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& Notes - February 2010 |
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Harih Om Tat Sat. During April-June this year, we plan to be in United States in pursuit of Brahmavidya dissemination.
(Exact dates and venue details are mentioned elsewhere) The visit includes a 3-day retreat in a Retreat Centre in Virginia. It will cover
the National Holiday, so that participants will have 3 consecutive days together. This is the first time an event of this kind is being arranged.
Nutan Swamiji will reach by mid-April to interact with different sections of people and seekers of Truth. I shall be proceeding by May 3rd week,
with Ma. In addition to the retreat, there will also be discourses and satsangs (spiritual discussions) in other locations. We shall be in Dallas
in the lst week of June.
As you know, CIRD (NA) is a non-profit organization, registered in United States. It has been serving as a platform for seekers to meet regularly for
pursuing and propagating Brahmavidya. CIRD (NA) publishes an e-Newsletter (Atma-shakti – Harnessing the Infinite; website: http//cirdna.org), and also
arranges tele-conferences with us.
I would like you to know about our visit and also inform your family members, relatives and friends, who are in the
US, so that they may also be benefited by the programmes. It might also be a support to the effort of CIRD (NA) in one way or another. In all these
matters, the sense of sharing and common interest is what counts. This societal dimension alone will expand the mind, taking it to loftier dimensions.
The contact sources in US are: Sri Anand Krishnan (akrishnan8@yahoo.com), Sri Pankaj Bhatia (703-351-1391: pankaj_bhatia@hotmail.com), Sri Bharat
Govindani (703-861-4230: bgovindani@yahoo.com). CIRD-NA email – info@cirdna.org.
Please also let us know directly (by email) the details of people you are informing, so that the programme details/ changes can be intimated in time.
— Swamiji
46th Jamshedpur Annual Jñana Yajña and Programmes in Kolkata: As announced earlier, Poojya Swamiji accompanied
by Ma Gurupriyaji will leave on Feb 07 for Jamshedpur, via Kolkata. Brni. Vinaya Swaroopa will also travel with them. Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji
will join them at Jamshedpur on Feb 21.
The 5-day discourse will be held in Madrasi Sammelani between Feb 14 & 18. Vishnu-sahasra-nama Samoohika Yajna will be held on Feb 28. Poojya Swamiji,
Ma Gurupriyaji and Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji will return to the Ashram on Mar 06.
Contact: Sri R.S.Tiwari (0657) 2942272; Sri Sujit Sengupta 2306180/94313 03590; Prof. S.R. Sahu 2303154/94307 16106; Smt. Rumni Sengupta 2234567
/94311 84333.
Sadhana Sibiram at SIRD, Malaysia (Feb 12-19): Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji will travel to SIRD Malaysia on Feb 11 to
conduct the Sadhana Shibiram at the Centre there. Br. Prasanna Swaroopa will accompany him. During the week long Shibiram, apart from the informal
Satsangs, there will be morning classes on Kathopanishad and evening classes on Bhagavadgeeta. Contact (Malaysia): SIRD Malaysia 603-7781 6110;
Sri Unnikrishnan 603-5635 8539; Smt Vasanta/Sri Param 603-7955 0580; Sri Jeyabalasingham 601-2316-9533.
CIRD-Delhi Programme (Mar 22 - Apr 05): Poojya Swamiji along with Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji and Ma Gurupriyaji will
be in CIRD, Vasundhara (near Delhi) from Mar 22 till Apr 05 to conduct the Sadhana Shibiram at the Centre
Jnana Yajna at CIRD - North America: Poojya Swamiji accompanied by Ma Gurupriyaji will arrive in USA in the 3rd week of
May. Brni. Namrata Swaroopa will travel along with them. Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji will reach earlier, by mid-April, to conduct Vedanta classes
at selected locations. Br. Prasanna Swaroopa will accompany him.
To facilitate greater public participation and opportunity for Guru-sannidhi during the Jnana Yajµa, CIRD-NA will host Poojya Swamiji, Nutan
Swamiji and Ma in an independent bungalow in Virginia.
Programmes in Virginia Centre of CIRD-NA Poojya Swamiji’s Brahmavidya dissemination in USA includes ‘Memorial Day
Retreat’ during the weekend May 28-31 at the Airlie Conference Centre, Warrenton, Virginia. The place has been specially chosen for its
peaceful, sylvan environment.
