Swami Smarananandaji visits Ramakrishna Centre
The Centre was blessed with the visit of Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math from 18 April 2011 to 2 May 2011. Maharaj was accompanied by Swami Jnanavratananda.
1. Maharaj addressed public meetings to celebrate Sri Ramakrishna’s 175th Birth Anniversary at Headquarters, Glen Anil (30 April) and in Ladysmith (27 April). These meetings were well attended by devotees, members of the general public and also by the heads and other officials of other major Hindu organisations.
2. A total of 149 devotees took initiation from revered Maharaj at 2 ceremonies held at Headquarters on 24 and 25 April.
3. The third ‘Swami Vivekananda Family Welfare Centre’ in South Africa was officially opened by Maharaj on 27 April at the Ladysmith campus of the Centre. The humanitarian projects in Ladysmith had grown to such an extent there that there was an urgent need to provide a suitable facility for the holistic support of families- in- need supported by the Centre.
4. Other programmes included:
(a) an address at Hanuman Jayanti at Headquarters (18 April)
(b) addresses at the Ramakrishna Ashrams in Phoenix (24 April) and in Chatsworth (29 April)
(c) re-launch of the ‘Hinduism for Children’ classes at Headquarters (1 May)
(d) a visit to Pietermaritzburg sub-centre
Maharaj also made himself available almost on a daily basis for individual and group meetings of devotees to give guidance and direction in their spiritual life.
This, the third visit of Maharaj has been a very valuable one for the Centre, its organisational structures and for the increasing number of devotees of Sri Ramakrishna in South Africa, since he has provided invaluable guidance to the monks, devotees and the officials of the Centre for the further progress of the Ramakrishna movement in Africa
A Vedanta Retreat was held on Friday, 2 April 2010 at the Centre, Glen Anil. The programme commenced with satsang which included a reading from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, peace chants and the singing of hymns. This was followed by a series of discourses, viz:
- The Spider and its Web by Swami Vimokshananda
- Love and Prayer by Swami Saradaprabhananda
- Practical Spirituality by Pravrajika Ishtaprana
- Indra and Virocana in the Chandogya Upanishad by Pravrajika Divyanandaprana
Each speaker then answered questions posed by the devotees. This was followed by a mid-day service which included the singing of the Hanuman Chalisa, guided meditation and peace chants. After lunch the Surat Arya Bhajan Mandal performed an hour-long devotional concert. Swami Vimokshananda then conducted a final question and answer session. Registration for the retreat was restricted to 300 devotees.
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The Annual Northern KwaZulu-Natal Children's Cultural Festival
The Annual Northern KwaZulu-Natal Children's Cultural Festival was hosted by the Dundee Sub-Centre on Sunday, 2 May 2010, at the Dundee High School Hall. Children presented cultural items including speeches, scripture chanting, devotional songs and traditional dances. The following Sub-Centres / Satsang Groups participated in the day's program: Dundee, Estcourt, Glencoe, Ladysmith and Newcastle. The items presented were of a very high standard and were appreciated by the audience of over a thousand people.
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Hinduism for Children Examinations
A special satsang was held on Saturday 08 May 2010 at the Centre, Glen Anil to award children from the surrounding Satsang Groups for successfully passing their Hinduism for Children Examinations written in March this year. The programme included a hawan ceremony with a single student from each of the Satsang Groups participating. Swami Vimokshananda addressed the children and stressed the importance of continuing with their religious studies. A signed certificate was then presented by Maharaj to the successful students. Similara functions were held at the Centre's various Satsang Groups and Sub-Centres to honour local candidates that were successful in the examination. A total of 364 children received their certificates.
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A Youth Development Forum
A Youth Development Forum convenes once a month at the Centre, Glen Anil (Saturday, 14.45 - 15.30). These forums include powerpoint and audio-visual presentations, talks and interactive discussions. Secular and spiritual topics are discussed with the youth, with the emphasis being on life-skills and moral values. All interested youth are invited to attend.
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National Youth Day
16 June 2010, was used to host a Youth Programme at the Centre, Glen Anil. The youth gathered in an orderely manner in the Ramakrishna Temple for a morning satsang which included the singing of bhajans and kirtans, peace chants, and a scriptural reading. Swami Vimokshananda addressed the youth abd emphasised the need for prayer at this stage of their lives.
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The 56th Annual Southern KwaZulu-Natal Children's Cultural Festival
The 56th Annual Southern KwaZulu-Natal Children's Cultural Festival was held on Sunday, 20 June 2010 at the M H Joosub Hall, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Children from the following Sun-Centres and Satsang groups participated in the day's programme: Chatsworth, Durban Central, Etete, Phoenix, Pietermaritzburg, Redhill, Sydenham, Tongaat and Verulam as well as the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram and the Richards Bay Satsang Group. The programme included folk dances, sketches, devotional singing, discourses and scriptural chanting. Swami Vimokshananda delivered the keynote address. Over 1,500 devotees and well-wishers attended the function. Children performed in an enthusiastic spirit in all the cultural items.
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Regular Classes
Swami Vimokshananda conducts the following regular classes:
Bhagavad Gita:
- Tuesdays (7.00 - 8.00 p.m.) at the Centre, Glen Anil
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna:
- Chatsworth Sub-Centre (Third Sunday of each month, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.)
- Pietermaritzburg Sub-Centre (first Friday of each month, 7.00 - 8.30 p.m.)
- Redhill / Durban Central Satsang Groups (fourth Sunday of each month, 9.00 - 10.00 a.m.)
Women Devotees of Sri Ramakrishna on the second Sunday of each month (9.00 - 10.30 p.m.) at the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram.
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Nutrition Programme
The Centre provides social assitance on an ongoing basis to various organisations, instituitions, and indigent families. Regular beneficiaries of the Nutrition Programme include:
- Ramakrishna Abalindi Home - a Home for the terminally-ill
- Kwa Mashu Ekusizaneni Children's Home - a Home that caters for orphans and children affected by the HIV / Aids pandemic
- Verulam Day and Packo Frail Care Centre
- Phoenix Alcholic Rehabilitation Centre
- Zimisele AIDS Centre, Kwa Mashu
- Various disadvantage schools
- Indigent families throughout the greater Durban area
- Approximately twenty-five families identified in the Greenbury area of Phoenix and their needs assessed. These families visit the Centre on a monthly basis and attend satsangs after which food hampers and other household items are provided to them.
The Nutrition Programmme benefits approximately 6000 people on a daily basis.
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The Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa
The Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa continues to provide services to seven State Hospitals. Regular clinics were also conducted at the Centre's various Sub-Centres. A total of 1245 patients were seen and 33 operations performed at both these Hospitals and Clinics for the period April to June 2010. A separate detailed Report is available.
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To the Ramakrishna
Centre of South Africa's Website
