Sadhana Diwas 2023: : Yuva Bharati November 2023

Sadhana Diwas 2023

This year Sadhana Diwas we shall be celebrating during the year of Vishesh Prashikshan Varsh which we have taken up as part of our Sadhana to be a best instrument of Divine.

It was the Divine Destiny that led Eknathji to start Vivekananda Kendra. The penance of Mother Kanyakumari and Meditation of Swami Vivekananda came to fruition in the form of Vivekananda Kendra.

For a nation builder the realties are to be taken into account to chalk out a path. Mananeeya Eknathji understood the natural ethos of the Indian mind. The Indian mind by nature is spiritual, it longs for Mukti, for God- realization, for eternal peace. Society can be taken ahead on the path of least resistance only. This natural longing of Indian mind if given a deeper dimension in the present context, it would make the people vibrant. Eknathji therefore focused on the message of Swami Vivekananda: "Serve man Serve God". Swami Vivekananda had said, 'what vain gods shall we go after and yet cannot worship the god that we see all around us, the Virat (Janata Janardan?) When we have worshipped this, we shall be able to worship all other gods.'

Eknathji felt that limiting God only to idols and temples and having no confidence in oneself is degrading our people. He said, "The remedy for the ills of our country, therefore, lies in launching a mighty movement of right thought sweeping the entire country. It has to be a two-pronged move. On the one hand, it is to be aimed at (1) transforming our people’s inherent God-wardness into the right spiritual urge rising out of the teachings of the Upanishads, namely, (a) each soul is potentially divine and (b) faith in God, in turn means faith in one’s self, i.e. in one’s potentiality to rise to divine heights. On the other hand, it is (2) to convert the spiritual fervour thus released into works of national reconstruction”.

The realization of Sri Ramakrishna "Shivabhave Jivaseva" was given as a message "Serve man Serve God" by Swami Vivekananda. Eknathji gave an opportunity to Karyakartas like us to practice this realization of Sri Ramakrishna and message of Swami Vivekananda in an organized way. Thus Vivekananda Kendra - a spiritually oriented service mission came into being.

Eknathji gave a higher dimension to service. So to do service we do not have to pray for poverty around or famines, floods or earthquakes. Awakening man to his great potential, to realize the divine within and thus to chanelise that awakened power for national reconstruction, for well- being of humanity, is spiritually - oriented service. Eknathji always insisted that our inspiration to work should be perennial. He pointed out that those who worked for the freedom of our country lost all enthusiasm, and zeal to work for nation, once we became independent. Therefore, we must have the perennial source of inspiration. It is necessary that we work to eliminate  anti-national forces, to organise our society, or work to make India great, but what after that? It is not perennial source of inspiration, but to manifest the divinity in our lives and life of others is perennial drive.  

If we see the history of mankind, God seem to have created each nation and culture to contribute to the evolution of man. Thus each nation has some destiny to fulfill. India, so to say, represents the soul of the human world. As long as India lives the world is safe. So only it was said "If India lives, who dies and if India dies, who lives". The very purpose of the existence of India is for the spiritual evolution of man. For the good of the world India has to come up. Swami Vivekananda had said that one vision that he saw clear before his eyes was the ancient motherland of ours rising once again more glorious than ever! Thus Eknathji said that it is God's plan that this nation has to come up to give light to the world, so Ishvara has chosen us as instrument. When we do work of national regeneration with this Bhava of instrumentality then it is Sadhana. Thus: 'Sadhana of Service.' If this 'sadhan -instrument' bhava is there then Karyakarta can never get disturbed by difficulties, nor will one deviate from the path. Sadhana Diwas is the day to remind ourselves that we are the instruments in His hands. 

 

On Sadhana Diwas we have to remember these thoughts.

1. As we are born in India, our mission of life cannot be different from the mission of nation. Our life should be such that it helps nation in delivering its message.

2. As a nation builder, we have to dive deep into our Upanishadic teachings and also see its deeper meanings relevant for the time. As Eknathji has done giving the meaning of Seva, of seeing God in oneself and around and therefore having confidence in oneself to rise to divine heights and work with that spiritual energy for the regeneration of nation.  

3. We are the chosen instruments. We have to do our best, rest He would take care.

4. For the well-being of the humanity, we work for the nation-rebuilding. For that we have to bring all people together so we have to see their goodness and urge to work for  nation. At the same time we have to steer clear of any sectarian views whether in political, social or religious field.

