SingaSpeaks – Roar 44

SingaSpeaks A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 44 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 21 JANUARY 2017

Spiritual Retreat on Christmas Day The 3rd Spiritual Retreat for 2016 held on Christmas Day was auspicious four times over. As just on the eve on 24 December, the Birth of Christ was celebrated with Carols and it being Ekadashi, there was Sri Ram Nam Sankirtan as well as bhajans for Swami Shivananda’s Janma Tithi puja.

The first session of the Spiritual Retreat on 25 December 2016 began at 9 am at the Temple with opening prayers, chanting of Gita Chapter 12 and bhajans led by Swami Satyalokananda. Devotees then proceeded to the Sarada Hall keeping up the mood of silence for the rest of the Retreat.

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explained how a study of the life of the direct disciples gives a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Master Himself that would lead to divine love of the ideal.

The morning session was a study, discussion and reflection of the Life and Times of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. It was

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Swami Jitamanasananda read from “The Eternal Companion”, a compilation of the spiritual talks and advice

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PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 44

PAGE TWO

SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 2017

Spiritual Retreat on Christmas Day from Swami Brahmananda, the spiritual son of Sri Ramakrishna who was also the first President of the Ramakrishna Order.

Mr Prakash Kamanat, a long-standing devotee gave an inspiring narration of Swami Akhandananda’s life and contribution.

Swami Akhandananda was another Direct Disciple of

even before he met Sri Ramakrishna. He also quoted touching incidents of the Swami’s undaunting nature of fearlessness in adversity and the selfless seva he did for the poor and the sick throughout his life.

Sri Ramakrishna famous for his seva to humanity.

Prakash took the audience through vivid descriptions Swami Pavitratmananda of the austere life the began the second session Swami led as a young boy with the Life and

Our Children’s class student, Kritikh Gopalakrishnan’s rendition of the flute was most mellifluous and much appreciated by the audience. He was ably accompanied on the tabla by the Mission’s Youth member Vedavyas. Swami Vimokshananda, while congratulating the Mission’s youth members’ performance, commended on the fusion of Karnatic flute recitals with Hindustani tal beats and how they both synched so well. Krithik closed the programme with a rendition of “Ramakrishna Sharanam”.

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PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 44

PAGE THREE

SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 2017

Spiritual Retreat on Christmas Day Teachings of Swami Shivananda, another Direct Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. The Swami succinctly chose apt episodes of Swami Shivananda’s life and teachings to illustrate how we can mould our lives to reach such lofty ideals as practised by “Mahapurush Vedas and all religions Maharaj”. place emphasis on attaining peace of mind – a mind that is strong enough to remain calm in all circumstances. And with such a calm mind, remembrance of God becomes natural.

In his discourse on “Remembrance of God”, Swami Supriyananda, President of the Malaysia Ramakrishna Mission and the Guest Speaker for the Retreat, explained how peace of mind is an essential requisite for sadhana which is why our

Swami Vimokshananda as the last speaker in the Retreat took up the topic of Fundamentals of Spiritual Practice. He contrasted the spiritual person with a materialistic person in having three convictions namely 1) the world around is transitory and not permanent, 2) the grasp of this world by the

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5 sense organs is illusory and 3) stepping up to know the Reality is all about spiritual life.

This was followed by an interesting Question and Answer session monitored

by Pratik Bose and moderated by Swamis Vimokshananda and Supriyananda.

120 Registered devotees attended the Retreat which ended with a delightful Lunch Prasad.

The next Spiritual Retreat would be held on Good Friday holiday which falls on 14 April 2017.

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PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 44

PAGE FOUR

SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 2017

News from Abroad Pongal Festival at Nattarampalli Ramakrishna Math, Nattarampalli (Tamil Nadu) celebrated Pongal (harvest festival) on 14 January 2017, with the economically & socially backward sections of that area. The Ashrama distributed a kit (containing Quality rice, jaggery, cashew nuts, turmeric powder, Kumkum, camphor, incense sticks,

ghee, Dhal, sambar powder, etc.), sugar cane, and new earthen pot to nearly 105 families belonging to different backward communities, i.e.

Joggier (pig rearing community), Irrular (rats & snakes catching community) and Arundatiyar (community who braids bamboo winnows & baskets).

M’s House, Sub-Centre of Belur Math The house of Sri Mahendranath Gupta, or Sri M, disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and the author of ‘Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita’ (Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna), is now a sub-centre of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math. The centre has been inaugurated on 4 January 2017, on Swami Saradananda Maharaj’s birthday, by Revered Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math.

A new branch centre of the Ramakrishna Mission at Gwalior, MP A new branch centre at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh has started functioning with ✴Vidya Mandir M.P. Board School, ✴Vidya Mandir CBSE School, ✴Roshani, a school for specially abled children, ✴Sharada Naad Mandir, a Musical College affiliated to Raja Maan Singh Tomar, Music University, ✴Sharada Bal Gram, an orphanage for poor children, ✴an Agricultural Unit providing fresh organic vegetables ✴Vivekananda Vaachanaalaya – Library and Free Reading Room ✴Health coverage free of charge for poor with Allopathic, Ayurvedic and Homeo Clinics.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org