March 2007 Zushi Retreat
(Celebrating the 172nd Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna)

Advaita Vedanta and Sri Ramakrishna
A talk by Swami Samananda

A Unique Divine Incarnation

This year marks the 172nd birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna. He was born in the small village of Kamarpukur in East Bengal. From his very childhood he sought to know God. In time he came to practice the many religious paths of India such as Shakti, Vaishnava, Advaita, Tantra, and even those of Christianity and Islam, achieving perfection in each. It is because of this he was admired by all.

Most spiritual aspirants practice a single path, only a few achieving the goal with great difficulty. For example, Totapuri practiced 40 years before attaining the ultimate goal of nirvikalpa samadi, yet Sri Ramakrishna reached this state in just one night. Divine incarnations like Buddha and Christ attained and taught a single path to perfection. Perfect in many religious paths, Sri Ramakrishna truly deserves to be called a divine incarnation.

Sri Ramakrishna taught those who came to him for spiritual advise in different ways, according to their character, qualities and understanding. More than giving eloquent or scholastic instruction, his purpose in teaching was to lead people to God by clarifying and removing their doubts and leading them to truth. Without clarifying one's doubts, one cannot make progress in spiritual practice.

Vivekananda and Advaita

Of his young disciples, Sri Ramakrishna only allowed Swami Vivekananda to practice Advaita Vedanta and he forbade the others to study Advaita scripture. Sri Ramakrishna understood that only Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) possessed the qualities necessary to absorb the teachings of Advaita. Sri Ramakrishna saw that should the others imbibe this philosophy, their spiritual progress may be delayed.

This is because each person has his own 'best way' to realize God. If one is best fit for Bhakti Yoga, for example, the study of Advaita may in fact have a negative effect on the Bhakta. Even Narendra had difficulty in accepting Advaita philosophy in the beginning. One day while taking to Hazra (a character of the divine play at Dakshineswar), Narendra ridiculed the very idea that an inanimate thing like a glass could be made of spirit. Sri Ramakrishna overheard this comment and placed his hand on Narendra's chest. After this touch Narendra could clearly perceive that the same God pervades the glass, his body and everything else. After this personal experience, Narendra accepted Advaita philosophy.

In later days, Swami Vivekananda established the Advaita Ashrama in the Himalayas near Mayavati to practice Advaita philosophy. The property, a tea plantation owned by a retired man from Britain, was purchased and converted into an ashram. [Swami holds up a photograph]. The second floor has very large halls, and here they would spread the tea leaves out for a day to soften them. In those early days of the ashram, the monks lived there separated from the softening tea leaves by curtain partitions.

Swami Vivekananda, himself, first arrived in 1901. Upon his arrival he noticed that one of the monks had been worshiping a photo of the Master, but he said nothing at that time. That evening during dinner, however, Swami Vivekananda began talking about the ideal in establishing an Advaita Ashram. He then said that despite this ideal, some had begun worshiping Sri Ramakrishna there. Not agreeing with this point, the monk in question then wrote a letter to Sri Sarada Devi - The Holy Mother. In response Holy Mother wrote, "My son, Sri Ramakrishna was actually an Advaitist and his sons and daughters are also Advaitists."

Growth of Belief Systems
 
In olden times when people suffered from the natural calamities of weather, earthquakes and the like, they sought a power higher than mankind to hold on to. This early concept of God was more connected to nature. Gradually came the concept that souls of departed ancestors could provide protection. Tribes then developed along with the idea that a particular God or being would provide protection for that particular tribe. With interaction between people from differing tribes came the desire to establish whose deity was superior. This rivalry brought conflicts wherein the god of victors remained, while the gods of the losers were to be forgotten. Tribes became kingdoms and then countries, along with the idea that they were protected by an almighty and all pervading God. The idea that this god favored this king and/or that country also developed. For one example of this, in Japan the emperor was believed to be directly descended from heaven.

Whether one or several gods were recognized within a system, the idea was the same. Basically, God would fulfill their desires while protecting them. This idea actually reflects two different ideas; God and myself. Even today many people still visit churches or temples with this idea. The idea of God has changed with the development of human society. In the future this idea may continue to change along with the advancing intellect of humanity as a whole. But such future development can only be accomplished in India. This is because true religious freedom exists in India.

The Path to Advaita

People of high intellect realized that all created forms, including manifestations of God, one day cease to exist. They reasoned that such a concept of God was not Almighty. They then gave up the idea of God with name and form and began seeking God without name or form. The conclusion they reached was that God without name and form created this universe.

If so, the question then arises, 'From what did God without name and form create a universe of name and form?' If the infinite God is without name and form, then God must be limited, separate from the materials needed to create name and form. In order to solve this apparent contradiction God must then be both infinite and finite materials. This idea then is like the spider that weaves a web from itself, then dwells within it's own web. This theory is called modified non-dualism.