5. Ultimately, any philosophy boils down to what we are doing about it in our daily life. So, taking up a definite responsibility in Kendra Karya and fulfilling it, is required. The organizational responsibility can be discharged only if it is done regularly. Thus, the question that each Karyakarta should ask himself/herself is 'whether I give supreme most importance to organizational obligations so as to fulfill my Dayitva?' Thus, Sadhana means doing definite work for nation regularly for higher purpose.

6. To fulfill our Dayitva, we should work hard. One is struck with the purposeful hard work done by Eknathji all his life. And, therefore, nothing was impossible for him. He could mould himself as per the need of the work. He created teams for each type of work and in each region. It requires a great Sadhana to be a part of team as well as to mould ourselves and others to work harmoniously.

7. In the context of this year of Vishesh Prashikshan Varsh, can we take three sankalpas.

a. We take up collectively in our  Nagar or Prakalp the study of Kendra Prarthana by reading and discussing 'The Goal and The Way' for three consecutive days for 2-3 hours either preceding or succeeding Sadhana Diwas.

b. For a year take up the sankalpa of Apekshit-Upasthit. ‘Whether in Kendra Varga, baithak or Prashikshan Shibirs, I shall be present come what may. For Vishesh Prashikshan Shibir which is once in 50 years, I shall attend it. In any case, no-one can get 7 days leave from their seniors. It has to be taken. And this would be my sadhana, I shall take it. If I have missed my shibir then I shall attend next shibir, but I shall undergo it. Sadhana is not an easy word. If sadhana has to be done then it has it’s cost, and I am ready to pay it.’ Can we take such Sankalpa?

c. Can our Nagars take the collective Sankalpa that in Vishesh Prashikshan Shibir, upasthity would be between 95-100%. We take such sankalpa and fulfill it, in order to really celebrate Sadhana Diwas and with Nishtha to protect our Desh and Dharma.

As celebration of Sadhana Diwas is for Shaktisamvardhan, let us with sankalpa and striving really make it so.

    

                                                                                                                         Nivedita Raghunath Bhide

                                                                                                                               (Vice-President)

Nari shakti : Yuva Bharati October 2023

 

Nari shakti

The successful soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on Moon is significant on more than one count. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has seen the active participation and contribution of women scientists in various roles. Women scientists at ISRO have played pivotal roles in missions such as the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) and the Chandrayaan missions. Their achievements have not only showcased their capabilities but have also inspired young girls to pursue careers in science and technology.  This surge in the presence of women in public sphere is due to the various measures taken by the Govt to empower women. The Indian government has launched various initiatives to promote women's empowerment, such as the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) campaign, the Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme, and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (a maternity benefit program). These initiatives aim to improve the status of women in society, ensure their education, and provide support for maternal health. Access to education for women has improved in India. Various scholarship programs and reservations in educational institutions have been introduced to encourage women's education and promote gender parity in academia. Women's participation in the workforce has increased, with more women joining diverse sectors of the economy. Programs like MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) have supported women entrepreneurs by providing financial assistance for starting and expanding small businesses. Women's representation in politics has been steadily increasing in India. The reservation of seats for women in local government bodies (Panchayats and Municipalities) has led to greater political participation. The Women's Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's parliament) and state legislatures for women, will provide more impetus to the women empowerment drive. Bharath has always been a land which respects and reveres women. The latest enactment will ensure that our country women will get more opportunities at the Governance too, which they rightly deserve.

                                                                                                                                  V.V. Balasubramanian

                                                                                                                                                           YB-ET

Vasudaiva Kutumbakam : Yuva Bharati September 2023

 VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM

                                                    (Manava Dharma or Market Forces? 

                                                            – The Choice for Mankind)

A sublime thought has been coming down from very ancient times and gathering momentum for centuries together from this sacred land of Bharat. It was not just a thought but an idea that was practised in everyday life till it became a culture and a civilisation. The thought has been beautifully described by the sage who is also a poet in the famous Sanskrit Subhashita –

 Ayam nijab paraiveti, Ganana laghuchetasam,

Udaracharitanamtu, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

 

