The Ramakrishna Clinic, Foresthaven, Phoenix
The Ramakrishna Clinic, Foresthaven, Phoenix, was officially opened on Sunday, 28 October 2007. The Clinic will be providing specialist services to poor patients from Phoenix, Kwa Mashu, Inanda and the surrounding areas. The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of government officials, health professionals and other local dignitaries. Swami Vimokshanandaji outlined the spirit of service practised by the Ramakrishna Order. Thereafter the Clinic was declared open by Mr and Mrs I Mangaroo (Main Sponsors). Dr YL Mbele, Acting Head of the Department of Health, then delivered an address on behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Ministry of Health. She complimented the Centre on its medical work being done throughout the province. Devotional songs were rendered by the Centre's choir and the Ramakrishna eThembeni Home Choir. The function concluded with the singing of the National Anthem followed by lunch.
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Diwali Celebrations
Diwali was celebrated at the Centre on Friday 9 November 2007. Satsang was held from 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. at which Mr P I Singh, an official of the Centre, delivered an address on "The Significance of Diwali". At 7:00 p.m. the Ramakrishna Temple, surrounding buildings and pathways, were lit up by rows of lamps, which lent a divine ambiance to the entire campus.
In the week preceding Diwali, the Centre conducted its Diwali Welfare work. 1000 grocery hampers were prepared and distributed to indigent families in the greater Durban area. On Saturday, 3 November 2007, Swami Vimokshananda, Swami Saradananda, officials and well-wishers of the Centre visited the following Homes, that are supported by the Centre: Ekusizaneni Children's Home (Kwa-Mashu; Home for HIV / AIDS orphans) and the Ramakrishna eThembeni Home (Kwa-Mashu; Home for the terminally-ill). Later that day, cooked meals for approximately 1000 people, were prepared and served to needy families in Welbedacht.
Swami Vimokshananda under the invitation of our Lenasia Branch and various sister organisations visited Johannesburg (Lenasia) for the Diwali satsangs and the Gujarati New Year celebrations (9-10 November). At the Gujarati New Year celebrations the organisers had arranged for Swamiji to distribute 500 copies of the Bhagavad Gita with Swami Nihsreyasananda's Introduction and Chapter summaries. Swamiji also delivered three keynote addresses on these occasions.
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The Jayrambati Home, Foresthaven, Phoenix
The Jayrambati Home, Foresthaven, Phoenix, was officially opened on Saturday 8 December 2007, by Adv. H Kessie Naidu SC (Main Sponsor). The Home is an annex of the Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa and will serve as a place of refuge and solace for indigent women. The Home will be managed by the Ramakrishna Clinic with its staff of doctors, social workers, counsellors, caregivers etc.
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Ramakrishna Community Veterinary Clinic
Two half-day camps were held on Sundays 16 September and 9 December at Welbedacht near Chatsworth. A total of 136 and 81 animals were treated at these respective camps. Animals were vaccinated against rabies and dipped. The camp was conducted by Dr Sanil Singh (Veterinary Surgeon) and the Centre's team of professional voluntary staff.
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Nutrition Programme
The Centre continues to provide humanitarian aid on an ongoing basis to various organisations and institutions in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provinces. Items distributed for the period October - November 2007 included rice, lentils, salt, assorted vegetables and fruit, and basic grocery items. Special care is given to orphans and a large number of HIV / AIDS orphanshave come under our support. In addition, sandwiches, fresh fruit and vegetables are provided on a weekly basis to needy families in the larger Durban area. Approximately 6000 indigent people are daily beneficiaries of this programme.
For more information on the Nutrition Programme please click
here.
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The Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa
The Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa continues to provide specialist cover to seven State Hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal. During the period October - November 2007, 232 problem patients were seen and 13 operations (including 3 hip-replacements) were performed at these Hospitals. In addition regular medical camps were conducted where 258 patients (including 25 paediatric) were attended to.
For more information on the Clinic please click here.
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Ramakrishna - Abalindi Home (Inanda)
In October 2007 the Centre commenced building the above Home. This facility comprises two large Blocks that will have wards for terminally-ill patients: 15 for women, 15 for men and 10 for children. There are also rooms for the mothers of terminally-ill infants. In addition to this there are nurses rooms, stock rooms, ablution facilities, water storage facilities, etc. The Project, costing over R2 million, is nearing completion and will be opened and handed over to the local community in the new year. This Project will fulfill an urgent need to house the AIDS patients of the larger Inanda area.
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Certificate Course in Bhagavad Gita Studies
The Centre will be launching the above distance and supported learning course in March 2008. This course, which is designed to further enhance the understanding of the basics of the Hindu Religion, will be offered to those students who have successfully completed the Certificate in Hindu Studies, which was launched in 2007. This course will be of a one-year duration with a three hour examination in each of the two semesters.
His Holiness Sri Swami Chetanananda
His Holiness Sri Swami Chetanananda (Head, Vedanta Society of St. Louis, USA) was a guest of the
Centre from 3 - 10 September 2007. Revered Swamiji has many publications to his credit, most notably,
Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play, They Lived with God and God Lived with Them. These books have
been studied for years by the devotees in South Africa. Swamiji delivered the following lectures:
- Monday, 3 September - How to cultivate devotion to God
- Tuesday, 4 September - Two addresses in commemoration of Krishna Ashtami
- Thursday, 6 September - Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi
- Sunday, 9 September - The Human Aspect of Sri Ramakrishna
Though revered Swamiji's visit was short it brought great fulfillment to the large number of
devotees that met him.
