SingaSpeaks – Roar 34

SingaSpeaks A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 34 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 12 NOVEMBER 2016

Sandhya Deepa Ceremony

The Kannada Sangha (Singapore) celebrated its 20th anniversary this year and to commemorate this milestone year, it organised "Singara Kannada Samskruthi Sammelana" (SKSS) – International Kannada Cultural Conference on 29th and 30th October at

the Singapore Polytechnic Convention Centre. SKSS is a landmark event for the Sangha, as well as for Kannadigas, Kannada Organizations, Artists and Delegates from Singapore, and Karnataka. The activities on both the days included a vibrant coverage of

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dance, drama, music, literature and humour to name a few.

As a part of the ‘Sandhya Deepa’ (lighting of lamps signifying auspiciousness, prosperity and abundance) program, Swami Vimokshananda, President of the Ramakrishna Mission who was invited, lighted the lamp along with other distinguished people. On that occasion, Ms. Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Finance & Ministry of Law was the Chief Guest. The guests enjoyed the Karnataka Folk Parade which showcased the rich plethora of Kannada culture and tradition.

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SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2016

Sri Lanka Sojourn – Part 2 Continued from Roar 33‌ Children's Classes on Hinduism On 18 Sept 2016, at the Ramakrishna Mission, Colombo, Swami Vimokshananda participated in the Weekly Religious Class on Hinduism.

The Colombo Mission under the guidance of Swami Rajeshwarananda conducts classes on Hinduism every Sunday. About 650 children from all ages and classes of the School attend the Sunday Religious Classes. The enthusiasm of the children is indeed infectious. So happy are they, they sing vociferously the bhajan songs that they are taught. Swami Vimokshananda addressed them in Tamil narrating his visit to the Botanic Gardens in Kandy a few days ago where he saw the biggest century old tree there. His speech was in an interactive mode where the children freely responded to his questions. He explained to them how the same tree 200 years ago was just a tiny seed and how that seed had the inherent potentiality to grow into that gigantic tree. He then went on to tell them that in their tiny human form, the full Divinity is present and the whole of

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religion is to manifest that Divinity in them. Love, kindness, honesty, servive, Truth and such other good qualities have to be practised to manifest that Divinity to its fullest. In the evening, the Swami had an impromptu session with the devotees who wanted to be with the Swamis in an informal way. They raised

questions of spiritual import and were happy that he explained them to their great delight. Children from the Sarada Mission Hostel learnt about the different vahanas (vehicles) of Hindu Gods and Goddesses and the reason for their getting animals and birds to ride on. It was a lively session, the children felt.

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SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2016

Colombo Ramakrishna Mission Temple

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SATURDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2016

Home Satsang in Colombo In the morning of 17 Sept 2016, a Home Satsang was held at the home of Mr Thulasee Shan. His home is just a walking distance from the sea-shore.

Swami Sarvarupananda and Swami Rajeshwarananda invited Swami Vimokshananda for the home Satsang.

Devotees joined Swami Rajeshwarananda in singing bhajans.

On arrival, Mr Thulasee Shan and his wife Ms Jnana-Nivedita welcomed the monks in a traditional way and did the "Pada Puja" – ceremonial worship of the Guru's feet. Swami Vimokshananda

made the ritualistic offerings to the Holy Trio and did the Arati. Earlier, a portion from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, the new scripture for the modern world was read by Ms Jnana-Nivedita.

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Swami Vimokshananda, in his address to the 40 odd devotees, took the theme of the unceasing waves of the ocean which they had just visited. He compared the waves to the mental vrittis of a person. And he went on to describe how difficult it is to cross the ocean of samsara. He recounted Swamiji’s sweet solution to cross the vast ocean i.e., unflinching devotion to the holy feet of the Lord! Who can easily make the vastness of the ocean into the size of a tiny mud puddle created by a calf's hoof – "Sampada Tava Sripada Bhava Goshpada Vari Yathay”?

Then this samsara can be easily crossed by the faithful devotee! The assembled devotees were served with a sumptuous lunch ending in an unexpected, pleasant with a spur of the moment – not on the menu, ice-cream treat for all!

To be continued…

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