– Men with narrow vision divide the world into mine and thine whereas the noble hearted look upon the world as one single family – one’s homestead. This was not just a poet’s fancy. But the result of an intense realisation of the Ultimate Truth –Sarvam KhalvidamBrahma – All that exists is only Brahma. The entire universe is an expression of that truth, one expressing as the many. The entire history of India has been an attempt to express this experience in the day-to-day life of every individual and the society. Variety and diversity of course were there but, at the base, there was unity as well. Hence the dictum – unity in diversity. This was reflected in every aspect of life right from the personal to the national level. But, our far-seeing and adventurous forefathers did not confine this wonderful experience within the frontiers of Bharat. Their love and concern for humanity was so intense that it took them to the farthest quarters of the world. The message of unity was spread through practice and example and the history of the world bears testimony to the fact that the imprint of Indian cultural ambassadors is visible in every part of the world, felt, and seen. That was probably the most sublime period of Indian history. Researchers who are committed only to truth have discovered through dedicated study that even the western civilizations like the Greek and Roman, the languages like Greek and Latin had their original home in India and gradually spread across the continents and reached those distant lands. It was not through military conquest but through the gradual spread of a vibrant culture. But later on, the colonial conquerors from the west made history stand on its head and propagated that the Indian culture and civilization were brought to this country by the invading alien conquerors. But, let us leave the conquerors alone, because the truth is slowly but surely emerging victorious and it is bound to establish itself on its own strength and validity.

 After the great imperial days of Greece and Rome, the west sank into the darkness of the Middle Ages shutting itself out from the rest of the world. Finally when it woke up on account of the shock of a renaissant Greek culture and started looking outward spurred by the fervor of Christian missionary zeal and also by the ambitions of imperial conquest, the countries of Europe started on a series of invasions subjugating the continents of Asia and Africa. There was a systematic attempt to demolish and destroy ancient and peaceful civilizations, existing in those parts of the world. The devastations caused by these conquerors are writ large across the continents. The basic cause of this kind of colonial invasions is the world view which inspired them through their sectarian and intolerant religious texts. It was totally in conflict with the Bharatiya world view of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The motivation of the colonisers from the west was trade and religion. The means they employed was conquest through military power, through cunning and deceit. The last three to four centuries – the so-called modern history – is replete with instances of such treacherous and unprincipled conquest and annexation of territories and people by an alien civilization. The logic of this world view, when put into practice, has inevitably led to the present situation, where the west is dominating the world with the slogan – the Global Market. Through military power, through organized evangelisation, through economic exploitation, and through intellectual manipulation, the west has established its domination over the rest of the world. The world has been converted into a global market which implies the operation of all the market forces with its dire consequences under which not only the rest of the world but even the west is now reeling.

 The world as one family and the world as a market are the two poles around which humanity stands polarised. Home and market have widely different laws – not only different but actually conflicting. The law that governs the home is love whereas the market is driven by the law of cunning and competition. Home is built upon identity of feelings whereas the market is built upon conflicting interests. The former seeks peace whereas the later seeks profit. Home is founded on spiritual values whereas market knows only material values. Mutual cooperation is the basis of family. Mutual exploitation is the recognised policy that sustains the market. Market promotes vulgar consumerism whereas home promotes restrained and value-based consumption. The big question that faces humanity is – which of the two is the ideal to be followed, the world view to be accepted, the way of life to be followed. The western experiment has been tried and is found wanting and inadequate to sustain a peaceful and prosperous world order. Humanity is at the crossroads. As many great thinkers even from the west, like Arnold Toynbee have unambiguously pointed out, it is only the eastern way that can bring about peace and harmony and ensure the survival of human species on this mother earth. The choice today is between “ManavaDharma” and “Market forces”, between a global family and a global market. In this, the vision of India is very clear. It has been strongly and powerfully expounded by all our renaissance leaders – a galaxy of them – the most famous representative being Swami Vivekananda. More than 100 years ago, he put it most emphatically – “the whole of the west is standing on a peak of a volcano. It will burst within 50 years. What will save the west is the message of the Upanishads”. This prophet’s message unfortunately was not taken seriously and the volcano has been erupting time and again. Honest thinkers from the west have been expressing their frustration. Eleanor Stark has expressed this disappointment in the famous book, The Gift Unopened. The author wrote – “Columbus discovered the soil of America. Swami Vivekananda discovered the soul of America”. Swami Vivekananda himself at the end of his “Paper on Hinduism” presented at the Parliament of Religions explained beautifully what he meant by the soul of America. –

