Singaspeaks – Roar 26

SingaSpeaks ROAR 26 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 1 OCTOBER 2016 A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

Jakarta : Readying for Ramakrishna?

A Joyful Jakarta Journey My recent visit to Jakarta has brought me immense joy. It was an occasion to meet many of the devotees of our Holy Trio. Though I have visited Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Hong Kong in South-east Asia in the 14 month period of my stay in Singapore, my visit to Indonesia was long due. The devotees there have been keeping in touch with me through the Skype Class once a month. So, when the opportunity came to visit Jakarta in the month of August, I took it as the Will of Sri Thakur.

What impressed me was that a few likeminded devotees who are eager to have the holy company of sadhus have come together and started reading Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita (The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna). They are all desirous of rendering seva in any form 179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

to further the activities of the group. I was pleased to see that the devotees in Jakarta shouldered the major responsibility for arranging my visit. If at all my visit has provided any impetus to know more about our hoary spiritual tradition, I would be obliged to feel that yes, the trip was successful.

I do not have enough words to thank each of the devotees for their care and concern during my stay despite the obvious inconveniences. There is always a next time and that next time is when, is a question only our Sri Sri Thakur knows! May His grace be upon all devotees is my earnest prayer!

Please go through a Report of my Visit received from the Jakarta Kathamrita Group in the following pages.

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A Report from the Jakarta Kathamrita Group Swami Vimokshanandaji, President of the Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore visited Jakarta, the first City to visit in Indonesia, from 12 to 14 August, 2016. Since April 2016, Maharaj has been conducting Monthly Skype sessions with a few likeminded devotee families, expounding on the true meaning and context of a passage from Kathamrita which is read during that session. The visit to Jakarta, gave Maharaj an opportunity to know the devotees on a more personal basis, while allowing the devotees to spend some quality time with Maharaj, having personal interaction and seeking spiritual guidance.

Memorable Museum

Upon landing at Jakarta on 12th August morning, Maharaj went straight to the National Museum, Central Jakarta. He showed keen interest in understanding the history of Indonesia, and the evolution of culture as well as start and development of religions like Hinduism, Budhhism, Islam. During the museum visit, Maharaj mingled with visiting 179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

young school children, who were delighted to talk to a monk.

Significance of Sadhana Later, that evening, after spending some personal moments with some individual devotees over tea, Maharaj delivered his first of two planned lectures “Significance of Sadhana” at the Botanica Apartment Function Room, attended by around 70 devotees of Indian origin. After the lecture, he spent some time answering questions from the floor, eg., in our daily busy lives with multiple priorities, how do we manage to set aside time for Sadhana? Finally,

Maharaj had dinner with almost 30 devotees at Rini & Amit’s home, thereby giving more time for interactions with the devotees.

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

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Guided Meditation 13th August started with a wonderful “Guided Meditation Session” at 8:00 am for an hour, at Rini’s home, which was attended by about 20 devotees. Maharaj explained about Meditation, Japa, the rituals, different postures, and finally, some techniques (pranayam) that help one to isolate the mind from multiple

distracting thoughts, and start to focus on one thought. This was followed by joint breakfast, which had been brought by the devotees.

Visit to Vihara

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After breakfast, Maharaj visited Vihara Buddha Dhammacakka, in North Jakarta and observed the various artefacts, roof carvings, and spent some time meditating in front of the Buddha i d o l . H e w as p r es ent ed t he 31 s t Anniversary Celebration Publication of the Vihara by their Chief Bikkhu.

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singapore@rkmm.org

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God in Image and Man In the evening, Maharaj delivered his second lecture “God in Image and Man” at the local Sree Mangala Vinayak Temple, Cikini, which was attended by 60 devotees, despite unfortunate inclement weather. At the end of the lecture, he answered some questions

from the floor, and then personally performed the Arati in front of Holy Trinity and a larger than a life-size image of Sri Ganesha, amid the singing of bhajan “Khandana Bhava…” by the local devotees. All the devotees were given Prasad-box at the end, and Maharaj had dinner with the Jakarta Kathamritam group devotees.

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event. He suggested to explore ways of making the current group a bit larger, and also see if the same could be more formalized via perhaps registration of the same – this would enable the Ramakrishna Mission to engage more to help develop the Group further.

Jakarta Kathamrita Group: 1. Tridib & Radhika Gupta 2. Sanjay & Rita Majumdar 3. Jaideep and Paromita Bhattacharjee 4. Pranab & Soumita RoyChowdhury 5. Amit & Rini Bose 6. Madhu Adya 7. Panchali Das

Quality time On 14th August, Maharaj was available for some devotees, who were desirous of spiritual guidance and counselling and spent quality time with them. He then had breakfast with the group, following which he departed for the airport to take the Singapore flight.

Thanks to Every one!

Each devotee-member of the Jakarta Kathamrita group engaged and contributed in his/her own way to enable the entire visit go well and smoothly. Maharaj’s visit was an immensely fulfilling and wonderful 179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org