Programmes in Dallas Poojya Swamiji and Ma Gurupriyaji will be in Dallas during Jun 4-7. They will be hosted at the
residence of Sri A Balakrishnan (Balu & Bindu). There will be discourses and satsangs in a few locations in Dallas. For more information on
the Dallas program contact: Sri A Balakrishnan (Balu) (617-816-6062: balu.am@gmail.com) or Sri Jayanth (972-459-4765: jaysita@yahoo.com)
Talk on “Wholesome Leadership” to IAS Officers: On January 8 morning, Poojya Swamiji addressed (through video-conference)
the participants of a 6-day programme “Ethics in Public Governance” held at Asia Plateau, Panchgani, Pune. It was part of a special programme for
Indian Civil Service Officers conducted from Jan 4th to 9th.
Twenty-eight Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, holding key positions in various Ministries and other Government Organizations, took part
in the event. The objective of the programme was to provide a unique opportunity for the IAS officers to i) tap their own and each others’ inner
resources for inspiration and learning, ii) evolve a paradigm of Ethical leadership and Governance, iii) discuss case studies and research on Civil
service issues, and iv) explore the balance between family and professional life for wholesome living. The last shloka of the Bhagavadgeeta
(Yatra yogeshvarah … 18.78) was used as the theme-statement for the event.
Poojya Swamiji addressed the participants on “Wholesome Leadership, Wholesome Life – Inspiration from Wholeness”. The inspiring talk was followed by
questionanswer session that lasted for nearly 2 hours. The discussions focused on mind and its potentials, role of intelligence in shaping ethical
behaviour, genesis of unethical conduct, methods to generate and maintain motivation, purpose of life, spirituality indispensable in ethical
governance, etc.
After the highly motivating interactive session, Poojya Swamiji, at their request, administered a pledge to the officers, to stand together for
providing the country a corruption-free governance, and to strive for preserving National values and prestige.
High Court protects Aykunnu hills from Excavation by miscreants: From 1996, citizens around Aykunnu Pandavagiri hills have
been striving to stop the illegal and dangerous excavation and transport of earth by organized land mafia. In 1996, Thrissur’s RDO issued the first
prohibitory order preventing excavation of the hills. Later too similar order was passed by RDO. However, these orders were not effective in
preventing the massive quarrying.
Paralam Gram Panchayat later passed a resolution, confirming the danger in eroding the hills, and wanting stern action from the district authorities,
who alone could enforce their order in the matter. The subject came up repeatedly to the purview of the district authorities. On a few occasions, the
Ashram had been successful in stopping the illegal quarrying, though temporarily, by calling up the Collector and the police.
Aykunnu Shankaramangalam Devaswam Committee and Narayanashrama Tapovanam filed a petition in Kerala HC in 2007, through senior advocate Sri Govind
Bharathan. On Jan 18, a specially set-up ‘Green Bench’ of Kerala High Court, consisting of Chief Justice SB Bannurmath and Justice Thottathil B
Radhakarishnan gave an interim but comprehensive order prohibiting earth removal.
? In its judgement, the Honourable Bench observed:
1. “…the District Collector had issued proceedings banning quarrying of laterite and removal of earth from the area in question in 2007. …..If such
orders could not be enforced, there is no meaning in passing such orders, which would remain merely on papers. This is never the intention or the
dictate of the Constitution and the laws. ….”
2. “…the report filed by the Addl. District Magistrate shows that the Executive including the Police machinery, had not been able to carry out the
enforcement of the prohibitory order….”
3. “It is stated that mining is done mostly on holidays and during nights. We hope that the entire District Administration and the entire police
are not given weekly offs in one go, to leave the Nation unguarded at weekends, on holidays and during nights…”
4. “This explanation is wholly the wail of a cat over mouse, which it had never decided to catch…”
5. “Not a single person is seen to have been arrested, nor any case booked for the violation of the prohibitory orders. No cognizable offence is
even reported by the police, and no FIR is registered. …”
6. “Mere holding of meetings, collecting statistics, and ultimately meetings for review and calling for further materials, does not solve the
concrete problem ...”