 “Hail, Columbia, motherland of liberty! It has been given to thee, who never dipped her hand in her neighbor’s blood, who never found out that the shortest way of becoming rich was by robbing one’s neighbors, it has been given to thee to march at the vanguard of civilization with the flag of harmony”. (Complete Works Swami VivekanandaVol-1, Page 20). But then, the history of the world took a different turn with world wars both cold and hot. America the liberator, herself became the predator of weaker nations. Instead of upholding the virtues of protecting and promoting democracy and human rights, she herself started supporting and sustaining authoritarian regimes and military juntas. In place of religious tolerance and cultural pluralism, America herself became the biggest promoter of evangelization and also the creator of Jihadi fundamentalism. With evangelization and marketization and also religious fundamentalism and terrorism raising their ugly heads, creating chaos and confusion, the humanity is struggling to find a ray of hope and an alternate way of life. It is here in this crucial hour that India has to play her decisive role and assert that it is “Manava Dharma” and not “Market forces” that would lead mankind to its glorious destiny. But, for this, India has to set a model which the world could emulate. That is precisely the need of the hour.

                                                                                                                                     P. Parmeswaran

                                                                                          (Late President of Vivekananda Kendra)                                                                            

Universal Brotherhood Day :Yuva Bharati August-2023

 

For organisational work to grow, Mananeeya Eknathji has given us chatusutri. The base of chatusutri is contacts, lokasampark. The broader the base of  chatusutri, more  trained karyakartas we ultimately get for our work at the fourth stage called lokavyavastha. The utsava of universal brotherhood day is more for reaching out to new contacts and renewing the earlier contacts and involving them in our work. We celebrate Universal Brotherhood Day to test our strength as a team as to how many people can we bring together for a function and also to reach out to the people effectively with the message of Swami Vivekananda.

 This time to organise the universal brotherhood day, sit together to think at your own Nagar level as to what all the ways should we adopt to make the function attractive, very solemn, impressive and in what all ways can you reach out and get maximum number of people. As we have completed 50 years as an organization, can we think and get the strength of minimum 500 as audience? How that can be achieved? Let all the Karyakartas in Nagar think, plan and execute it together. After the function is over, you can report in activity group in Telegram about how you worked to get more than 500 audience.

This whole function is to be organized to give the message of Universal Brotherhood properly. We have to see to it that proper understanding of the message of Swami Vivekananda given on 11 September 1893 takes place through our entire program - the speech by the chief guest, the geet, the demonstration of Yogasana, a Pathanatya, the introduction of the Kendra activities, etc. The uniqueness of the message of Swami Vivekananda and its relevance of the Universal Brotherhood - is to be presented and projected very effectively.

The Parliament of Religions was organized at Chicago in 1893 to proclaim how Christianity alone was a true religion. In Parliament of Religions, everyone while addressing was stressing as to how his religion alone is the only true religion. This exclusive approach has led to clashes and violence in the history of mankind. Therefore, the whole history of exclusive religions is written in blood and extermination of communities all over the world. The terror attack on WTC on 11 September 2001 also proved the same thing in recent years. The world is diverse. No two men or two leaves of the same tree are exactly the same. The mental, attitudinal growth of each person is different so there cannot be only one path to pray to God.

Swami Vivekananda stressed that peace for world is ensured with the approach, which says that each religion is valid for its followers. This approach is the inclusive approach. It is inclusive because it understands the creation as the manifestation of One and everything in it as its parts. Therefore, each nation or religion, man or woman, family or community should accept others (not just tolerate) and contribute for the well-being of all. Each soul is potentially divine. Getting rooted in one’s own divine nature makes a person realize the Oneness of existence and brotherhood of human society. This is a message that Sanatana Dharma has given to the world and has to continue to give to the world. It is to remind ourselves of this mission of India and also to give this message, that we celebrate Universal Brotherhood Day.

But India had forgotten her mission. To awaken us to our ordained mission Sri Ramakrishna took birth in 1836, exactly in the year when Macaulay introduced his ‘Minutes on Education’ to enslave our minds completely and permanently. The Macaulay education was deliberately designed to ridicule certain aspects of our Dharma like

●        Hindus are idol worshippers,

●        They worship devils,

●        Their languages are very crude and unless they learn English they cannot develop,

●     India can be saved only if Hindus give up their Dharma and accept Jesus as the only son of God and Christianity as the only true religion.

 Sri Ramakrishna's life was exactly to show the fallacy in each of this point.

