Meeting with the General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order

[Guest guest]

Dear List members

 

This evening, we had an opportunity to meet up with the General

Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order, Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj.

Let me share frankly, with the list some of the topics we discussed.

 

(a) Teaching Hinduism to the youth in India through the Ramakrishna

Order. We suggested, that the format used by the Vivekananda Centre

using the Hinduism syllabus set by the London University Board is

comprehensive and focused. The candidates can study Hinduism, sit

for examinations in India to gain a Secondary Certificate of Education

from London. (GCSE). He has shown interest and has suggested that

we send him the paperwork, he will see what can be done to translate

this activity to suit the Indian situation.

 

(b) We said that the work we do in presenting Vivekananda's

teachings to the Hindu youth in the UK is secondary, the more important

aspect is presenting Vivekananda's teachings to the Western

youth, where it seems to find natural resonance. He expressed support.

 

© Activities at the Interfaith level. He has just attended an interfaith

meeting in Turkey, where 99percent of the population is Muslim. He said

he had to tread carefully so as not to hurt any feelings though the

questions he met with were the standard questions we meet in London

at such meetings: -- the Holy Cow -- the Caste system, etc.

 

(d) Role of Science and Spirituality. We suggested that we are at a

crucial juncture in time where these two disciplines are about to meet

up. He told us the story about Gambhirananda Maharaj who used to nod

his head saying: " Science is science and religion is religion they do not

meet.

One deals with Physical and the other with the spiritual " -- we disagreed

with that. We suggested that the greatest boon to spirituality will come

from the findings of modern science. He suggested there is only one

Swami at Belur who has done Particle Physics and who may be the most

qualified to comment on any material we may wish to submit on this theme.

 

We found the meeting very useful. We hope we can build on this initial

contact and generate closer ties with the Ramakrishna Order.

 

jay

Vivekananda Centre London

[Guest guest]

-

" Vivekananda Ashrama " <viv_ash@>

" Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda

Sunday, September 22, 2002 12:56

RE: Meeting with the General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order

 

 

 

My Dear Jay,

 

Namaste.

 

I am very happy to see your e-mail regarding the teaching of Hinduism to

youth in India. In fact, I am contemplating on this project for a long

time,

as I get enquiries both from India & abroad. Many are interested to learn

through correspondence course. If you have any syllabus formed, you may

kindly send a copy to us. I also would like to know if you are interested

in

promoting the same in a joint manner.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours in service,

 

Swami Raghaveshananda

President

 

Vivekananda Ashrama

Ulsoor, Bangalore, India.

 

>

> Vivekananda Centre [vivekananda]

> Thursday, September 19, 2002 1:45 AM

> list; self-knowledge-list

> Meeting with the General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order

>

>

> Dear List members

>

> This evening, we had an opportunity to meet up with the General

> Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order, Swami Smaranandaji Maharaj.