Report Kluang Retreat

11 January 2016

Spiritual Retreat at Kluang Kluang is a town in Malaysia where Sri Ramakrishna Panimandram has been silently rendering its services to the community of largely Tamil speaking people.

Sri Ramakrishna Panimandram, Kluang hosted the Retreat on Monday, 11 January 2016.

This centre was originally started by one late Govindasamy who was inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Swami Tanmayanandaji while he was in Kuala Lumpur had been giving spiritual direction to the group of devotees here.

Many Swamis have visited this place. This ashram will host the Malaysia Ramakrishna Manadu (Devotees’ Convention) by the end of this year.

A Spiritual Retreat (Anmeega antaryogam) was held by Sri Ramakrishna Panimandram in Kluang town of Malaysia on Monday, 11 January 2016. It was an inspiring occasion where three Swamis from the Ramakrishna Mission attended.

Swami Vimokshananda, President of the Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore and Swami S a m a c h i t t a n a n d a , Vi ce - Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore were invited by S w a m i S u p r i y a n a n d a , Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e Ramakrishna Mission, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Spiritual Retreat.

The occasion was also utilised by the devotees of Kluang Sri Ramakrishna Panimandram to welcome Swami Vimokshananda, President of the Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore on his very first visit. They also gave farewell to Swami 1

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S a m a c h i t t a n a n d a , Vi ce - Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore who has been since transferred to Argentina.

The altar where the pictures of Sri Ramakrishna, Hol y Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda were kept was tastefully decorated with plenty of flowers. The lamp was lit as a mark of the start of the Retreat.

The assembled devotees joined the chorus singing of bhajans led by Swami Samachittananda while accompanying tabla was played by Swami Supriyananda.

All bhajans were in Ta m i l a n d e a c h devotee was supplied with the text of the bhajan earlier. The cumulative effect of singing together the names of Gods and Goddesses created a vibrant atmosphere. It was noted that a good number of children also participated, singing the bhajans by clapping their palms enthusiastically.

Swami Supriyananda welcomed the gathering and introduced Swami Vimokshananda as the new President of Singapore Ramakrishna Mission. He told the audience that the new Swami would make visits to Kluang as it is nearer to Singapore and also would speak to the people in Tamil so that everyone can understand.

Swami Vimokshananda delivered his reply address in simple Tamil. He thanked everyone for their participation in the Spiritual Retreat. He explained lucidly what the term ‘Kadavul’ is 2

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meant by. He quoted one incident from the life of Sri Ramakrishna how ‘Kadavul’ is present ever ywhere and in ever ything. He also narrated one incident from the life of Swami Sivananda, a Direct Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna how God is beyond everything too. Then he asked the devotees that mere ostentatious devotion w i l l n o t t a ke y o u fur ther; rather one should practice devotion with full heart and love towards God. The story told by Swami Vivekananda at the famous Rameshwaram temple in Tamil Nadu about the two gardeners and how Lord Shiva loved the one most who did ‘seva’ to the garden’s plants and trees and not the other who merely praised Lord Shiva but never w o r ke d w a s a l s o explained by him.

He also brought out a beautiful stor y of mental worship by Bhima and the tons of flo w e r s t h a t w e r e o ffe r e d d u r i n g h i s mental worship while the external worship of Arjuna brought only a few flowers at the feet of Bhagwan Sri Krishna. Thus, he inspired every devotee there to put forth full heart and soul in worshipping the God. 3

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Sri Kumar, the Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, Malaysia took the opportunity to inform the public there about t h e e n s u i n g Ma h a Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Mu n i s w a r a r Amman alayam in Jalan Cheras, Malaysia on the 20th January 2016 and invited ever yone to attend.

He informed that the two Swamis – Vimoksha-nanda and Supriyananda – will be the Guest of Honour at the holy occasion.

Thiru Maniam, a retired Headmaster of a High School in Kluang and a de votee of Sri Ramakrishna gave a vote of thanks in a humorous way to the delight of audience. Thiru Gandhi, the Treasurer of Sri Ramakrishna Panimandram honoured the monastic guests with baskets of fruits a n d flo w e r s . T h e Chairman and other officials were present.

All the 150 devotees and the three monks were given prasad in the form of sumptuous supper.

The Retreat ended with an arati to the altar. Everyone had the fer vent feeling and earnest wish that the splendid Retreat be repeated in the nearest future!

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