SingaSpeaks – Roar 64

SingaSpeaks A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 64 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 10 JUNE 2017

What is Taoism?

Some basic facts and features retold The InterR e l i g i o u s Organisation (IRO) arranged a brief intro about Taoism on 26 May 2017 at its office in MND B u i l d i n g , Singapore. Some basic facts and features were retold

by Master Chung Kwang Tong (Wei Yi) who is a Taoist priest of the Quan Zhen Longmen Tradition and also a Council member of IRO. It was a small gathering where apart from Swami Vimokshananda, a Buddhist monk Venerable Sumanathero was also present.

Mr Wei Yi outlined about the historical origin of Taoism and explained how it

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

developed into becoming part of millions’ lives in China, aligning with the local customs and usages. He also dwelt upon the great Masters of the past whose teachings are relevant even today. After his talk, a few questions that came from the floor were duly answered. All in all, it was a pleasant evening well spent in trying to understand another religion from the one who has been practising and preaching it. The group thanked Mr Wei Yi for his lucid explanation, while he thanked the group for attending.

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SATURDAY, 10 JUNE 2017

Visit to Western Malaysia Four Private Centres associated with Ramakrishna Mission On the cool early morning of 2 May 2017, Swami Vimokshananda and Swami Supriyananda set off from the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Kuala Lumpur (KL) for a 3-day visit to the privately run Sri Ramakrishna Centres situated in the northern states of Western Malaysia.

customary Pooja Prasad. Just across this temple is the popular sprawling Kanthan Kaliamman Temple built into the foothills of the famous picturesque limestone hills of Ipoh.

The Temple has huge life size Kali statues in her different manifestations and is home to beautiful strutting Sungei Siput peacocks, a Private Centre roosting peahen, After the Swamis rare breed hailed victory to chickens and the Holy Trinity goats. and Mother Durga, Within a ten Mr Kumaravelan, a minute drive from Nibong Tebal this temple is the devotee started Sungei Siput the journey by Private Centre driving the car. After almost 3 hours, where Mr Ratnam and the devotees they reached Sungei Siput in the welcomed the Swamis to the Sri

State of Perak. On the way, Swami Supriyananda chanted the Vishnu Sahasranamam stotra. The first stop was at the Kaliamman Temple where the priest performed Arati with hymns and then garlanded the Swamis and offered them the 179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

Ramakrishna Prayer Hall on the 2nd floor of a shop-house. The framed pictures of the Holy Trio were beautifully mounted on a raised pedestal with an ornate canopy. After prayers, the Swamis had light refreshments at the devotee’s house.

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SATURDAY, 10 JUNE 2017

Visit to Western Malaysia continued…

Nibong Tebal Private Centre devotees. The visiting Swamis were Nibong Tebal Private Centre warmly invited to partake of the On 2 May noon, the Swamis reached sumptuous noon meal by “Ayya the Nibong Tebal Private Centre Avargal” who continues to be the called “Persatuan Pengamal Meditasi” inspiration for the devotees. Swami otherwise “Sri Ramakrishna Vimokshananda then had an Theiveega Illam” – in the mainland of interactive Satsang with the eager Pena ng.

About 2 0 dev otees devotees. ceremoniously welcomed the Swamis Straight from there, Mr Kumaravel to the beautiful Sri Ramakrishna took the Swamis to a historical Parish Shrine.

The Holy founded in 1846 Mother’s Peedam at Bukit Mertajam.

(Chair) was It contains St. exquisitely draped Anne’s Chapel said with pleated to have healing sarees.

The powers. It has pristine Shrine with sprawling grounds its intricate where from the decorations of the entrance one can Holy Trio reflected see the new the dedication of Church buildings.

To be continued… the Nibong Tebal 179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 singapore@rkmm.org

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SATURDAY, 10 JUNE 2017

News from Abroad Viveka Tirtha Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences Vision of Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda’s main emphasis was on manmaking, total and holistic development of human personality. His memorable words were: “The aim of this institution is to make men. …

You must have this new method — the method of man-making. The true man is he who is strong as strength itself and yet possesses a woman’s heart. You must feel for the millions of beings around you, and yet you must be strong and inflexible and you must also possess obedience…”

The Plan It was to put into practice Swamiji’s views on man-making education that Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission started schools, colleges and hostels in many of its branch centres. There was, however, a need to have a separate centre devoted to the study and propagation of basic principles of Human Excellence in the light of Swamiji’s life-giving message.

Therefore, with the financial assistance of the Govt. of West Bengal, the Ramakrishna Mission set up a Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences in Kolkata.

Actualization The proposed Centre, christened “Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences”, will be a humble attempt to actualize the great vision of Swami Vivekananda by creating the machinery Swamiji’s vision of an ideal human personality was the harmonious development of the faculties by which the excellences inherent in a human of feeling, thinking and willing—heart, head and being, the Perfection and Divinity already hand: “heart to feel, brains to conceive, hands to present in man, become fully manifest and flow out as a torrent for the welfare of the world. work.”

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org