vedanta sandesh - oct 2011

8/4/2019 Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2011

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Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission

Year 17 Issue 4


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In This Issue

1. Vedanta Section: Atma Bodha - Shloka-35

2. Letter Section: Why God gives us Free-Will

3. Festival Related: Diwali

4. Story Section: Bhasmasura

5. VM Programs: Mission / Ashram Progs


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From Poojya Guruji

Vedanta SandeshSpreading Love & Light

Monthly eMagazine of theInternational Vedanta Mission

Sharing the message of Vedanta and Sanatan Dharma

Oct 2011

On the Net since 1995

Started by:

oojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji

Editor:

Swamini Samatananda

Published from:

Vedanta AshramE/2948-50, Sudama Nagar

Indore-452 009, India

Web:

www.vmission.org.in

Email:

[email protected]

Hari om!

Kathopanishad (6th Valli) reveals an example of a Tree to symbolize our transmigsamsaric existence. So beautiful is this example of a tree that even Gitacharya

this example from its motherly Upanishad to reveal the symbolism. It is worthy ofcontemplation. Samsar is a technical word, which means a life of endless see

Everyone is seeking something, in fact seeking it desperately and strangely, endThe whole life ends yet most of the time the seeking continues till the very end

able to seek what we seem to want inevitably brings grief, tears & heartbreaks;others are temporarily elated for having achieved some of their dreams. Even who seem to have achieved something, are not really free, but now have to pu

energies to hold on or hang on to all what they have aggrandized. The truth of thcalled achievements is revealed the moment something happens to all that whic

were holding on. It will obviously be the same old chapter of grief, tears & heartbAsk the people who had to leave their homes, lands & property whenever the

things like war or even partitions of country. So in spite of any worldly achievemour deep-rooted lack and the subsequent seeking doesnt seem to end.achievement is never in generating wealth, power, name or fame etc., and then ho

on to all that, it has to be to awake to the state wherein there is freedom from the rooted lack, and thus the very necessity of having to hold-on to anything whatso

That alone is true freedom & wisdom. Everyone basically wants that kind of freebut not knowing what they want and how they have to go about, they get entang

a web of their own making. This is the secret of the tree of samsar. Tree of Sama graphic presentation of the life of endless seeking. How our ignorance ansubsequent misplaced priorities get us entangled. Branch after branch the life

getting complicated. That is the secret and objective of the Tree of Samsar as revin the Upanishads & Gita.

In this example of the Tree, the Upanishad says that broadly speaking there ar

parts of this tree. One visible and the other invisible. The visible part is the stem upportion, comprising of branches, leaves, flowers, seeds & fruits; while the invisibis its roots. The tree is an example of blessings, it blesses the humans, birds, an

or the environs by its very existence and its various products. While this visible pthe tree is beautiful and also of great utility, yet that because of which the tree can

is that which is not directly visible to our eyes, the roots. Deeper the roots, more sthe tree. Tree gets all its nourishment from its roots. Roots alone helps it to sta

storms or even the scorching heat etc. So also there is a visible part of our exis- our work, relationships, acquisitions, enjoyments, etc. There is this beautiful

outside with all its attractions; and there is another aspect of - our Self, the bconscious existence. Then there is the play of our mind & intellect. This invisible ais indeed comparable to the roots. This alone makes our existence possible, it

sustains us. This is the real thing. Anyone who focuses only on the visible part conto seek endlessly, while one who delves deep into the roots. To turn towards bra

etc is extrovertedness, while to put our energy to understand the roots is introvertedThe Upanishad clearly calls the roots Brahman, the timeless truth and the visibl

comparable to Maya, which is no doubt blessed, but all illusory.

Love & om,

Swami Atmananda


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Vedanta Section

Atma Bodha - Shloka 35

Ahamakashvatsarvam:

Like ether I pervade everything. Space is that

which gives sustainance to all. It is space that al-

lows everything to rest in it. It sustains everything

and also pervades everything. Although shruti uses

the words that space is inside & outside yet fromthe point of view of space there is no discrimination

of inside or outside. It is from from the point of view

of adjuncts that space is known as inside - outside

or the space of the pot, space of the room etc. but

truly space is one. Likewise I am also all

pervading.There are no differences of inside & out-

side in Brahman. It is only due to the ignorance of

the non-dual and all pervading self that duality gains

a sense of reality.

danta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Affirmation of Atma as Brahman

Bahirantargatochutah:

The Atman is the one that does not falter from

very nature. Just as heat can never falter from

very nature of being hot so too the Atman nev

falters fom its essential nature of ever existenc

consciousness and bliss. The real self does not finto the likes of samsara. It is the Jiva who out

ignorance comes to see himself as a limited being

a seeker always on the look out for bliss from th

outside world thus falling lower and lower in th

sense of individuality. Therefore changes, bir

&death, happiness and sorrow, being small or b

all these are the attributes of the Jiva, the individua

The Atman is unfaltering in nature.