●      Sri Ramakrishna's whole spiritual Sadhana starts with ‘idol' worship. He showed through his Sadhana that we Hindus do not worship idols but worship God and realize Him through these idols as other religions do through one or other symbols. Thus, in all his Sadhanas, he saw Only God everywhere and even after the highest realisation his worship through idols continued. The worship of God in idols is the necessity of the beginner and is also the understanding of the realized. Because once the Truth is realized, one finds God in all that is around.

●        The chosen deity of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa for the ‘idol’ worship was Kali whose terrible form may appear as devil for those who are in the nursery of spirituality. But he, by his Sadhana, realized She as Mother of the Universe.

●   Sri Ramakrishna did not know English and yet the educated scholars like Keshava Chandra Sen, Narendranath Dutta sat at his feet to get the knowledge. He showed that ultimate knowledge to be acquired is beyond senses and languages, beyond Nama and Roopa or beyond time and space.

●        Sri Ramakrishna practiced various sadhanas including praying to Jesus and Allah and yet he remained in the Hindu Dharma nurtured by the Rishi tradition. He realized by his spiritual practices that Jesus was a son of God but not the only son of God. By his Sadhana of these exclusive religions he proved that the exclusive claims of Christians and Muslims are incorrect. After undergoing all types of spiritual practices he said, "The Hindu religion alone is the Sanatana Dharma. The various creeds you hear nowadays have come into existence through the will of God and will disappear again through His will. They will not last forever. Therefore, I say, "I bow down at the feet of even the modern devotees." The Hindu religion has always existed and will always exist." (The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 6 Ed, P. 610)   Sanatana Dharma is not about many Gods or One God but is based on the vision that there is only God. The whole creation is only an expression of God and God alone. This vision leads to inclusive and universal approach as everything becomes sacred and divine.  

Swami Vivekananda was a disciple of such a person. Therefore, it was very natural that when Swami Vivekananda went to America to participate in the Parliament of Religions he stressed that all religions are valid. The whole Sadhana of Sri Ramakrishna was behind his words. And, therefore, it created such an everlasting impact on Western audience.                                                                                            

Romain Rolland puts the effect in the following words. " On Monday, September 11, 1893, the first session of the Parliament was opened...but it was the young man (Vivekananda) who represented nothing – and everything – the man belonging to no sect, but rather to India as a whole, who drew the glance of the assembled thousands...his speech was like a tongue of flame, it fired the souls of the listening throng.... Each of the other orators had spoken of his God, of the God of his sect. He – he alone – spoke of all their Gods, and embraced them all in the Universal Being. It was the breath of Ramakrishna, breaking down the barriers through the mouth of his great disciple... During the ensuing days he spoke again ten or twelve times. Each time he repeated with new arguments but with the same force of conviction his thesis of a universal religion without limit of time or space, uniting the whole Credo of human spirit from the enslaved fetishism of the savage to the most liberal creative affirmations of modern science. He harmonised them into a magnificent synthesis, which...helped all hopes to grow and flourish according to their own proper nature. There was to be no other dogma but the divinity inherent in man and his capacity of indefinite evolution... The effect of these mighty words was immense. Over the heads of the official representatives of the Parliament they were addressed to all and appealed to outside thought. Vivekananda's fame at once spread abroad, and India as a whole benefited..."

Swami Vivekananda, who completely surrendered himself to his most wonderful Master Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, could have easily given in to the temptation of talking about him. But then he was there to represent all Hindus, the whole Rishi tradition. So in the true spirit of a Hindu, his speech gave the common principles of Hindus of all sects. In Sister Nivedita's words, "Of the Swami's address before the Parliament of Religions, it may be said that when he began to speak it was of 'the religious ideas of the Hindus', but when he ended, Hinduism was created…. For it was no experience of his own that rose to the lips of the Swami Vivekananda there. He did not even take advantage of the occasion to tell the story of his Master. Instead of either of these, it was the religious consciousness of India that spoke through him, the message of his whole people, as determined by their whole past...Others stood beside the Swami Vivekananda, on the same platform as he, as apostles of particular creeds and churches. But it was his glory that he came to preach a religion to which each of these was, in his own words, 'only a traveling, a coming up, of different men, and women, through various conditions and circumstances to the same goal".