? The Interim Order WP(C) No.22702/2007 (S):
1. For the aforesaid reasons, there will be an interim order directing that no mining activity, be it of laterite or any other material, shall be
carried out in any part of Aykunnu area in Thrissur District until further orders.
2. This shall be strictly enforced by the District Collector, Revenue Divisional Officer, Geologist and all other executive officers and subordinate
staff of the State Government.
3. The Superintendent of Police, Thrissur District and all police officers under his command are directed to see that this order is scrupulously
enforced and anyone seen offending it is brought to book forthwith. It is further ordered that if the District Collector and the District
Superintendent of Police feel that the powers under their command are insufficient to handle the situation, immediate report shall be given to
the Secretary to the Government of Kerala, Home Department, who will ensure that additional police force, even from the reserved cadre, is made
available forthwith to ensure that this order is complied with without any fail.
Release of New book (Malayalam): During the inauguration of Shreemad Bhagavata Tattva Sameeksha Satram on Dec 25,
“Krtyam nirvahiccu Krsnan vishramattil (Having fulfilled his task, Krishna resting [in Dvaraka])”, the 8th book written by Poojya Swamiji
on Shreemad Bhagavatam, was released by Thekkemadom Mooppil Sri Sankarananda Brahmanandabhooti Swamiar. The book, based on the last 11 chapters
of 10th skandha, deals with the splendour and exploits of Sri Krishna. The intention of this series of books is to make values and message of
Shreemad Bh¡gavatam the warp and woof of daily life of our people.
Geeta Tattva Sameeksha (Jan 17-24): The 15th Thrissur Annual Geeta Tattva Sameeksha, based on 15th Ch. of Bhagavadgeeta,
was inaugurated on Jan 17, by Justice (retd.) Sri R Bhaskaran. In his talk on the first day, Poojya Swamiji explained: “Purushottama Yoga is
intended to elevate the human mind to its divine level.”
In his brief inaugural address, Justice Sri Bhaskaran said that the message of Bhagavadgeeta is ever relevant to the society. Sri Therambil
Ramakrishnan, MLA & ex-speaker (Kerala Assembly), presided over the function. Sri MK Balakrishnan Nair, (retd. Prof., Thrissur Engg. College)
welcomed the gathering, and Prof TK Devanarayan expressed vote of thanks.
Participation in the Hindu Spiritual & Service Fair 2009, Chennai: Centre for Inner Resources Development (CIRD) -
Chennai, took part in the Fair at Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, from Dec 24 to 28. Information about Poojya Swamiji, Ashram, CIRD, and Foundation for
Restoration of National Values (FRNV), was displayed through posters along with Swamiji’s photo and Ashram’s Logo. Ashram publications were also
distributed. A video of Swamiji’s talk was continuously played. Many visited the stall showing interest in Ashram’s publications and activities.
The Fair was organized by Global Foundation for Civilizational Harmony, India (GFCH). Its main purpose was to create a unique platform to know,
understand, and appreciate the massive service rendered by Hindu Spiritual Organizations. About 130 organizations participated in the Fair. GFCH,
in its letter, emphatically reported: “The Central pavilion, where the aggregate details of the service rendered by the different Hindu spiritual
and service organisations had been panelled, showed that more than 36 crores of Indians were covered through these just 36 organizations. ...”
Jan. 8: Poojya Swamiji addressed the devotees assembled in Sri Dharma Sastha Temple, Venganallur, Chelakkara
(Thrissur Dist.) on the occasion of their Desa Vilakku Mahotsavam, highlighting the importance of temples and ashrams in upholding Sanatana Dharma.
Poojya Swamiji exhorted them to strive to preserve and protect these two institutions.
Jan. 10: Poojya Swamiji, accompanied by Ma, Nutan Swamiji and other devotees, visited the Vivekananda Seva Kendra,
Cherussery, to inaugurate their Vivekananda Jayanti celebrations. Under the dedicated leadership of Swami Purushothamananda Saraswati-ji,
the Kendra looks after a number of resourceless children, and pursues village welfare services. Poojya Swamiji, in his talk, inspired the
children as well as the assembled villagers to have confidence in themselves, and take pride in the country’s great cultural and spiritual
heritage. It is the prime duty of householders, Swamiji emphasized, to take interest in Ashrams, help them in their efforts and be benefited
thereby.
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