In the previous sloka the Acharya gave some pointers for nididhyasanam that I am without atributes and actions, without any desire and thought, without any dirt, without any change, without formever-liberated and ever-pure.

After Sravanam and Mananam, the Nidhidhyasanam process ensures our total identification wiour real Self, the Atma (or, the Brahman) and its innate, intrinsic Nature. This process is taken up not asome one who is trying to look at Atma and its nature as an outsider, but as one who is himself the Atm(or, Brahm. These pointers for nididhyasanam are propounded to bring about the brahmakar vritti. ThMeditation is, on the Meditator himself.

In the following sloka too the Acharya continues to give us some more pointers for contemplatio

Ahamakashvatsarvam bahirantargatochutahSada sarvasamashuddho nisango nirmalochalah

Aham: I; akashvat: like the sky; sarvam: all; bahirantargato: pervading inside & outside; achutah:unfaltering; Sada: always; sarvasamah: even-balanced everywhere; shuddho: pure; nissango:unattached; nirmalo: pure; achalah: steady.

Like ether I pervade everything inside and outside. I am unfaltering, always harmoniouseverywhere, eternal, unattached, pure and steady.

35


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Sada sarvasamashuddho:

I am Sadaa Sarva Samaha: I pervade one

and all in the same manner. I exist everywhere and

equally in all (Sarva), and at all times (Sadaa). All

the embodiments may have differences based on

their attributes and actions, but I envelope every-

one in the same manner. I have no differences based

on any mundane distinctions like caste, religion,

sex, status and so on. I am like the sunshine whichpervades one and all in the same manner be it the

water in the Ganges or the water of the drainage.

Shuddho:

Like the sky I am ever pure by nature. No

matter how much pollution is there around but the

sky is totally untouched by any impurities. I am even

free of the impurity of ignorance and the samsara

born of ignorance. Any kind of impurities in the per-

sonality are at the level of the mind and it is themind alone which is purified as a preparation for

this knowledge. The Atman is untouched by any

such impurities.

Nissango Nirmalochalah:

Nissango:

I am not related to, not connected to, and

not attached to any one or any thing in the creation.

I adorn different roles as father, son, husband,

daughter, officer etc, but these are my dresses ac-cording o my relationships and my field of work. All

my roles are relative in nature and change with

changing situations and time. In front of my child I

am a father an in front of my wife I am a husband.

These roles change with people and situations. They

are limited in time and pace. But essentially I am

like that lamp which lights up the stage in and

through all situations and people as each one per-

forms their role, and comes and goes. The Atman

enlivens all activities and is present as a silent wit-

ness to all activities and even after the show is over.

The Atman does not get affected by the highs and

lows of the drama.

Nirmalah:

I am nirmalah i.e. I am free of any impuritie

the mind born out of ignorance. Although we see

no of Impurities in our minds, these impurities are

the basic nature of the Self, they are conditiona

nature, they exist due to some relative conditionin

that bring about such impurities like personal liand dislikes, self-centredness, anger, etc. Impurit

are negative impressions on the mind. Even thou

such impurities are experienced these impurities

due to some factors and limitations of the mind, &

the environment etc. But basically I am pure and

contaminated. Hence there is a possibility of aw

ening in the pure nature of the self. The impurities

the mind are eradicated by purification of the m

through selfless service, devotion and satsang.

Achalah:

Nothing has the pottential to shake me fr

my basic nature of sat chit and ananda.

relationshipn no experience can shake me and ig

rance too cannot bind me. Everything in the obj

tive world comes and goes. People around me

born and they also die. They undergo the travails

Samsaara. The body is undergoing all changes

old age, diseases and so on. But I the basic self

main unshaken and unmoved.. Even the most d

cult situations cannot shake me.

In this manner I am all pervading like the spa

pure, detached, immaculate, and steady. The sc

tures go one step ahead in the example of the sky

say that the space too is inert and a play of ma

The existence of space also depends on me. Whe

am in deep sleep state space does not exist.

By contemplation on these pointers one sho

negate all that which is the Non-Self and awaken i

the Real nature of the Self thereby being liberated

all sense of limitation and duality and culminate

the vision of one non-dual existence.

