RE: [ramakrishna] A query.

[Guest guest]

Hello Dhandayudhapani

 

I cannot quote the exact words of Swamiji but what understood from him is

this:

 

Concentration is about anything. Any mundane thing. May be even your tasks

at workplace or some science subject that you need to prepare for your

exams.

 

Meditation is about God alone.

 

Swamiji's suggestion for " busy " people is to spend at least 30 minutes a day

-- 15 in the morn and 15 in the evening. Meditate on God. It easy for two

categories of people (this is my view):

 

1. Those who have prescribed " Anusthana " (by family tradition)

2. Initiation by a Guru.

 

Best method is to approach a Guru. The reasoning is simple -- one needs a

teacher to learn even a simple mundane task. How can one do without a Guru

when it is the all important matter concerning God? The road to God lies

thru Guru. FOr example -- treat Swamiji as your Guru. Pray to him before

starting meditation every day. You will definitely get his help. Sometimes

you may not even know that he is helping you, you may realize after a long

time that the Sadhana was Swamiji's grace after practicing for a long time.

 

Key to meditation is " Purushakara " that is your individual effort.

 

With Regards

 

Uma

 

 

 

 

Dhandayudhapani Ramalingam [pani_rd]

Tuesday, April 10, 2001 9:15 AM

Ramakrishna

[ramakrishna] A query.

 

 

Sir!

How concentration and Meditation are different?.

 

How to practice each?.

 

with regards

-Dhandayudhapani

 

 

----Original Message Follows----

" Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda

Ramakrishna

" list " <Ramakrishna >, " viv list "

<vivekananda >, " Self Knowledge List " <selfknow-l,

 

<Hinduism >

[ramakrishna] Interesting message from South Africa

Mon, 9 Apr 2001 23:38:32 +0100

 

Dear Jay, thank you for your email letter about London University and

promotion of Hinduism.

 

Whenever I go to India, and when visiting relatives and friends in villages

and towns, I make a point of enquiring about religious education, especially

with regards to the youths. Invariably the answer seems to be in the

negative. The schools do not teach religion. After school children are busy

with lessons or with tv programmes.

 

In South Africa, the Ramakrishna Ashram initiated a programme many years ago

whereby towns and cities across South Africa, where Hindu families have

settled, hold a weekly satsang with parents and children. The satsang

usually lasts for about one hour. Opening prayers, Bhajans, a short

discourse and concluding prayers are the norms. Once a year a rally is held

with various centres holding a joint programme with children preparing stage

plays on given religious subjects, eg. Sabari and Sri Ram, Ratnakar to

Valmiki, Mirabai, Sravankumar, Sant Tukaram, etc. Speeches by children are

encouraged. All these activities have created better awareness about

Hinduism in South Africa.

 

Wet concrete can be moulded and shaped but once it is set then the task is

harder or impossible. Children's minds are impressionable like the wet

concrete. That is the age when parents should take their children to once a

week satsang in their areas. Even if one family were to initiate satsang,

others would join.

 

.......

 

A clay lamp spreads light in all directions except beneath itself. If the

clay lamp is India then let the University of London help spread some light

beneath the clay lamp! If London University initiates a programme about some

degree in Hinduism, we would like to be of some help in whichever way we can

through the use of materials from our web site www.hinduism.co.za/

 

Please convey our fond regards to Swamijee Gautamanandaji.

 

regards

Harshadbhai Master

South Africa

 

 

 

 

Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah

Vivekananda Centre London

http://www.vivekananda.co.uk