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His Holiness Srimat Sundaramurthi Thambiran Swamigal
His Holiness Srimat Sundaramurthi Thambiran Swamigal was a guest of the Centre from Tuesday 18 -
Wednesday 19 September 2007. Revered Swamigal is the Education Secretary of the Kasi Matam (a
Saivite Monastery in South India). Swamigal was accompanied by Othuvaar Dandapani Samy Ayya, a
graduate of the Annamalai University Music College. During the prayer service held on Tuesday 18
September 2007 (6.30 - 7.30 p.m.), Swamigal addressed the congregation and Othuvaar Dandapani
rendered Thevaram songs in the traditional style.
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National Youth Day
National Youth Day, 16 June 2007, was observed by the Centre with a half-day youth programme. The
opening session consisted the singing of bhajans, chanting, reading from Swami Vivekananda's Complete
Works and silent meditation. After breakfast, there was a youth debate on "Individual interests
supercede societies' development". Swami Vimokshananda then addressed the youth. This was followed by
a devotional concert by Sri Manesh Ramjathan (santoor) and Sri Denver Naidoo (tabla). The programme
concluded with the singing of the South African National Anthem and Peace Chants. Over 350 youth
participated in the days programme.
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The 53rd Annual Southern KwaZulu-Natal Children's Cultural Festival
The 53rd Annual Southern KwaZulu-Natal Children's Cultural Festival was held on Sunday 15 July 2007
at the Pesco Hall, Phoenix. Children from the following Branches participated in the cultural items:
Chatsworth, Durban Central, Etete, Phoenix, Pietermaritzburg, Redhill, Sydenham, Tongaat and Verulam,
as well as the Richards Bay Satsang Group and the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram. The children and youth
presented talks, devotional songs, scriptural chanting, sketches and traditional dances. The Keynote
Address was delivered by Swami Vimokshananda. Over 1200 devotees and well-wishers attended the
function.
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The 82nd Birth Anniversary of Swami Nischalananda
The 82nd Birth Anniversary of Swami Nischalananda, founder of the Centre, was commemorated on
Saturday 21 July 2007 (4.00 - 5.30 p.m.) at the Centre. The programme comprised devotional songs.
The Keynote Address on "The Early History of the Ramakrishna Centre of SA (1942 - 1965)" was
delivered by Swami Saradananda.
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Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima was observed on Sunday 29 July 2007 at the Centre. The day began with silent meditation,
chanting and puja. Satsang was held from 9.00 - 10.30 a.m., during which devotional songs were
rendered. Swami Vimokshananda then addressed the congregation on the significance of the Guru. The
second part of the programme comprised a devotional concert (11.15 a.m. - 12.15 p.m.) by Isai
Selvamani V Karthiegasen Pillay (vocalist) and troupe. Over 700 devotees attended the programme in
Durban.
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Vedanta Retreats
Two half-day Vedanta Retreats were held on Sundays 19 and 26 August 2007 at the Centre's Dundee and
Lenasia Branches respectively. The programme for these functions commenced with prayer, scripture
reading, chanting and devotional singing. Swami Vimokshananda then delivered a discourse on "Spiritual
Life for the Householders". A seminar on "Great Instruments of God's Work", was then presented by
youth members. This was followed by a guided meditation session. Questions were then answered by Swami
Vimokshananda. The programme then concluded with peace chants. Both retreats were well attended.
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Ramakrishna Abalindi Home (Inanda)
The foundation laying ceremony of this Home was held on Wednesday, 29 August 2007. Swami
Vimokshananda, together with Pastor BA Sibisi (Chairperson of the Abalindi Welfare Society)
inaugurated the project. The first phase of this Home comprises a 15 bed female ward and a 15
bed male ward for terminally-ill patients, ablution facilities, nurses stations and storerooms.
The second phase comprises a 10 bed children's ward, mothers' quarters and restroom for caregivers.
This 40 bed facility will serve an immediate and useful need in the Inanda area.
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The Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa
The Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa continues to provide specialist cover to seven State Hospitals
in KwaZulu-Natal. During the period June to August 2007, a total of 436 problem patients were seen and
22 operations performed at these Hospitals. On Wednesday 15 August 2007, the Clinic hosted
approximately 100 delegates of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa's National
Conference. On Saturday 25 August 2007, Prof B Singh delivered a powerpoint presentation on
"Constipation - Prevention and Treatment" at the Centre. Regular medical clinics were also conducted
at the Chatsworth and Pietermaritzburg ashrams and outlying areas where a total of 618 patients were
seen. All services of the Clinic are rendered on a voluntary basis.
For more information on the Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa please click
here.
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Nutrition Programme
The Centre continues to provide food aid to approximately 6000 indigent people on a daily basis.
For more information on the Nutrition Programme please click
here.
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Ramakrishna Community Veterinary Clinic
A half-day camp was held on Sunday, 16 September 2007, at Welbedacht, Chatsworth. A total of 136
animals were treated.
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To the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa's Website
Vice President Maharaj's Visit
