Masters in Life Administration (MLA)

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

Full Moon Night - Tongaat

For those parts of our country that are experiencing clear skies, they will bear witness to an unusually larger moon on the skyline. Yes, you would have guessed by now that I am writing this blog on Chaitra Pournami (5^th May 2012) which is the full moon day during the month of Chaitra (April-May). The penetrating brilliance of its illumination removes fear as night takes on a semi-day character. Special pooja conducted on this day especially in the southern regions of India are dedicated to Chitragupta. Legend has it that the personal assistant of the Lord of Death (Sri Yama Raja), Chitragupta, was born on this day. When one passes on he has to face Yama Raja, and it is Chitragupta who presents an account of your life to Yama Raja to decide your fate.  It is stated if you propitiate Chitragupta on this day, he will plead your case for leniency before Yama Raja.

An awe inspiring phenomena occurs on this day at Kanya Kumari, where one is able to witness the two celestial orbs - the sun and moon - harmoniously share the same horizon. A delightful sense of peace dances to the tune of Pournami tonight.

In the midst of this peace, I rewind a bit to the week that passed. It was suitably paced as many South Africans and others throughout the world would have colonised the opportunity to extend their weekend by taking a day’s leave on Monday 30 April. The 1^st  of May is an internally recognised holiday known as Workers Day, and in some other parts of the world as Labour Day. The holiday is essentially characterised by placard demonstrations and marches by labour movements in commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago. The police were trying to disperse a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at them. The police reacted by firing on the workers, killing dozens of demonstrators.

However, 11 years after this incident, which prompted a congress of labour federations to declare it as International Labour Day, a very significant movement was born which was home to a different class of labourers. This band of labourers worked selflessly for no reward, and incredibly enough were not particular of their hours of work. All their work was performed as an act of worship out of which they derived their payment in the currency of grace, dispensed by their beloved Master.

Swami Vivekananda, who challenged and revolutionised the legacy of religious practices imbibed slavishly generation after generation, founded the Ramakrishna Mission on 1^st May 1897. Underpinned by his realisation that “Jiva is Shiva”, Swamiji made worship a practical living experience by worshipping God in man through providing essential health care, disaster relief, rural management, tribal welfare, elementary and higher education and culture.

The work of the mission to the present day has grown exponentially and is personally guided by the grace of Master, when He promised Swamiji before attaining Maha Samadhi that He will reside where ever Swamiji installs Him. His grace can be felt in every aspect of the Math and Mission from the gardens, buildings, dispensaries, hospitals, universities, schools, seva ashrams and kitchens; to the monks themselves.

The grace of Master started to rage here in South Africa like the Ganga in flood season; when Swami Vimokshananda was posted as the President of the Centre after affiliation to the Ramakrishna Order Headquarters in Belur, Kolkata. Since then, our shores have been blessed with illumined and realised souls, charged with the grace of Sri Ramakrishna. I was delighted to attend the welcome reception of Swami Atmapriyananda, the Vice Chancellor of the Swami Vivekananda University in Kolkata. He is the guest of the Centre during the 70^th anniversary celebrations.

In his address, Maharaj, who held the audience spellbound and entranced in attention for about an hour, brilliantly unpacked the concept of service. Like the workers who felt exploited and started protesting for an eight hour day; similarly like the employer, many of us take God for granted without even extending  gratitude for the tremendous sacrifices he makes for us.

God, who keeps our hearts beating from the day we are born, ensures our lungs breathe, even reducing His divinity to be the process of cleaning and evacuating our bowels and all processes that take place without a single bit of effort from us, asks for nothing much in return.

What can we give Him that He has not already given us? For everything from material possessions to fruit offerings have come from the Lord Himself.  Maharaj pointed out that the only thing that we can give that is ours alone, is love and devotion.

Where and whom is this Lord? The Mundaka Upanishad declares: Just as a spider weaves its web from its own body, so the Lord has created this universe from Himself  and permeates this entire creation(Vishnu). This gives relevance to Swami Vivekananda’s ideal of worshipping the living Shiva in the sick, illiterate and hungry.

Extending your love and devotion in this way is directly worshipping the Lord who is the sum total of all things manifest in this world.  Swami Vivekananda’s practical approach to worship is a first class ticket to liberation.  At the end of your earthly life, when you at the office of Yama Raja, and  Chitragupta gives an account of your life, He  will say to Yama Raja: Passed  Masters in Life Administration - Suma Cum Laude.

The advantage of studying through Vivekananda’s University of spirituality then allows you to just sit back with no worries on a beautiful night like this and just admire the celestial magnificence and beauty of the full moon.

May we all endeavour to live a life that will ensure a manifestation of our true nature of SATCHITANANDA is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan