Article sent from The Hindu

[Guest guest]

This book review on the westerner's view of the Ramakrishna Order describes the

interesting encounter by a westerner on the eastern customs and culture.

=============================================================

This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran )

=============================================================

Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

East-West encounter

 

 

 

A YANKEE AND THE SWAMIS A westerner's view of the Ramakrishna Order: John

Yale; Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai-600004. Rs. 50.

 

THIS BOOK is an account of the customs and practices of the Ramakrishna Order

written by an American, who has embraced the Order. It is remarkable for the

keenness of observation and the felicity of description. It is divided into 10

chapters which are sometimes anecdotal and at others in the form of a

travelogue. The first chapter gives a detailed description of Belur Math and its

daily activities. Not only is the place portrayed at length but descriptions of

the individual inmates are also given. The next chapter is devoted to the temple

complex of Dakshineshwar and the deities enshrined therein.

 

In the following chapter, a comparison of some Indian customs vis-a-vis their

Western counterparts is made. Consider the ideas of purity and cleanliness, for

examples. The author says that the Western cleanliness is aseptic or germfree,

whereas Indian cleanliness is ``ceremonial''.

 

The purpose of one is to avoid germs and that of the others to forestall

influences detrimental to the mind and spirit, he says. After Dakshineshwar, the

author's attempt to draw closer to Ramakrishna through enjoying scenes and

relics of his life takes him to the Calcutta townhouse where the master's grace

was expressed ``often and marvellously''. Not only is the place described, but

also incidents from the lives of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda are

enlarged in vivid detail. Views from the author's visit to the hospital run by

the Order at Brindabans also find a place. The author's quest takes him to the

deep south next. Quite a substantial amount of space is devoted to the travel

down south by the``Madras Mail".

 

He even travels by the locomotive engine for a small portion of the journey. On

his return from the South, the author makes a trip to Bhubaneshwar and Puri. He

says that after visiting Puri `` a new conception of God has unfolded that he

must be very tangible''. The final chapter contains a vivid description of the

occasions of Shiv Ratri and Sri Ramakrishna's birthday, celebrated at Belur

Math. He then proceeds to trace the antecedents of the Ramakrishna Order which

he does right down to Sri Sankara.

 

Then follows an account of the Brahmacharya initiation ceremony of the followers

of the Order as also the Sannyas initiation ceremony. He concludes with a

discussion of the genesis, evolution and the current status of Sri Ramakrishna's

Vedanta philosophy. The book provides good reading and will appeal to those

interested in the philosophy of Sri Ramakrishna.

 

 

 

R. G. GIRI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyrights: 1995 - 2001 The Hindu

 

Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly

prohibited without the consent of The Hindu