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ROAR 26 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 1 OCTOBER 2016

A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

Jakarta : Readying for Ramakrishna?

A Joyful Jakarta Journey

My recent visit to Jakarta has brought
me immense joy. It was an occasion to
meet many of the devotees of our Holy
Trio. Though I have visited Malaysia,
Thailand, Myanmar and Hong Kong in
South-east Asia in the 14 month period
of my stay in Singapore, my visit to
Indonesia was long due. The devotees
there have been keeping in touch with
me through the Skype Class once a
month. So, when the opportunity came
to visit Jakarta in the month of August, I
took it as the Will of Sri Thakur.
What impressed me was that a few likeminded devotees who are eager to have
the holy company of sadhus have come
together and started reading Sri Sri
Ramakrishna Kathamrita (The Gospel
of Sri Ramakrishna). They are all
desirous of rendering seva in any form
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to further the activities of the group. I

was pleased to see that the devotees in
Jakarta shouldered the major responsibility for arranging my visit. If at all my
visit has provided any impetus to know
more about our hoary spiritual
tradition, I would be obliged to feel that
yes, the trip was successful.
I do not have enough words to thank
each of the devotees for their care and
concern during my stay despite the
obvious inconveniences. There is always
a next time and that next time is when, is
a question only our Sri Sri Thakur
knows! May His grace be upon all
devotees is my earnest prayer!
Please go through a Report of my Visit
received from the Jakarta Kathamrita
Group in the following pages.

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 26

PAGE TWO

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2016

A Report from the Jakarta Kathamrita Group

Swami Vimokshanandaji,
President of the
Ramakrishna Mission,
Singapore visited Jakarta,
the first City to visit in
Indonesia, from 12 to 14
August, 2016. Since April
2016, Maharaj has been conducting
Monthly Skype sessions with a few likeminded devotee families, expounding on
the true meaning and context of a
passage from Kathamrita which is read
during that session. The
visit to Jakarta, gave
Maharaj an opportunity
to know the devotees on a
more personal basis,
while allowing the
devotees to spend some
quality time with
Maharaj, having
personal interaction and
seeking spiritual
guidance.
Memorable Museum

Upon landing at Jakarta on 12th August

morning, Maharaj went straight to the
National Museum, Central Jakarta. He
showed keen interest in understanding
the history of Indonesia, and the
evolution of culture as well as start and
development of religions like Hinduism,
Budhhism, Islam. During the museum
visit, Maharaj mingled with visiting
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young school children, who were

delighted to talk to a monk.

Significance of Sadhana
Later, that evening, after spending some
personal moments with some individual
devotees over tea, Maharaj delivered his
first of two planned lectures
Significance of Sadhana at the
Botanica Apartment Function Room,
attended by around 70 devotees of
Indian origin. After the lecture, he spent
some time answering questions from the
floor, eg., in our daily busy lives with
multiple priorities, how do we manage
to set aside time for Sadhana? Finally,

Maharaj had dinner with almost 30

devotees at Rini & Amits home, thereby
giving more time for interactions with
the devotees.

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 26

PAGE THREE

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2016

Guided Meditation
13th August started with a wonderful
Guided Meditation Session at 8:00 am
for an hour, at Rinis home, which was
attended by about 20 devotees. Maharaj
explained about Meditation, Japa, the
rituals, different postures, and finally,
some techniques (pranayam) that help
one to isolate the mind from multiple

distracting thoughts, and start to focus

on one thought. This was followed by
joint breakfast, which had been brought
by the devotees.
Visit to Vihara

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After breakfast,
Maharaj visited
Vihara Buddha
Dhammacakka, in
North Jakarta and
observed the various
artefacts, roof
carvings, and spent
some time meditating
in front of the Buddha
i d o l . H e w as p r es ent ed t he 31 s t
Anniversary Celebration Publication of
the Vihara by their Chief Bikkhu.

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 26

PAGE FOUR

God in Image and Man

In the evening, Maharaj delivered his
second lecture God in Image and Man
at the local Sree Mangala Vinayak
Temple, Cikini, which was attended by
60 devotees, despite unfortunate
inclement weather. At the end of the
lecture, he answered some questions

from the floor, and then personally

performed the Arati in front of Holy
Trinity and a larger than a life-size
image of Sri Ganesha, amid the singing
of bhajan Khandana Bhava by the
local devotees. All the devotees were
given Prasad-box at the end, and
Maharaj had dinner with the Jakarta
Kathamritam group devotees.

SATURDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2016

event. He suggested to explore ways of

making the current group a bit larger,
and also see if the same could be more
formalized via perhaps registration of
the same this would enable the
Ramakrishna Mission to engage more to
help develop the Group further.

Jakarta Kathamrita Group:

1. Tridib & Radhika Gupta
2. Sanjay & Rita Majumdar
3. Jaideep and Paromita
Bhattacharjee
4. Pranab & Soumita RoyChowdhury
5. Amit & Rini Bose
6. Madhu Adya
7. Panchali Das

Quality time
On 14th August, Maharaj was available
for some devotees, who were desirous of
spiritual guidance and counselling and
spent quality time with them. He then
had breakfast with the group, following
which he departed for the airport to take
the Singapore flight.
Thanks to Every one!
Each devotee-member of the Jakarta
Kathamrita group engaged and
contributed in his/her own way to
enable the entire visit go well and
smoothly. Maharajs visit was an
immensely fulfilling and wonderful
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PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org