SingaSpeaks – Roar 25

SingaSpeaks
ROAR 25 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 24 SEPTEMBER 2016
A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE
Guru Purnima at Yangon Ramakrishna Mission
Most of our readers know that till 1962 our
monks were there in the Ramakrishna
Mission's two branches at Yangon, formerly
Rangoon. These were busy, useful and
prosperous centres and one of the important
branches abroad. After the militarisation of
Burma now Myanmar, the monks were
asked to leave the country. From then on the
Ramakrishna Mission's Hospital was taken
over by the Govt. The Library branch, which
had a chapel for the Holy Trio, was handed
over to a Committee of Citizens. The
members and the devotees carried on the
ashram's minimal
activities.
Two decades back, it was
Swami Gahananandaji
Maharaj who visited after
a gap of 35 years. It is to
the immense credit of the
devotees who kept up the
light at the shrine in spite
of many challenges. Last
year in the month of
December, the Govt., after
a gap of 20 years
permitted another monk
of the Ramakrishna
Mission i.e. me to visit
Yangon. I met many
elderly devotees, old
admirers and friends.
Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw at the Sitagu
International Buddhist Academy
I am glad that my visit created positive
feedback. I could understand clearly that our
Mission Library would have been the best at
pre-1960s. Not only the elder generation
acknowledged it so but also there I could not
but think that some rare treasure of
knowledge is hidden in the form of books of
historical value.
Presently I was sad to note that there is no
maintenance at all of the Library. Dirt and
dust aside, the books in the almirahs have
never been touched! Working hands have
dwindled to such an
extent, presumably in the
absence of a Resident
Monk for the last 20 years.
The devotees there in
Yangon are indeed praying
for a Resident Monk.
I could feel the pulse of
positive support from the
Hindu Community in
general. It was a fruitful
meeting with Venerable
Sitagu Sayadaw at the
Sitagu International
Buddhist Academy on 9th
December 2015. The
amiable Venerable warmly
welcomed me and Prof.
Dr. Kamal Bose and others
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 25 PAGE TWO SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2016
who accompanied me. He said that he
wanted me to speak about Swami
Vivekananda to the monks and nuns who
were undergoing training in that Academy.
He also assured me of all help to
Ramakrishna Mission, if a Resident Monk
comes to Yangon.
Mission centre in Yangon. He took
extraordinary pains in making my visit
successful through Kathleen Thein, a softspoken
lady, President of the Hindu Women
Organisation in Yangon.
Community leaders willing to help …
It seems everything augurs well for a start
rather a re-start!
Maung Thaung at Sydney Vedanta Centre
My grateful thanks to Maung Thaung, a
long-standing Burmese devotee, now living
in Sydney, whose mother was one of the
Founder members of the Ramakrishna
Members of Sri Sarada Sangha listening to the discourse
Throughout the world the teachings of
Master, Mother and Swamiji are capturing
the thinking minds because of their
universal appeal. In the Buddhist Academy
at Yangon, I explained why people of
different faiths are determined to study
Swamiji. He stands as a towering personality
with his sweep of Universalism over the
fanaticism of pygmies! Hence he is
attracting the attention of peace lovers
everywhere.
Kathleen Thein facilitated meeting with monks
Perhaps a few more visits are required to tie
the loose ends. We leave it at the hands of
Sri Ramakrishna for its future shape.
–Swami Vimokshananda
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 25 PAGE THREE SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2016
Rakhee, an initiated devotee of Srimat Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj,
sent me the following news report from Yangon.
My humble pranam to Swamiji who I always believed as my spiritual teacher sent by my Guru. By the grace
and blessings, we had a very nice Guru Purnima celebration with about 80 devotees. Yesterday was really a
very special day for us.
We started with Robes offering to the monks. The monk preached about why this day is very special. Then we
offered Swan (food) to the monks. Then we had our Satsang and offered bogh (meal) to Thakur. I have created
a group SMS system and invited all the devotees. We had about 80 devotees. Thakur and Srimat Swami
Gahananandaji's photos were
prominently displayed. They look very
happy. I narrated a short story on Guru
Purnima. I would like to thank Swami
Vimokshanandaji for all his teachings.
I related some of them and some from
Jyothi, a quarterly magazine from
South Africa. The devotees were very
pleased. A devotee sponsored lunch in
the form of prasad. Then we had Holy
Mother Sri Sarada Devi's namamantra
216 times.
We were talking about you and
everyone is looking forward to your
next visit. We need to maximise this
time by doing lots of preparations. I
have attached some photos. With
humble pranam,
Rakhee, Yangon
Rakhee's mother in the centre among the devotees of Sri Sarada Sangha singing bhajans
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 singapore@rkmm.org