Namaste. I had the pleasure of listening to the lectures of Swami Sarvalokananda, head of the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, India at several venues across the country. A guest of Swami Brahmaswaroopanada, Spiritual Head of the Brahma Vidya Peetham Ashram International of Caratal Tortuga Road, Gasparillo, Swami Sarvalokananda became a monk in 1973. During his long years he has visited countries across the globe including Europe, North America, Russia and Turkeye. His visit to this part of the world is a first for him.
Arriving in Trinidad Swami Sarvalokananda has delivered lectures at several venues: Yoga Vidya Ashram at Garth Road, Williamsville; Chinmaya Ashram, McBean; Raja Yoga Center, San Fernando; Krishna Mandir, San Fernando and the Durga Devi Ashram, Charlieville. The final lecture will be delivered at the Brahma Vidya Ashram in Caratal on Tuesday 17th December, 2024 before leaving for India on the following day.
Swami Sarvalokananda, Swami Brahmaswarupandanda and Swami Ananda were special guests at 9th Ayurvedic Day sponsored by the Mahatma Gandhi Institute where the Honorable Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport, was the chief guest. Swami Sarvalokananda and Swami Brahmaswarupananda brought greetings to the occasion.
The three swamis also visited Guyana and held talks with the Vice President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo. Also welcoming the visiting Swamis was Swami Aksharananda, Principal of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan of Guyana where Swami Sarvalokananda addressed the students. The Swamis also visited the Indian High Commission of Georgetown, Guyana.
Swami Sarvalokananda’s central message is that the purpose on earth is to discover our spiritual consciousness. He also emphasized the need for regular devotion at a special time and place and the need for discipline and stressed the need for moderation in all our actions- eat, sleep, work, exercise and that too little or too much would cause us harm.
The Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 with the motto Atmano Mokshartham Jagasshitaya Cha which means “for one’s own liberation and for the welfare of the world.” The Mission is steeply engaged in service to the poor and the teaching of self-realization as the highest goal. It runs several schools, hospitals, publishing houses and hostels across India.
Ramakrishna was a Bengali saint who had direct experience with divine consciousness. His realization brought several youths to him and chief among them was Swami Vivekananda who later visited the Parliament of World Religion in Chicago in 1899 and won the hearts of the Americans. Swami Vivekananda on returning to India was given a hero’s welcome and his subsequent lectures awakened in the people pride in the greatness of India and its spiritual heritage. Most historians have agreed that it was the electrifying speeches of Swamiji that inspired and laid the foundation for the subsequent independence movement.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the Vedanta Society at King Street, Princes Town has been promoting the teachings of the Ramakrishna Mission. Led by Sonah Seepersad, the Vedanta Society has invited Swamis to Trinidad where they have delivered lectures on the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. A major activity of the Vedanta Society was the distribution of copies of the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda to school libraries across the countries.
Sonah Seepersad was present at the lecture held at the Yoga Vidya Peetham and took the opportunity to recite a poem composed by Swami Vivekananda.
