 blessedness. 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 faade of multiplicity of material forms there is one Ultimate Truth or Reality which is the real material and efficient cause behind the Universe. The goal and purpose of life were to recognize this Truth and realize 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 divisive ideas which are operative in our lives, consequent on our living only at the level of sensual attractions, 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. Nature 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 mans 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 classified 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 SOLIDITY OF THE UNIVERSE the Upanishad reminds us that there is only one way we can enjoy through self-restraint, never coveting anothers 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 environment. 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 anothers 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 environment. We find here in this highly spiritual statement a subjective truth for the adjustment within the human personality as also a spiritual and scientific basis for man to establish his relationship 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 mans 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 expansion, what identification with the Whole! The statement says that the whole universe is one family. The welfare of the family rests on the 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 carrying out ones 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

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