 

Swamiji who was proud of his religion and nation, which he unequivocally proclaimed there, could have stressed the greatness of his religion alone. But then he was there to represent the 'inclusive' and therefore, the universal aspects of Hindu Dharma so as to guide all other religions on the path of Universality. Though he never mentioned the name of Sri Ramakrishna or any other Rishi in his speech, it was only their teachings that he spoke. In one of his letters he wrote, "But there is one thing to know: Great sages come with special messages for the world, and not for name; but their followers throw their teachings overboard and fight over their names-this is verily the history of the world. I do not take into any consideration whether people accept his name or not, but I am ready to lay down my life to help his teachings, his life, and his message spread all over the world."    

Thus, if anyone insists on the specific name and form of God as the only true name and only true form then it would lead to clashes. The insistence on name and form brings divisions. If we stress on the ‘message’ alone then Brotherhood is possible, because any realized soul is inclusive and therefore, Universal in approach. A really spiritual person has to be inclusive. If someone claims spiritual status but is exclusive in his religious approach, then his claim of spirituality is false.

To make whole celebration meaningful and looking forward, we can focus on the message of Swami Vivekananda which Romain Rolland quotes as 'the divinity inherent in man and his capacity of indefinite evolution… ' What does it mean? To explain it in Sri Aurobindo’s terminology – it is the inner centre that holds each individuals highest evolutionary calling. It is the seat of what he called ‘true being’, and it is from here, he maintained, that a power and wisdom arises that sees perfectly in every instance what is, what must be done, and by what means to realise it's ultimate purpose. These cues, he says, are typically muffled in layers of ego, conditioning, and negative tendencies. But through persistent aspiration and effort one can encounter the presence of true being and increasingly dwell in it to evolve further.’

For India to rise and even after rising, more and more Bharatiyas have to be rooted in one's true being. In deeper layers of meditation, when we are rooted in the inner being we feel one with it and that strengthens the basis of brotherhood. Can our celebrations of Universal brotherhood day, focus on these both aspects? Outwardly, clarity of thought and inwardly rooted in Atman which frees us from our petty ego.

 Nivedita Raghunath Bhide

(Vice-President)

Gurupoornima: Yuva Bharati - July 2023

 

The Gurupoornima for this year is on 3rd July. Gurupoornima is an occasion to remind ourselves that we are doing the work of Isvara – ‘Isvaraprityartham’ or as we say in Kendra Prarthana 'nijaparamahitartham' - nija means in this context for one's own Self as well as for the society. The Self refers here to the divinity within i.e. we have taken up this work for manifesting the divinity within and for worshiping the divine which is pervading everywhere in our society and in nature.

The Jayanti of Maharishi Veda Vyasa is celebrated since time immemorial in our country as Gurupoornima. His whole life was to organize the Vedas and our Vedic heritage in such a way that its continuity and purposefulness is maintained. The message of Oneness given by Vedas is essential for the well-being of the world which is getting disintegrated because of excessive materialism and individualism. The humanity for its further spiritual evolution needs this Vedic Vision of Oneness. It is the work of Ishvara. But to be able to do that we Indians need to shake off our confused understanding of Dharma which is limited at present only to religious practices; we also need to shake off whatever lethargy, jealousy and selfishness that has entered due to the invasions and the colonial rule.

Since the testing times of invasions and more since the time of Swami Vivekananda, various organized efforts are being taken up, for establishing Dharma. Vivekananda Kendra is also one such effort. While explaining Swami Vivekananda’s message, Mananeeya Eknathji used to tell that, “Intense practice of Dharma means experiencing the presence of God in one’s own self and in the world. That makes one conscious of the divine within and urges him to work for its unfoldment and enables him to grow spiritually. Simultaneously, it generates in him a sense of oneness with God’s creation and, consequently, an intense fellow-feeling for the members of his own species – the human race – and prompts him to work with zest for human welfare and progress… If, and as long as, the spiritual awakening intensifies on these lines, it is dynamic and full of tremendous potentialities for the transformation of humanity into higher and higher planes of existence. But, if it remains limited to rituals, forms of worship and offerings to God, or prayers and praises addressed to Him, it becomes static and has hardly any role to play in human advancement.” Being aware of the need of the society, Eknathji envisaged a thought movement which would take into account the natural god-wardness of our people and channelize it in man-wardness for practicing Dharma which helps one manifest one’s divinity and also propels him to work for the society.