People may then ask, 'if this infinite God became the many parts, how can the infinite become divided? And further, how then can parts of the infinite perish? That is like light and darkness existing together!' According to this doubt, a theory that infinite God created a finite universe is wrong. Then what is this universe and what are the many living beings of this universe? Logically speaking, the things of this universe don't really exist and are all part of the collective illusion called maya. It is like when a person dreams at night of a place of many mountains and trees and such, awaking to find nothing. What really existed was the dreamer, not the things of the dream. That entity that was dreaming is God. That means that the mountains and trees and rivers of the dream were nothing but God. Because of illusion we think ourselves different and separate from God. This is non-dualism, and it is called Advaita in India.

Realization Ends Religious Conflict

Returning to why Swami Vivekananda established the Advaita Ashram; there are conflicts between different religions, for example between Israel and the Palestinian people. These conflicts arise from the dualistic elements of the opposing religions, because each side believes they are the chosen people of God. The believe their religion and concept of God is the only true religion, the only true God. Without solving this darkness of religion, there can be no peace and harmony between religions. Thinking they are different, people can be very cold to others. People cannot be cold to others if they feel oneness with them as Advaita teaches. For this one must first realize one's true nature is the same as God. The next step is to realize the true nature of other people is God, too. Only then will conflict between religions end.

Swami Vivekananda said that existence, knowledge and bliss absolute (Satchidananda) are our own nature and we don't have to acquire them from outside. We only need to express those things from within. To express these, we only need to become aware of these qualities. Please continue to be aware, and that awareness will lead to the highest. Your will is almighty. Look back at yourself ... Who led you from a single-cell amoeba to a human being? That was your own will. No one can deny that your will is almighty. That thing which led you to human-hood will lead you to the highest.

The Advaita Ideal

Advaita teachings are very simple. There are no austerities - no spiritual practice. You only need to understand this truth. This simple teaching is the oldest and most profound, but didn't spread because it became mixed or confused with other dualistic views. Usually we think that we can only reach spiritual realization by practicing japam and other practices. According to Advaita this view is wrong. This is because if liberation or spiritual freedom or realization were only possible through certain practices, then such realization would be limited. What is liberation? What is freedom? It is becoming free from birth and death.  

By practicing can one become immortal? If one becomes free, then one must have been free from the beginning. It is like the small seed of the tree containing the flower of the tree from the beginning. We are already free. When we practice, we use our body and mind which are not immortal. When we attain realization, we understand we have been free from the beginning.

It was for this ideal of Advaitism, the divinity of human beings and the oneness of the universe, that the Advaita Ashram was established. When people understand these ideals there can be harmony of religions and harmony between all peoples. So what we really need to do is to become aware of our own nature and express that awareness. This is the most important and meaningful use of the life we have been given. I pray that God helps you all to have a very meaningful life. Thank you ...

Swami Medhasananda Speaks
 
Swami Medhasananda thanked the swami for his talk and quipped that he had said that the practice of non-dualism was easy. "Samananda Maharaj lives in an ashram up in the Himalayas where it may be easier to practice non-dualism, but is it true of us who live on the plains, in the plane of dualism? And finally he prays to God that we all find our way.” Swami added that Samananda did his job wonderfully well and gave a very lucid exposition of Advaita, which is difficult to to. Swami Medhasananda then gave the following brief talk.

A Living Phenomenon

“The famous British author and playwright, Christopher Isherwood, once wrote that Sri Ramakrishna was a phenomenon. But I would I would like to say that he is not a past phenomenon, but a living phenomenon. This I shall illustrate with a few incidents.”

“When Sri Ramakrishna left his mortal body the Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi, was in the Cossipore Garden House crying profusely. Sri Ramakrishna appeared before and asked why she was crying. 'Am I dead? I am here. I have only passed from one room to another room.' "

"In the West Swami Vivekananda would give nine or ten lectures a week. Sometimes he would find himself wondering what he would speak of next. Sri Ramakrishna would then appear and brief him on what to discuss the following day. It was not a vision, it was a reality. On one such occasion a devotee even asked about the strange voice in his room and if he had had a visitor the night before. You see this was not only Swami Vivekananda's vision, it was audible to others as well."

"Once before the Jagannath Temple in Puri a Christian missionary was preaching about Jesus Christ and at the same time abusing Hinduism. Swami Premanandaji, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, happened to be present. He didn't like the abuse and began chanting Hari Bol, Hari Bol, Hari Bol. Soon those listening to the preacher, too, began to chant and then dispersed. That night Sri Ramakrishna appeared before him and asked why he had disturbed that Christian missionary. 'He was preaching about me,' he said. 'Tomorrow morning go and seek his pardon.' After a long search he found the preacher and apologized."

"Swami Chetanandaji, the head of the St. Louis Center in the USA, once received a call. It was from a highly educated girl living out on a farm in Kansas who later came to visit the Swami. At that time she told the swami that Sri Ramakrishna had initiated and given her a mantra. Charged with emotion and tears running down her face she revealed this to the swami."

"So we see that Sri Ramakrishna is not merely a phenomenon, but a living phenomenon. He is still guiding, disciplining and protecting us. There is a Bengali saying that says divine incarnations sport in the world even now and some are fortunate enough to witness their sport. As the bible says, 'Knock and the door shall be opened'. If we but knock, the door to Sri Ramakrishna will be opened. We will see his divine form and his divine sport and our lives will be blessed." •