Thoughts on Yoga, Upanishad And Gita (Tirtharenu) (The Class-Lecturers of Swami Abhedananda)

From The Jacket

The book, Thoughts on Yoga, Upanishad And Gita, comprises the philosophical and religious discussions on Patanjala-Dar-Shana, Kathopanishad and Bhagavad Gita. The writings are the critical analysis of Indian philosophy and religion and will give us the divine glimpse of the Absolute As they came out from the mouth of a man of Realization, they will console us forever and ever. And bestow upon us the everlasting bliss and happiness.

Preface

Well has it been said by Swami Abhedananda, the Apostle of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and a Man of Realization: "He that hath seen the Son, hath also seen the Father. The latest manifestation of Divinity was in the form of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna. Him I have seen, therefore, I have seen God, and through him I have realized Christ, Buddha, Krishna, Ghaitanya and other great Prophets and Saviours." To these words of Swami Abhedananda, we also add: "Those who have seen the Apostles of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, have seen Sri Ramakrishna, the Incarnation of God, and through Him have realized the greatness of all the Prophets and Saviours." Really, it is a great privilege to see and to come in contact with divine presence of the Apostles of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, because Sri Ramakrishna himself said about his Apostles that they are the flocks of Homa birds (the birds, who never touch the dust of the delusive world): or 'they are the churned butter of the early morning'. However, in various ways, in different times, Sri Ramakrishna said about His Apostles, or His disciples of the inner circle (antaranga), and said that His chosen companions will come (incarnate) with Him in every age, to help Him in His sportive play or divine lila.

Swami Abhedananda was one of the Master's divine Apostles, who came with his Master to help him in various ways. The Apostles are the 'Men of Realization', and are absolutely free from the fetters of the delusive world, but they appear with their Master, as Bhagavan Sri Krishna said in the Gita: "Whenever there is decay of religion and an ascendary of irreligion, I manifest Myself" (IV. 7). The Saviours and their divine companions appear in human form in every age to set a living example before the world, with their practical Sadhana and siddhi, so as to help the aspiring spiritual seekers as well as ordinary men to march onward towards the path of their progress.

Swami Abhedananda was born in Ahiritola in Calcutta, on October 2, 1866. his father, late Rasick Lal Chandra, was a student of philosophy and a teacher of English in the Oriental Seminary in Calcutta, from 1838 to 1863. Swami Abhedananda's former name was Kali Prasad Chandra. Kali Prasad was educated first in a Sanskrit School, then in a Bengali Vernacular School, and afterwards in the Oriental Seminary, from which he successfully passed the Entrace Examination at the age of eighteen.

Kali Prasad was very studious. He studied Indian and Western philosophies under veteran professors. He eagerly studied Patanjali's Yogasutras, Astavakra-samhita, Siva-samhita, Satchakranirupana,, etc., not only to quench the thirst for theoretical knowledge, but also for learning the practical method of Raja Yoga. But he was told not to practise any of those methods, described in the Yoga-shastras without being properly guided by a competent Yogi Guru. His great anxiety was o find a practical Siddha-Guru was could guide him in his Yoga practice.

An opportunity came when he came to know about the great Ramakrishna Paramahansa who lived at Dakshineswar near Calcutta. So, one Sunday morning Kali Prasad marched to Dakshineswar by the side of the Ganges and reached at last the Temple Garden at Dakshineswar where he met the great Yogi, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, and requested him to teach Yoga Sadhana. Paramahansadeva gladly agreed and said: "Your were a great Yogi in your past incarnation. Come, my boy, I will teach you Yoga." Then Paramahansadeva initiated him and wrote a mantram on his tongue by saying.