LIGHT OF EDUCATION IS LIGHT OF GOD

My Little Library

  (A Tribute To The World Book Day)

As providence willed, my employment as a teacher by the Royal Government of Bhutan in a less developed society and isolated location of the pristine mountains, which I thought a misfortune has blossomed as my greatest fortune – a blessing in disguise! It was on that mountain top (Tsebar Primary School, Pemagatshel) that I was blessed to be the school librarian besides my teaching. In that library, Indian spiritual and philosophical wisdom surfaced before me. I realized good books were voices of God. Through the pages of the books, I got associated with numerous sages and saints. I bought hundreds of books and journals from different spiritual centres of India by post in order to hear the voices of the spiritual giants. Among them were the two volumes of ‘The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’, compiled by Mahendranath Gupta in Bengali as ‘Ramakrishna Kathamrita’ and translated into English by Swami Nikhilananda. The book primarily consists of recordings of Sri Ramakrishna’s conversations with his disciples, devotees and visitors. The volumes today surpass the stature of all Indian and foreign books I have bought and read so far. Through the light of this book, I have recognised my Ideal, Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra as the incarnation of Sri Sri Ramakrishna, which is the highest and holiest achievement of my life.

Though I spent my life in the solitude of the mountains in ardent reading and Yoga practice under the guidance of my Yoga teacher, B.K.S Iyengar, I did not dare read the copies of ‘The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’ for their voluminous size and my time constraint. I was unaware of the ‘gold mine’ hidden in the epoch-making volumes. The destiny deserved by us unfolds only at the appointed time. After about thirty years of the purchase of the book, only a few months ago was I ignited by the Almighty to read the book. As I plunged into reading, I could not stop till I finished both the volumes. To crown it all, I read the volumes thrice consecutively. The more I read, the more bliss I savoured. Now I understand almost all the prophets and their philosophies better. This has driven me to dive deeper in my Ideal, Sri Sri Thakur Anukulchandra.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna has been translated into numerous languages and is widely read and studied by those interested in spirituality and religious philosophy. It is one of the greatest classics and a repository of the esoteric wealth of this great Avatar of God, unfolding and revealing for the men and women of this benighted Kali-yuga entangled in the deluding Avidya maya of ‘women and gold’. ‘Time Magazine’ hailed the translation as ‘one of the world’s most extraordinary religious documents,’ recognizing its value in introducing Ramakrishna’s teachings to wider audience. The book has the potency to make a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Christian or a Muslim a better and more refined being. It has universal message transcending cultural, geographical, or temporal boundaries. The utterances in the book give us the essence of all spirituality including spiritual quest. They inspire seekers of all faiths. The core message of the book is: Humanity is the mother of all religions. So, Swami Vivekananda says: “Realize divinity within humanity.” The book also echoes the message of the Bhagavad Gita: “Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me.”

I now realize why Mr Bryan Zaff, a VSO from Canada, said to me, “Mr Chowdhury, you don’t have to know the world. If you just know your motherland, you will have known the world.” I realize why David Smith in his book, ‘The dragon and the elephant: China, India and the new world order’ wrote: “Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India.” (Source: ‘Great Minds on India’ by Salil Gewali)

In Volume I, Swami Vijnananda writes: “By enquiring I have come to the conclusion that 80% and more of the sannyasins have embraced monastic life after reading ‘The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.” The 13th President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Swami Ranganathananda, born in a village named Tikkur near Trissur in Kerala, was one of the greatest monks, who was ever bubbling with energy and enthusiasm, read ‘The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’ at the age of 14, which left a tremendous impact on him and changed the direction of his life. He emerged a great orator and prolific writer on the Indian culture and philosophy. In addition, he travelled throughout the world lecturing in different countries and universities.

Salutations to all the prophets of the past, to all the great ones of the present and to all that are to come in the future.

I offer my obeisance to my Ideal -- the Supreme Lord, and the King, country and the people of Bhutan for my transformation and new era on my path.

Sri Ramakrishna believed that all religions, despite their differences, ultimately lead to the same goal of God-realization. This emphasis on the unity of religions fosters tolerance and understanding between people of different faiths, the goal of religious integration.

In tune with his Master (Sri Ramakrishna), Swami Vivekananda makes a clarion call:

“Help and not Fight!

Assimilation and not Destruction!

Harmony and Peace and not Dissension!”