For Eknathji, the Memorial for Swami Vivekananda was not limited to the one at the Rock but he wanted a vibrant memorial to Swami Vivekananda ‘in an organized efforts’ so that India becomes capable in delivering her mission. Therefore, Eknathji founded Vivekananda Kendra, a spiritually oriented service mission. Explaining about the need of such organization Eknathji said, “The remedy for the ills of our country, therefore, lies in launching a mighty movement of right thought sweeping the entire country. It has to be a two-pronged move. On the one hand, it is to be aimed at (1) transforming our people’s inherent God-wardness into the right spiritual urge rising out of the teachings of the Upanishads, namely, (a) each soul is potentially divine and (b) faith in God, in turn means faith in one’s self, i.e. in one’s potentiality to rise to divine heights. On the other hand, it is (2) to convert the spiritual fervour thus released into works of national reconstruction."

To continue with vigour such spiritually oriented work, a timeless source of inspiration and guidance is required. A source which represents all that India has stood for; a source to which Karyakarta has to surrender and also can draw succour for oneself; a source which can motivate a karyakarta coming from any region and tradition of India; a source which would link Karyakartas to the hoary past of our ancient land and yet has the potentiality to embrace the whole world is to be accepted. Obviously a personality howsoever great could not be chosen for the same. In this Ishwariya Karya – God’s work -who should be our guide other than Ishwara? Our Kendra prayer also focuses on Tavaivakaryartham Iha Upajatah – we are born to do Your work only. Our guide in doing this work of God is none other than God Himself. How is God understood? How will He speak to us? Tasya Vachakah Pranavah says Patanjali. The God speaks to us through Omkar. Omkar is verily the expression of God. Thus, Omkar Upasana is necessary for those who work for the well-being of the whole universe. Therefore, in Vivekananda Kendra, Omkar is our Guru.

Omkar encompasses all the names and forms of God. When we say God is our guide what do we mean? God is not going to tell us directly to do this or do that. The whole universe has come out of Omkar, thus God has manifested as this universe. Swami Vivekananda says, “When He is less manifested, it is called darkness, evil; and when He is more manifested, it is called light. That is all. Good and evil are only a question of degree: more manifested or less manifested. …The difference is only in degree. It is all a manifestation of that Atman; He is being manifested in everything; only, when the manifestation is (covered) very thickly we call it evil; and when it is (covered) very thinly, we call it good. It is the best, when all covering goes away. So everything that is in the universe is to be meditated upon in that sense alone, that we can see it as all good, because it is the best.”

Where there is thought for others, service of others, absence of selfishness, absence of jealousy; Ishwara is manifested more explicitly. Thus, Ishwara is manifested in our Karya, our dayitva and also in the team of Karyakartas with whom we work. When we worship our Guru, it means actually we are reiterating our resolve to be steadfast to our goal, to work in an organized way. Therefore, Omkar as our Guru gives us the understanding that individual opinions are to be submitted for collective wisdom; the collective decisions are taken as the guidance of God; each Karyakarta becomes precious to all; organizational functioning and discipline is followed as sacred Sadhana.

Omkar means affirmation, creation, inclusive approach and self-effacement. Thus, every Karyakarta by Omkar Upasana strives for self-effacement and is constructive and positive in his approach. Omkar Upasana has been followed in India since time immemorial and thus India has been inclusive in her approach. To maintain and nurture this all inclusive and all-embracing spiritual tradition of India many Rishis, saints, warriors have lived and died for it. Thus, Omkar Upasana also means all those personalities, incidents become the source of inspiration for us to keep the flame of this spiritual land alive and vibrant.

In this 'Vishesh Prashikshan Varsha', celebrating Gurupurnima gives added significance as it enables us to inculcate the vision and values with which we should work. We can focus this year on the practice of self-enrichment as we celebrate Gurupoornima in our branch centers so as to strengthen ourselves as a right instrument in the hands of God. 

Some of the quotes picked from different sources that we can ponder upon for self enrichment are : 

The best way to change the world is in concentric circles: start with yourself and work your way out from there.

The other best way to change the world, start celebrating others' success, and learning to listen.

You're never ready for what you have to do. You just do it. That makes you ready.

Success is better when credit is shared with the team. 

Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly.

The myth is that there isn't enough time. There is plenty of time. There isn't enough focus with the time you have. You win by directing your attention toward better things.

It's hard to remember that this day will never come again. That the time is now and the place is here and that there are no second chances at a single moment.  

A happy life consists not in the absence of hardships, but in the mastery of hardships.

 Nivedita Raghunath Bhide

(Vice-President)