THE CLOCK TICKS, 90 DAYS TO GO

Mark, the centenary is at our doorstep. He was born on October 4, 1916. What a momentous occasion this is, especially for us who are the initiated disciples of this great spiritual master who will turn 100 years old on October 16, 2016, barely three months away from this day. We ought to make it a grand occasion with celebrations in line with his philosophy of life which was dedicated to the service of suffering humanity. Ought we not to imbibe his spirit and as worthy disciples and followers tread in his footsteps in doing humanitarian work? Such an obeisance will be most befitting.

The first and foremost thing for us to do is to adhere to our spiritual practices on a  disciplined basis. Our spiritual lives strengthened, we will be forces potent to spread peace in a world ravaged by hatred, violence and war. Second, we ought to know the substance of our scriptures well and ought to make provisions in our daily lives for a systematic study of our spiritual texts. We may begin with The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. Thereafter, we may move on to the study of the Bhagavad Geeta and the ten principal Upanishads. These are all readily available at Ramakrishna Mission Centres. Third, we must make it a point to save some money on a regular basis and contribute the same to the various welfare projects of  the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. Fourth, we must try to visit the different centres of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission so that we may be in touch with the pulse of the movement. Fifth, we must go out of our way to assist the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission with whatever help we can by way of volunteering our services. Sixth, we should read the life-stories of the great sages and saints of the Ramakrishna Order beginning with the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna and keep reflecting on them so that our lives also catch the colour of the ochre, the colour of renunciation, the hue of the rising sun of knowledge.

Jai Gurudev! Jai Ramakrishna!