SingaSpeaks ROAR 25 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 24 SEPTEMBER 2016 A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE
Guru Purnima at Yangon Ramakrishna Mission Most of our readers know that till 1962 our I am glad that my visit created positive monks were there in the Ramakrishna feedback. I could understand clearly that our Mission's two branches at Yangon, formerly Mission Library would have been the best at Rangoon. These were busy, useful and pre-1960s. Not only the elder generation prosperous centres and one of the important acknowledged it so but also there I could not branches abroad. After the militarisation of but think that some rare treasure of Burma now Myanmar, the monks were knowledge is hidden in the form of books of asked to leave the country. From then on the historical value. Ramakrishna Mission's Hospital was taken over by the Govt. The Library branch, which Presently I was sad to note that there is no had a chapel for the Holy Trio, was handed maintenance at all of the Library. Dirt and over to a Committee of Citizens. The dust aside, the books in the almirahs have members and the devotees carried on the never been touched! Working hands have ashram's minimal dwindled to such an activities. extent, presumably in the Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw at the Sitagu absence of a Resident International Buddhist Academy Two decades back, it was Monk for the last 20 years. Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj who visited after The devotees there in a gap of 35 years. It is to Yangon are indeed praying the immense credit of the for a Resident Monk. devotees who kept up the I could feel the pulse of light at the shrine in spite positive support from the of many challenges. Last Hindu Community in year in the month of general. It was a fruitful December, the Govt., after meeting with Venerable a gap of 20 years Sitagu Sayadaw at the permitted another monk Sitagu International of the Ramakrishna Buddhist Academy on 9th Mission i.e. me to visit December 2015. The Yangon. I met many amiable Venerable warmly elderly devotees, old welcomed me and Prof. admirers and friends. Dr. Kamal Bose and others
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PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 25
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who accompanied me. He said that he wanted me to speak about Swami Vivekananda to the monks and nuns who were undergoing training in that Academy. He also assured me of all help to Ramakrishna Mission, if a Resident Monk comes to Yangon.
SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2016
Mission centre in Yangon. He took extraordinary pains in making my visit successful through Kathleen Thein, a softspoken lady, President of the Hindu Women Organisation in Yangon.
Community leaders willing to help ‌
It seems everything augurs well for a start rather a re-start!
Maung Thaung at Sydney Vedanta Centre
My grateful thanks to Maung Thaung, a long-standing Burmese devotee, now living in Sydney, whose mother was one of the Founder members of the Ramakrishna Members of Sri Sarada Sangha listening to the discourse
Throughout the world the teachings of Master, Mother and Swamiji are capturing the thinking minds because of their universal appeal. In the Buddhist Academy at Yangon, I explained why people of different faiths are determined to study Swamiji. He stands as a towering personality with his sweep of Universalism over the fanaticism of pygmies! Hence he is attracting the attention of peace lovers everywhere. Perhaps a few more visits are required to tie the loose ends. We leave it at the hands of Sri Ramakrishna for its future shape. Kathleen Thein facilitated meeting with monks
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–Swami Vimokshananda
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SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2016
Rakhee, an initiated devotee of Srimat Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, sent me the following news report from Yangon.
My humble pranam to Swamiji who I always believed as my spiritual teacher sent by my Guru. By the grace and blessings, we had a very nice Guru Purnima celebration with about 80 devotees. Yesterday was really a very special day for us. We started with Robes offering to the monks. The monk preached about why this day is very special. Then we offered Swan (food) to the monks. Then we had our Satsang and offered bogh (meal) to Thakur. I have created a group SMS system and invited all the devotees. We had about 80 devotees. Thakur and Srimat Swami Gahananandaji's photos were prominently displayed. They look very happy. I narrated a short story on Guru Purnima. I would like to thank Swami Vimokshanandaji for all his teachings. I related some of them and some from Jyothi, a quarterly magazine from South Africa. The devotees were very pleased. A devotee sponsored lunch in the form of prasad. Then we had Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's namamantra 216 times. We were talking about you and everyone is looking forward to your next visit. We need to maximise this time by doing lots of preparations. I have attached some photos. With humble pranam, Rakhee, Yangon Rakhee's mother in the centre among the devotees of Sri Sarada Sangha singing bhajans
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784
PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798
singapore@rkmm.org