SINGA SPEAKS ROAR 15 | SINGAPORE | TUESDAY | 26 JULY 2016 A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE
Welcome to a 2-Day Celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Sister Nivedita Monday, 8 August and Tuesday, 9 August 2016
Nivedita wrote in 1904 to a friend about her decision to follow Swami Vivekananada as a result of her meeting him in England in November 1895: Suppose he had not come to London that time! Life would have been like a headless dream, for I always knew that I was waiting for something. I always said that a call would come. And it did. But if I had known more of life, I doubt whether, when the time came, I should certainly have recognised it. Fortunately, I knew little and was spared that torture ... Always I had this burning voice within, but nothing to utter. How often and often I sat down, pen in hand, to speak, and there was no speech! And now there is no end to it! As surely I am fitted to my world, so surely is my world in need of me, waiting – ready. The arrow has found its place in the bow. But if he had not come! If he had meditated, on the Himalayan peaks! ...
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784
PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798
singapore@rkmm.org
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TUESDAY, 26 JULY 2016
Day 1 Celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Sister Nivedita Monday, 8 August 2016 Swami Sarvagananda is a Monk of the Ramakrishna Order. Former Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar. Currently Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata. His bhajans are popular among the devotees and admirers. He has a melifluous voice and uses classical ragas while rendering bhajans. His rendition of evening arati song “khandana bhava” is widely used as a model for singing in all the Mission centres and among the devotees. A Musical Homage to Sister Nivedita on the occasion of her 150th Birth Anniversary will be offered by Swami Sarvagananda at the PGP Hall at 7 PM on 8 August 2016. Flute: Sri Raghavendran Rajasekaran Tabla: Sri Ritwik Ghosal Music is the highest art and, to those who understand is the highest worship…The greatest aid to this practice of keeping God in memory is, perhaps, music. The Lord says to Nârada, the great teacher of Bhakti, "I do not live in heaven, nor do I live in the heart of the Yogi, but where My devotees sing My praise, there am I". Music has such tremendous power over the human mind; it brings it to concentration in a moment. You will find the dull, ignorant, low, brute-like human beings, who never steady their mind for a moment at other times, when they hear attractive music, immediately become charmed and concentrated. Even the minds of animals, such as dogs, lions, cats, and serpents, become charmed with music. –SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784
PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798
singapore@rkmm.org
PERIODIC NEWSLETTER 15
PAGE THREE
TUESDAY, 26 JULY 2016
Day 2 Celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Sister Nivedita Tuesday, 9 August 2016
Swami Sarvagananda
Swami Supriyananda
A Request to Register
Dear Devotees and friends, As you may be aware, the Ramakrishna Mission Singapore has three Retreats this year. The first Retreat was held on Good Friday, the second Retreat will be held on National Day and the third on Christmas Day. These auspicious public holidays coincidentally fall exactly once in four months. Due to logistics reasons, we shall admit only up to 200 devotees on a first come first serve basis. Registration is free. Children below 12 years are not eligible. Please register early so that your participation is ensured. You may register as follows: Call 6288 9077 during office hours (10 am to 6 pm) or Send an email to: office@ramakrishna.org.sg or Sign up at the office when you visit the ashram in person When you register please let us know the names of the aspirants attending the programme, the phone no and which session(s) of the Retreat the aspirant(s) would be attending. We encourage you to spread the word to all your known spiritual aspirants – may be family members, friends and especially those who have taken diksha. Wishing you a spiritualy stimulating experience, May Sri Ramakrishna bless you all ! Swami Vimokshananda President
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784
PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798
The ‘Five Commandments’ of Sri Ramakrishna for householders: 1. Keep chanting the God’s name, thinking of his glory. 2. Do Sadhusanga, Satsang, being with holy people; visit places where there are holy thoughts. 3. Go to a solitary place once in a while and meditate. Protect and nurture your godly feelings and thoughts. 4. Constantly deliberate and discriminate about right and wrong, true and untrue, real and unreal, right and wrong, ‘Nitya’ and ‘Anitya’, ‘Sat’ and ‘Asat’. God alone is true, ‘Nitya’, permanent, real, ‘Sat’, Right. 5. Discharge your duties as a householder with full responsibility but always keep in mind that none of this belongs to you.
singapore@rkmm.org