Guest guest Posted August 15, 1999 Report Share Posted August 15, 1999 Our Om is on Holidays but he has asked us to post this to the list on 15th Vidya123 <Vidya123 vivekananda <vivekananda 10 August 1999 18:50 Hi Dilip Uncle. Thanks for that letter. It feels very good to contribute and know that people are getting something out of it. I am going on holidays I'LL BE BACK ON THE 28th! Hope this is enough. These are some of the articles for the next two weeks: --------------- To be sent out on August 15th: -Om NAMASTE Today is 113th anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna's Mahasamadhi. If you enjoyed the story of Swami Vivekananda's Mahasamadhi, I think you'll need to sit down for this . . . you might faint from inspiration. Don't be surprised if your heart starts beating faster or you have to stop now and then in between to catch your breath. It's just too inspiring. Useless are words to describe the power and glory of that episode. The story will be taken from Swami Nikhilananda's introduction to The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Included are some of the events in the Cossipore leading up to Thakur's Mahasamadhi to give the full impact of the whole episode. The whole episode will be divided into two parts. Today's the first part and tomorrow on the actual anniversary will be the second part. From THE GOSPEL OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA (Unabridged) by Swami Nikhilananda, page 68: LAST DAYS AT COSSIPORE: . . . It was at Cossipore that the curtain fell on the varied activities of the Master's life on the physical plane. His Soul lingered in the body eight months more. It was a period of his great Passion, a constant crucifixion of the body and the triumphant revelation of the Soul. Here one sees the humanity and divinity of the Master passing and repassing across a thin border line. Every minute of those eight months was suffused with touching tenderness of heart and breathtaking elevation of spirit. Every word he uttered was full of pathos and sublimity. .. . . Holy mother took charge of the cooking of the Master and his attendants. Surendra willingly bore the major portion of the expenses. Twelve disciples were attendants of the Master: Narendra, Rakhal, Baburam, Niranjan, Yogin, Latu, Tarak, the elder Gopal, Kali, Sashi, Sarat, and the younger Gopal. Narendra, preparing for his law examination, brought his books to the Garden house in order to continue his studies during the infrequent spare moments. He encouraged his brother disciples to intensify their meditation, scriptural studies, and other spiritual disciplines. They all forgot their relatives and their worldly duties. Among the attendants, Sashi, was the embodiment of service. He did not practice meditation, japa, or any other disciplines like his brother disciples. He was convinced that service to the guru was the only religion for him. He forgot food and rest and was ever ready at the Master's bedside. (remember him?) The Master did not hide the fact that he wished to make Narendra his spiritual heir. Narendra was to continue the work after Sri Ramakrishna's passing. Sri Ramakrishna said to him, " I leave these young men in your charge. See that they develop their spirituality and do not return home. " One day he asked the boys, in preparation for monastic life, to beg their food from door to door without thought of caste. They hailed the Master's order and went with begging bowls. A few days later, he gave the ochre cloth of the sannyasi to each of them. Thus, the Master himself laid down the foundation of the future Ramakrishna Order of Monks. Sri Ramakrishna was sinking day by day. His diet was reduced to a minimum and he found it almost impossible to swallow. He whispered to M.: " I am bearing all this cheerfully, for otherwise all of you would be weeping. If you all say that it is better that the body should go rather than suffer this torture, I am willing. " .. . . Like a mother he caressed Narendra and Rakhal, gently stroking their faces. he said in a half-whisper to M., " Had this body been allowed to last a little bit longer, many more souls would have been illumined. " He paused a moment and then said: " But Mother has ordained otherwise. She will take me away, lest finding me guiless and foolish, people should take advantage of me and persuade me to bestow on them the rare gifts of spirituality. " . . . " Pain, " he consoled them again, " is unavoidable as long as there is a body. The Lord takes on the body for the sake of His devotees. " .. . . Later, one of his attendants (Swami Adbhutananda) said, " While Sri Ramakrishna lay sick, he never actually suffered pain . . . At times he would be in a state when the thrill of joy was clearly manifested in his body. Even when he could not speak he would let us know in some way that there was no suffering, and this fact was clearly evident from all who watched him . . .. What spiritual joy he transmitted to us at that time! Could such a thing have been possible if he had been suffering physically? . . . " The Holy Mother secretly went to a Siva temple a cross the Ganges to intercede with the Diety for the Master's recovery. In a revelation she was told to prepare herself for the inevitable end. One day, when Narendra was on the ground floor, meditating, the Master was lying awake in his bed upstairs. Suddenly Narendra lost consciousness . . . It was the yearned for, all-effacing experience of Nirvikalpa samadhi, when the embodied soul realizes its unity with the Absolute. After a very long time he regained partial consciousness of his body . . . Bathed in peace, he went to the Master, who said, " Now the Mother has shown you everything. But this revelation will remain under lock and key, I shall keep the key. When you have accomplished the Mother's work you will find the treasure again. " continued tomorrow . . . Hari Om -Om Lala Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 1999 Report Share Posted August 15, 1999 Thanks! Eagerly awaiting the second part! Vivekananda Centre <vivekananda ramakrishna <ramakrishna > Sunday, August 15, 1999 10:34 AM [ramakrishna] Re: Mahasamadhi > " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > >Our Om is on Holidays but he has asked us to post this to the list on 15th > > >Vidya123 <Vidya123 >vivekananda <vivekananda >10 August 1999 18:50 > > >Hi Dilip Uncle. > >Thanks for that letter. It feels very good to contribute and know that >people are getting something out of it. >I am going on holidays I'LL BE BACK ON THE 28th! Hope this is enough. >These are some of the articles for the next two weeks: >--------------- >To be sent out on August 15th: > >-Om > >NAMASTE >Today is 113th anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna's Mahasamadhi. If you >enjoyed the story of Swami Vivekananda's Mahasamadhi, I think you'll need to >sit down for this . . . you might faint from inspiration. Don't be >surprised if your heart starts beating faster or you have to stop now and >then in >between to catch your breath. It's just too inspiring. Useless are words >to describe the power and glory of that episode. The story will be taken >from >Swami Nikhilananda's introduction to The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. >Included are some of the events in the Cossipore leading up to Thakur's >Mahasamadhi >to give the full impact of the whole episode. The whole episode will be >divided into two parts. Today's the first part and tomorrow on the actual >anniversary will be the second part. > >From THE GOSPEL OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA (Unabridged) by Swami Nikhilananda, page >68: LAST DAYS AT COSSIPORE: . . . It was at Cossipore that the curtain >fell on the varied activities of the Master's life on the physical plane. >His >Soul lingered in the body eight months more. It was a period of his great >Passion, a constant crucifixion of the body and the triumphant revelation of >the Soul. Here one sees the humanity and divinity of the Master passing and >repassing across a thin border line. Every minute of those eight months was >suffused with touching tenderness of heart and breathtaking elevation of >spirit. Every word he uttered was full of pathos and sublimity. > >. . . Holy mother took charge of the cooking of the Master and his >attendants. Surendra willingly bore the major portion of the expenses. >Twelve disciples were attendants of the Master: Narendra, Rakhal, Baburam, >Niranjan, Yogin, Latu, Tarak, the elder Gopal, Kali, Sashi, Sarat, and the >younger Gopal. Narendra, preparing for his law examination, brought his >books to the Garden house in order to continue his studies during the >infrequent spare moments. He encouraged his brother disciples to intensify >their meditation, scriptural studies, and other spiritual disciplines. They >all forgot their relatives and their worldly duties. > >Among the attendants, Sashi, was the embodiment of service. He did not >practice meditation, japa, or any other disciplines like his brother >disciples. He was convinced that service to the guru was the only religion >for him. He forgot food and rest and was ever ready at the Master's >bedside. >(remember him?) > >The Master did not hide the fact that he wished to make Narendra his >spiritual heir. Narendra was to continue the work after Sri Ramakrishna's >passing. Sri Ramakrishna said to him, " I leave these young men in your >charge. See that they develop their spirituality and do not return home. " >One day he asked the boys, in preparation for monastic life, to beg their >food from door to door without thought of caste. They hailed the Master's >order and went with begging bowls. A few days later, he gave the ochre >cloth of the sannyasi to each of them. Thus, the Master himself laid down >the >foundation of the future Ramakrishna Order of Monks. > >Sri Ramakrishna was sinking day by day. His diet was reduced to a minimum >and he found it almost impossible to swallow. He whispered to M.: " I am >bearing all this cheerfully, for otherwise all of you would be weeping. If >you all say that it is better that the body should go rather than suffer >this torture, I am willing. " > >. . . Like a mother he caressed Narendra and Rakhal, gently stroking their >faces. he said in a half-whisper to M., " Had this body been allowed to >last a little bit longer, many more souls would have been illumined. " He >paused >a moment and then said: " But Mother has ordained otherwise. She will take >me >away, lest finding me guiless and foolish, people should take advantage of >me and persuade me to bestow on them the rare gifts of spirituality. " . . . > " Pain, " he consoled them again, " is unavoidable as long as there is a body. >The Lord takes on the body for the sake of His devotees. " > >. . . Later, one of his attendants (Swami Adbhutananda) said, " While Sri >Ramakrishna lay sick, he never actually suffered pain . . . At times he >would be in a state when the thrill of joy was clearly manifested in his >body. >Even when he could not speak he would let us know in some way that there was >no suffering, and this fact was clearly evident from all who watched him . . >. What spiritual joy he transmitted to us at that time! Could such a thing >have been possible if he had been suffering physically? . . . " > >The Holy Mother secretly went to a Siva temple a cross the Ganges to >intercede with the Diety for the Master's recovery. In a revelation she was >told to prepare herself for the inevitable end. > >One day, when Narendra was on the ground floor, meditating, the Master was >lying awake in his bed upstairs. Suddenly Narendra lost consciousness . . . >It was the yearned for, all-effacing experience of Nirvikalpa samadhi, when >the embodied soul realizes its unity with the Absolute. After a very long >time he regained partial consciousness of his body . . . Bathed in peace, he >went to the Master, who said, " Now the Mother has shown you everything. >But this revelation will remain under lock and key, I shall keep the key. >When >you have accomplished the Mother's work you will find the treasure again. " > >continued tomorrow . . . >Hari Om >-Om Lala > > > > >--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > >GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! A NextCard Platinum VISA: DOUBLE Rewards points, > NO annual fee & rates as low as 9.9 percent FIXED APR. >Apply online today! /ad/nextcard1 > >------ >Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah >Vivekananda Centre London >http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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