||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||
 |
| Swami Ramakrishnananda |
||Aum Namo Narayanaya||
At times, a day can be so jaded and uneventful that the
only activity befitting such a mood is an afternoon siesta. However, the day
must not be written off in totality... but must be given recognition and
appreciation for the significant and life-altering events it has hosted in the
past. I am a fond and avid reader of a website called "This Day in
History" that highlights all the major historical events that took place
on a particular day as far as man has recorded in history. I thought it will be
unusual and spontaneous to maybe view the 4th of August in history and analyse
what spiritual lesson and inspiration we can draw from it.
The lengthy listing of events allows the day to justify
the tepidity it has assumed... but also provides some interesting and
intriguing fodder for discussion. The impressive array of 162 events starts
with the sighting of the Supernova in 1181, and continues with some wars and
battles, signing of peace treaties, collection of the first income tax in
America and various success stories of personal achievements. In the midst of
these are also some very significant events which are noteworthy to mention -
like the establishment of the British Red Cross Society and the capture of
Nelson Mandela by security forces. Whilst consuming these, it occurred to me
that today in its current context maybe not that barren after all, as today is
the birth thithi of Swami Ramakrishnananda - a monastic disciple of Sri
Ramakrishna.
The ensemble of past and present events served on this
day is a wonderful treat to my discussion on the theme of being significant as
compared to successful. There are innumerable successful people in the world
today, who have amassed loads of wealth and assets. They are tucked away in
their villas pampered and feasting lavishly on the fruits of their success.
Last week, Swami Vimokshanandaji eloquently expanded the idea of marriage
during the Tirrukurral class where He said that marriage takes the focus from
the individual of being self-centered (not be confused with selfishness) to
outer-consciousness. In my opinion, the path to success places the individual
within the category of self-centeredness. The focus is indrawn with resources
and intention placed solely on achieving the goal with large emphasis on
glorifying and propitiating the ego.
On the other hand, there are a different class of a
person whose chosen path reflect nothing but outward compassion and is focused
on the welfare of humanity. On this day, my heart weeps on account of the
arrest of Nelson Mandela and his imprisonment for 27 years... not because he
stole money for his enrichment, not because he hurt anyone, but because he
stood for the liberty and freedom of all South Africans - an ideal which he was
prepared to die for. These are a class of great souls who have come not to live
in the world but to live for the world. Their lives take on a significant
character. They achieve greatness not through wealth, name and fame but through
sheer selflessness and compassion for others.
On this day in 1863, a boy named Shasi Bhusan Chakrabathy
was born in Calcutta. A highly intelligent and brilliant mathematician, who
gazed the potential of a great academic or corporate career in the face...
decided upon the path of becoming a monk. Reading the life of this great
disciple of Sri Ramakrishna is in itself a wonderful sadhana that refreshes and
rejuvenates the tired bodies that fruitlessly chase the tail of worldly
success. A leader in his own right, yet Shasi Maharaj devoted his entire life
to becoming the humble servant of his Master Sri Ramakrishna, his brother
disciple Swami Vivekananda and the people of his country. The early days of his
life enveloped with severe hardships did not deter him from his steadfast
devotion and service.
Sister Devamata wrote as follows about Shasi
Maharaj: "If Swami Ramakrishnananda
was a conservative in His mode of worship, He was essentially a liberal in His
religious conviction. Tolerance, universality of outlook and freedom from all
prejudice – these formed the keystones of His thought structure."
In his own words He said: "Selfishness is sin,
unselfishness is the first milestone on the path of spirituality. A selfish
person may perhaps enjoy comfort and health, but a sannyasin can never afford
to be selfish. So long as we are selfish, our work is fruitless. All anxieties
and worries come from egotism and selfishness. Let go of your little self and
they will disappear. When you live constantly in the presence of divinity, the
ego loses power, but so long as ego rules a man he is a bonded slave. The
moment the idea of the little self disappears, we live and obscure life and go
nowhere, but we can accomplish wonders."
It may be difficult to fathom and comprehend the thoughts
and truly believe that such people like Nelson Mandela, Swami Vivekananda,
Mother Theresa, Shasi Maharaj etc. can operate within this modern world. But
they are real and lived and live amongst us... inspiring us all to adopt the
higher path for the attainment of inner peace and peace in the world. It is a
sad matter though even after the great and tremendous sacrifices by these great
souls, we still show such disregard and disrespect by neglecting to practice
even one ounce of their noble and selfless lives.
May we all strive to become significant rather than successful;
live for the world rather than just live in the world... is my sincere prayer.
With love and prayers always
Yogan
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