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SPECIAL TALKS Swami Nirmalatmananda in Singapore What is the history behind the Brazil Ramakrishna Vedanta Ashram? How did the Sub-centres in different places spring up? Swami Nirmalatmanada gave an inspiring talk on a Saturday.

Swami Nirmalatmananda, Minister In Charge of Ramakrishna Vedanta Ashrama in Sao Paulo of Brazil visited Singapore on his way back from Bangkok. He arrived here on 12 February with two nights stay. On Saturday, 13 February, he addressed an audience of devotees at the Temple Hall.

How our Vedanta work started in the South American countries was the subject matter of his talks. The incidents that he narrated made interesting listening. The details of course, were indeed inspiring. It was well concluded with his averment that Sri Ramakrishna has been doing His work silently and we, whether monks or devotees, have to deem ourselves as mere instruments in His hands. He answered some questions also.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 [email protected]

SINGA SPEAKS

A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 3 | SINGAPORE | TUESDAY | 1 MARCH 2016

Mission gets a new Monk Swami Pavitratmananda Arrives

Swami Pavitratmananda arrived to the delight of all monks and devotees here on 25 February 2016. As his plane from Kolkata landed at Changi, three monks received him cordially. Sri Jairam, a devotee of the Mission who arrived earlier at Changi f r o m S o u t h , eagerly awaited and assisted him in getting his baggage etc at the Counters . R a m a k r i s h n a Mission HQ in Belur Math have posted the new Swami in place o f S w a m i Samchittananda who has been serving the Mission in Singapore for the last 15 years. The l a t t e r i s e x p e c t e d t o l e a v e Singapore on 11 March for serving the Mission’s branch in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

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Birth tithi Functions of Direct Disciples The birth tithis of the Direct Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna are being celebrated in most of our Centres all over the globe. Singapore Ramakrishna Mission has also begun in right earnest to organise short functions.

After the usual evening arati to Sri Ramakrishna and singing of hymns, a Talk or Reading on the Direct Disciple is arranged. Though, if these tithis fall on weekdays, the number of people who attend is much smaller.

In the month of February, the Mission had functions for three Direct Disciples. They were Swami Brahmananda, Swami Trigunatitananda and Swami Adbhutananda on 10, 12 and 22 respectively. Swami Satyalokananda gave short Talks on the life and teachings of Swamis Brahmananda and Trigunatitananda. Swami Samachittananda gave a Talk on Swami Adbhutananda.

The life incidents of these disciples are nothing but mirroring the wonderful personality of the Master Sri Ramakrishna. “God Lived with Them” is a good source book that we recommend to the public for studying.


Children enjoy Chinese New Year The Children of our Sarada Kindergarten visited Botanic Gardens on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. Swami Satyalokananda joined them on their happy moments. The children of Saturday Hinduism Classes enjoyed their spiritual outing to the same Gardens with Swami Vimokshananda. This was the Gardens visited by Swami Vivekananda in the distant past namely June 1893 before embarking for USA.

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER TUESDAY, 1 MARCH 2016




SUBJECT:

THE BHAGAVAD GITA FOR PRACTICAL LIFE

SPEAKER:

SWAMI VIMOKSHANANDA TIMINGS:

6 - 7 PM EVERY SUNDAY VENUE:

SARADA HALL

SUBJECT:

THE YOGA SUTRAS SPEAKER:

SWAMI SATYALOKANANDA TIMINGS:

5- 6 PM EVERY SUNDAY VENUE:

TEMPLE HALL LEVEL 1

SCRIPTURAL CLASSES – ALL ARE WELCOME

SUBJECT:

SRI RAMAKRISHNARIN AMUDHA MOZHIGAL

SPEAKER:

SWAMI JITAMANASANANDA TIMINGS:

4 - 4. 45 PM EVERY SATURDAY

VENUE:

TEMPLE HALL LEVEL 1

Bursaries disbursed by TAPAS

TAPAS organized Annual Award Presentation Ceremony. This year Swami Vimokshananda was the Guest of Hoour. Merit Awards were presented to Outstanding performers in A level, O level and PSLE. Bursary Awards were presented to 6 children. And we honoured our volunteers with a token of appreciation. 3 ex-students presented their talents and entertained the audience.

