VIVA-RKMM - Inspired Living , Podcast

Our 2nd Podcast Episode on Happiness is Live!

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:00:01 +0530

Summary

Basics of happiness can be understood by thinking of two words which are often used in each other's place - Joy & Happiness. Often used in each other's place, these words have a distinctive meaning. Joy is generated from within; things which I do that gives me joy. On the other hand, happiness is something that is largely dependent on external aids. Joy is a deeper bliss one experiences when they do things that are of value to their internal being. An even better understanding of joy is linked to the Upanishadic idea of our real nature - Sat-Chit-Ananda - You are joy itself! We don't remember this and often suffer on account of ignorance of our real nature. All the practices which our Shastras speak of, are linked to the ultimate joy that is intrinsic to every person.

Even when we analyse the life of a regular person going through a workday with their issues and responsibilities, we realize that this joy our scriptures speak of, can be experienced more and more as we move from a mindset of gross to subtle. This mindset has the potential to remove our existential problems and difficulties as well, as joy slowly develops from within. Life of Sri Ramakrishna is the perfect example of someone who was suffering with a fatal disease and yet he exuberated joy day in and out. His very presence and the atmosphere around Him was full of joy as He reached the subtlest element within Him, His own nature which is joy itself. If you are an aspirant, all suffering even can generate a tremendous sense of resilience and determination to delve even deeper to find out the Truth for yourself, your real nature - that is joy. Sri Ramakrishna used to say - look upon human beings as a veritable manifestation of God and find that joy within that you are God Himself when you are serving the human beings and the sincerity and honesty in your practice will help you trace that inner joy within yourself. We can and should use our rich heritage brought forth by our Rishis - what it is to live beautifully, to be in joy, what is fulfilment. Without running around we need to go back to these roots and explore our way to real Joy. Turning our perspective from striving for happiness to being joyful, constantly going from gross to subtle could be the key that unlocks the bliss in our lives.

About Swami Shantatmananda

Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s ideal of “Service to Man is Service to God”, a young professional embarked on a transformative journey within the Ramakrishna Order, becoming Swami Shantatmananda. A monastic for about 50 years, he had a 30-year stint at the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, where he contributed significantly with his expertise in the areas of financial administration and fund management, while pioneering staff welfare schemes. He also played an influential role in setting up the Sarada Seva Sangha, an NGO in Kolkata, working towards women’s empowerment.

Subsequently, he took charge as the Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi in 2007, where he initiated programs to provide a foundation of education for a range of stakeholders by following a train-the-trainer model, which was extremely well-received by educators across India. The resounding success led to the founding of a new centre in Haryana, Ramakrishna Mission, Gurugram in 2022, along with the establishment of the Vivekananda Institute of Values (VIVA), which is dedicated to spreading the man-making, character-building ideas of Swami Vivekananda.

Sarada Tapovan, a retreat centre in the Himalayas, situated at Jalaungi, Tehri District, on the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi Highway, is a significant milestone on the same journey, which was inaugurated in 2024. Built with state-of-the-art facilities, it offers a serene ambience for contemplation and spiritual practices.

Swami Shantatmananda, also known as Jaishankar Maharaj, enjoys sports and music.

About Neha Phull

Neha Phull is a VIVA resource person who, while racing through life aiming to achieve one milestone after another, tumbled down the hill, and found the words of Swami Vivekananda coming to her rescue to help her lead a life of purpose. She says, "It is the unfiltered truth in the majestic words of Swamiji that not just picks me up in the worst of my days but also become a beacon of light to nudge me to move forward towards a bigger goal."

Relevant resources

5:03 - Sat-Chit-Ānanda - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/5-7-3-iii-the-absolute-and-the-attainment-of-freedom

8:35 - Story of the Brahmachari - A version is found here - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/1-2-4-what-is-duty

10:40 - Nisargadatta Maharaj - https://nisargadattamaharajofficialcenter.com/about-shree-nisargadatta-maharaj/

11:29 - Sri Ramakrishna - Biography is accessible here - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsr/m/sri-ramakrishna-the-great-master/a/cover

13:44 - Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita - English version is accessible here- https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/tsr/m/gospel-of-sri-ramakrishna/a/cover-1

14:30 - Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva - An article eludicates the idea - https://vk.rkmm.org/s/vkm/m/vedanta-kesari-2013/a/05-shiva-jnane-jiva-seva%E2%80%94a-modern-mahavakya-oct-2013

21:16 - The Bhagavad Gita - Link to Swani Vivekananda's talk on the Gita - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/4-2-3-thoughts-on-the-gita

23:12 - Madalasa - Story of Madalas by Pravrajika Divyanandaprana - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp_ouj7Amug

Our Brand New Podcast Episode on Perspectives is Live!

