Amid the hustle and bustle of the grand pageant of Lok Sabha elections, the information of the demise of Srimat Swami Smaranananda ji Maharaj introduced my thoughts to a standstill for just a few moments. Srimat Swami Smaranananda ji Maharaj was a pioneer of India’s religious consciousness and his demise is sort of a private loss. A number of years in the past, the demise of Swami Atmasthananda ji and now the departure of Swami Smaranananda ji on his everlasting journey has left many individuals bereaved. My coronary heart, like that of crores of devotees, saints and followers of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, is deeply saddened.
Throughout my go to to Kolkata earlier this month, I had gone to the hospital to investigate about Swami Smaranananda Ji’s well being. Similar to Swami Atmasthananda ji, Swami Smaranananda ji too devoted his total life to spreading the concepts of Acharya Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Mata Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda the world over. Whereas writing this text, the recollections of conferences and conversations with him are getting refreshed in my thoughts.
In January 2020, throughout my keep at Belur Math, I meditated within the room of Swami Vivekananda. Throughout that go to, I had a protracted dialog about Swami Atmasthananda ji with Swami Smaranananda ji.
It’s broadly recognized that I had a detailed relationship with Ramakrishna Mission and Belur Math. As a seeker of spirituality, I’ve met totally different saints and mahatmas and been to many locations over a interval of greater than 5 a long time. Even in Ramakrishna Math, I acquired to know in regards to the saints who devoted their lives to spirituality, amongst whom personalities like Swami Atmasthananda ji and Swami Smaranananda ji have been outstanding. Their sacred ideas and information supplied contentment to my thoughts. In crucial interval of my life, such saints taught me the true precept of “jan seva hello prabhu seva”.
The lives of Swami Atmasthananda ji and Swami Smaranananda ji are an indelible instance of the motto of Ramakrishna Mission “Atmano Mokshaartham Jagaddhitaaya Cha”.
All of us are impressed by the work being executed by Ramakrishna Mission for the promotion of schooling and rural improvement. Ramakrishna Mission is engaged on India’s religious enlightenment, instructional empowerment and humanitarian service. In 1978, when the disastrous flood struck Bengal, Ramakrishna Mission gained the hearts of everybody with its selfless service. I bear in mind, when an earthquake ravaged Kutch in 2001, Swami Atmasthananda ji was among the many first individuals to name me and provide all doable help for catastrophe administration on behalf of the Ramakrishna Mission. Underneath his path, Ramakrishna Mission helped many individuals who have been affected by the earthquake.
Over the previous years, whereas holding numerous positions, Swami Atmasthananda ji and Swami Smaranananda ji laid nice emphasis on social empowerment. Those that know the lives of those nice personalities will certainly bear in mind how critical these saints have been in the direction of trendy schooling, skilling and ladies empowerment.
Amongst his many inspiring traits, one factor that impressed me probably the most was Swami Atmasthananda ji’s love and respect for each tradition and each custom. The rationale for this was that he used to journey constantly and had spent a very long time in several elements of India. He realized to talk Gujarati whereas dwelling in Gujarat. He used to even converse with me within the language and I cherished listening to his Gujarati!
At totally different factors in India’s improvement journey, our motherland has been blessed by many saints and seers like Swami Atmasthananda ji and Swami Smaranananda ji who’ve ignited the spark of societal change. They’ve motivated us to work with a collective spirit and deal with all of the challenges our society faces. These ideas are everlasting and can act as our supply of energy as we embark on creating a Viksit Bharat through the Amrit Kaal.
As soon as once more, on behalf of your complete nation, I pay homage to such saintly souls. I’m assured that every one the individuals related to the Ramakrishna Mission will additional transfer forward on the trail proven by them.
Om Shanti.