Saturday Childrens’ Classes on Hinduism

The Ramakrishna Mission Children's classes are designed to give practical expression to some of the eternal values presented by the great spiritual tradition of India as exemplified and taught by the Universal saint Swami Vivekananda. Parents are encouraged to bring the chldren from 5 to 15 years of age on every Saturday from 5 to to 6 PM.


Home Satsangs at Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru, capital of the Malaysian state of Johor, sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a causeway across the Straits of Johor connecting it to Singapore, it’s a gateway for exploration of that island nation. To enter this State one has to pass through Immigration counter with ‘chop’ over the Passport.

Swami Vimokshananda attended a Home Satsang in Johor Bahru on 8 February 2016 at a devotee’s home. Similarly Swami Samachittananda attended a Home Satsang at another devotee’s home at the same place on 20 February 2016.

Both the Home satsangs went off well with singing of bhajans and readings from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Swamis in their respective homes gave short talks and responded to different queries from the relations and friends of the devotees.

The assembled people conveyed their hearty thanks to the visiting Swamis. The devotees felt that they were benefitted immensely and wished and prayed that such Home Satsangs be a regular feature in the future too!


Saturday Special Talks

The Ramakrishna Mission creates opportunities for the devotees and friends to get to know different spiritual personalities from time to time. During their visit to Singapore we invite them to give Presentations, Talks, Singing bhajans etc. In the recent past, we scheduled a Special Talk by Swami Nirmalatmanandaji from Brazil. Earlier Swami Rajeshwaranandaji from Colombo gave a musical performance. Another Talk with Presentation was given by a visitor from South Africa, Nirmala Balkaran.

Nirmala Balkaran’s Presentation-Talk

Smt Nirmal Balkaran, Senior Education Specialist in the Department of Basic Education, a Member of the Faculty of Peace Studies, Spirituality and Culture of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, gave a brilliant talk on "Profound Wisdom in unlikely places" based on Ramayana on 27 February 2016. She explained how we can learn great lessons not only from the main characters of Ramayana but also from characters like Kevat, a boatman, or Mandodari, Ravana's wife, Maricha who transformed himself as a golden deer and others whom she termed ‘Unlikely Places’. While Swami Vimokshananda welcomed the gathering and the speaker, Swami Satyalokananda gave a vote of thanks.




Sarada Kindergarten ❖ On 30 January, 75 Nursery parents attended a dialogue

session. ❖ On 30 January, 76 K1 parents attended a dialogue

session. ❖ On 13 February, 59 K2 parents attended a dialogue

session. Mrs Dianne Swee-Seet, Principal of Ascension Kindergarten, attended as an observer.

❖ On 13 February, Sarada Kindergarten organised a parent workshop entitled “Transition to Primary 1.” Mrs Anitha, Vice Principal of Horizon Primary School was invited to give this talk. 97 parents attended the talk.

❖ On 19 and 22 February, Pushpa conducted a workshop on Learning Stories at ECDA.

❖ On 23 February, Pushpa and other ECDA fellows interviewed Mr Gupta (CEO of DBS Bank) on his leadership style in regards to building culture and sustaining innovation.

Boys’ Home

On 29 Jan, Smt Amrita and Sri Jayabalan attended the training on Basic First Aid at Singapore Red Cross Academy

On 31 Jan, Sri Alex Chua attended the training on Basic First Aid at Singapore First Aid Training Centre Pte Ltd

On 11 & 12 Feb, Sri Jayabalan attended the training on Coaching and Mentoring Youths Effectively at SSI

On 18 Feb, Sri Mohanarangam attended the training on Basic First Aid at Singapore First Aid Training Centre Pte Ltd

Upcoming Events

March 2016

7 – Maha Shivaratri 10 – Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti 23 – Sri Chaitanya Jayanti 27 – Spiritual Retreat


Sri Saraswati Puja fell this year on February 2016. Though there was no special event or puja on that vasanta panchami tithi, Hathe Kodi was done to the children whose parents brought them to the temple. Hathe Kodi is a practice of the beginning of ‘akshara abhyas’ – learning to write the alphabets. A child is taught to write starting with AUM.

Learning to Write

So long as one does not become simple like a child, one does not get divine illumination. Forget all the worldly knowledge that thou hast acquired and become as a child, and then will thou get the divine wisdom. If you feel proud, let it be in the thought that you are the servant of God, the son of God. Great men have the nature of a child. They are always a child before Him; so they are free from pride. All their strength is of God and not their own. It belongs to Him and comes from Him.

– Sri Ramakrishna


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