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0530

Summary

When the same thing is viewed from the prism of different minds, it brings different colours to the same situation – like varied opinions, ideas & meanings and it is applicable to the simplest of things in life. In the world of senses, at the gross level there may be seen a sense of harmony for a particular situation, but at the subtle level of the mind, it is viewed differently by all, depending on their development. It is only when we evolve as a person, a better adjustment is possible. The life of Holy Mother Sarada Devi is a great example of the amalgamation of different ideas and minds. She could live with everyone in the same harmonious way by seeing the point of view of everyone around her. She said, ‘The one who can accommodate and accept, will survive, one who cannot, will perish.’ We can take her example and live peacefully by accommodating many minds. It is the sense of inflated ego that becomes an obstacle in pursuing this goal. When we learn from great people and their way of living, and follow it, we can succeed in understanding various perspectives. Growth in the direction from transactional to the transcendental level is the only way. Sri Ramakrishna too preached practicality and harmony from a spiritual point of view and many examples from his life exhibit that. It is the attention he paid to each person he met and guided them until the end, that made all the difference. The sixteen direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna followed the principles of their Master after his passing, accomplishing great things in life by merging perspectives, meeting people where they are and raising them to a level of greatness. Their transactional tasks too were guided by transcendental principles which they demonstrated all lifelong. Hence, we can say that it is at the phenomenal plane that all arguments happen when different minds clash and not at an evolved level of spirituality where all minds merge. Similarly, organizations function well when perspectives are understood and merged well. It is the leader that exhibits such values, when decision-making, conflict resolution and delivering quality come into the picture. In a household, it is still easier to maintain harmony as there is more time that is spent with each other and more space for personal reflection is presented. Eventually, it is the attempt to understand life in a broader frame that helps us let go of the mundane pettiness we generally nurture. ‘Be very strict with yourselves and liberal with others’ – is the mantra!

About Swami Shantatmananda

Swami Shantatmananda, also known as Jaishankar Maharaj, enjoys sports and music.

About Arpita Sud

Arpita Sud is a VIVA resource person whose philosophy is to bring meaning to her life by consciously choosing to grow her inner life

Relevant resources

4:50 - Sri Sri Mayer Katha (Bengali), translated as 'The Gospel of the Holy Mother' (English) - accessible at: https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/tsd/m/the-gospel-of-the-holy-mother/

7:41 - Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 21 - Link to Swami Vivekananda's talk on the Gita: https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/the-complete-works-of-swami-vivekananda/a/1-4-16-the-git%C4%81-iii

10:30 - A Short Life of Sri Ramakrishna - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsr/m/a-short-life-of-sri-ramakrishna

11:30 - Sri Sri Ramakrishna Lila-prasanga (Bengali), translated as 'Sri Ramakrishna The Great Master' (English) - accessible at: https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsr/m/sri-ramakrishna-the-great-master - hereafter 'The Great Master'

13:05 - The Great Master

14:30 - Girish Chandra Ghosh - https://belurmath.org/girish-chandra-ghosh/

17:03 - The Baranagore Math - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/m/life-of-swami-vivekananda-his-eastern-and-western-disciples/a/1-12-the-baranagore-math

17:57 - Swami Ramakrishnananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/ramakrishnananda-swami-1

18:53 - Swami Abhedananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/abhedananda-swami

19:16 - Swami Vivekananda - https://englishbooks.rkmm.org/s/lsv/m/vivekananda-a-biography/a/cover

20:56 - Swami Adbutananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/adbhutananda-swami

22:00 - Swami Shivananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/shivananda-swami

22:01 - Swami Saradananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/saradananda-swami

22:06 - Swami Brahmananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/s/sb/m/holy-trio-and-direct-disciples/a/brahmananda-swami

29:20 - Swami Yatiswarananda - https://biographies.rkmm.org/m/monks/a/yatiswarananda-swami