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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 privileged 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 ‘Sri Sri 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.
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 the
prophets and their philosophies better. This has driven me to dive deeper in my
Ideal, Sri Sri Thakur Anukulchandra. The book has ignited fresh flames in me to
be a teacher of my Ideal - Sree Sree
Thakur Anukulchandra’s dream, who said: “ The role of a teacher is far greater
than that of a king.” In synchronization with the above, the book has also re-echoed
the voice of my yoga teacher, BKS Iyengar: “Yoga will make you a better
teacher.” It is my fresh realization through this book that every human can
emerge as powerful as a powerhouse when one is united with one’s Ideal and guided
by Him. Abraham Lincoln writes: “ Without Divine assistance I cannot succeed;
with it I cannot fail.” Revitalized by the book, I plunge afresh into the ocean
of my Lord, and my sacred job of teaching and Yoga practice.
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
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.”
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.
Through the pages of this book, I have discovered a different India – a land far superior to what it externally appears to us. Mark Twain asserts: “India is a land of regions, cradle of human race, birthplace of human speech, grandmother of legend, great grandmother of tradition. The land that all men desire to see and having seen once even by a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of the rest of the globe combined.” (source: Mark Twain on the lecture circuit – by Paul Fatout)
For the numerous adverse effects of the uncontrolled reign of the digital civilization, the teachings of Sri Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Sri Maa Sarada Devi have become more relevant today than ever before, especially to our younger generations, who are being dragged recklessly towards the undesirable offshoots of the digital era. Albert Einstein writes: “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.”
My 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 – Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra, and to the King, Country and the People of Bhutan for the new light on my path. May peace and bliss descend on all living beings!
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!”
Esteemed Guests, We cordially invite your thoughtful and constructive engagement. Note: All comments are reviewed before publication.
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