Sanyas Deeksha Day of Poojya Guruji - 10th Oct

Pujya Guruji Sri Swami Atmananda Saraswatiji was given Sanyas on 10th of Oct 1988at Sidhbari by Param Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji.

Special Programs will be organized on that day at the Vedanta Ashram, Indore.


6/16Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2011

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert.During some point of the journey they had an argument, and onefriend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slappedwas hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAYMY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decidedto take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in themire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After thefriend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:"TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him,"After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on astone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we shouldwrite it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase itaway. But, when someone does something good for us, we mustengrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND,

AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE

Sand and Stone


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Hari Om.

Hope all is well with you.

Thanks for your mail. We had been busy with a Janmashtami and ta 15 days camp at the Ashram wherein we took up a course on TaBodha. Devotees had come from Lucknow for this course. Along wthe study on Tattva Bodha there were also sessions on meditatbhajans and Q&A.

1. The answer to your first qtn i.e. Why does God give us free will?

- God gives us a free will to enable & empower us to properly realizawake to 'God' - the ultimate & timeless truth, and then live a godly Not knowing this we have mis-used our free-will for various superfworldly matters, and with our mis-placed perceptions & prioritieshave got entangled in a web - of our own making. So as of today free-will is to be used to first, help us untangle ourselves from the misof our own free-will, and then awake to the real truth.

2- In the beginning was God and it is said that 'I seperated myself f

myself in order to love myself'...and so mankind was created but wdid that happen ie could God not simply be and love Himself?

- The quote referred by you is simply a proposition by someone, annot a valid scriptural statement. Always take the words of scripturesthe valid means of the knowledge of truth, because they are the woof God himself. The state of Godhood is revealed by Upanishads anon-dual, unfragmented state of 'self-effulgent & blissful be-ing' itswherein God or any awakened ones just revel in their infinite, n

dual, all-pervasive & blissful 'being'. The perceived fragmentatioillusory and more dream-like. The perceived 'separation' exists as las you dont go into the truth of 'I'.

Blessings & Best Wishes

Swamiji

Knowledge is all

about being aware

of the truth of what

is, while Yoga and

Bhakti aim to

change the mind for

the better, so

technically they fall

in the category of

karma, working to

change something.

For knowledge even

a sankalpa to

change anything isan impediment,

because then our

priorities change

from knowing what

is to working for

what should be.

- Poojya Guruji

Why God gives Free-Will?Letter of theMonth

Our free-will iso be used to first,

elp us untangle

ourselves from the

misuse of our own

ree-will, and then

awake to the real

ruth.

- Poojya Guruji


8/16danta Sandesh - April 2009 Pa

D

eepawali

anta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Traditionally Dipawali or Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a part of a Five D

Festival Package. Each of these five days is celebrated for a specific purpose, and

specific way. This starts two days before Diwali and continue till two days after Diw

As per the Hindu Calendar this is from the teras of Kartika Krishna Paksha, and contintill the Dwitiya of Kartika Shukla Paksha. The thirteenth day of the month of Kartika i

Krishna Paksha is today famous as Dhan Teras. Today this Teras is mostly known

buying new utensils, ornaments or some new equipment etc. but this day had lot

different significances.

The thirteenth day (in Krishna Paksha) of the month of Kartika, had a spe

significance right from Vedic times. In that era, this day was celebrated as the day w

our Pitras (forefathers), who come to visit their progeny in this Loka during Maha

(Sraadha time), are taken back to their Pitra Loka by Lord Yama, who is also the kin

Pitra Loka. As a respect for Lord Yama, a lamp is lit and kept in front of our houses

this day. On this day Sage Dhanvantari manifested and gave the humanity the wisd

of Ayurveda. Thus this day is also celebrated as the Dhanvantari Jayanti.

The fourteenth day (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Kartika is today be

known as Narak-Chaudas or even Rupa Chaudas.

1.On this day too there was tradition of the worship of Lord Yama, and farewell rit

for our forefathers.On this day too a lamp is lit and kept in front of our door for L

Yama.2.It is also said that on this day, early in the morning, Goddess Laxmi comes and res

in oil, and Gangaji comes and resides in water. So one should get up early in the mor

and have a good oil massage, and then have a royal hot water bath. Whoever does

is blessed with the grace of Laxmiji and Gangaji by financial prosperity and g

knowledge.

3.On this day Lord Krishna killed a great terrorist of his times, Narakasura, the Kin

Pragjyotish (Kamarupa). So this day is celebrated as the one which epitomisis the vic

of goodness over evil.

The Amavasya day of the month of Kartika is the Diwali or Deepavali day-

famous Festival of Lights.

1.As a continuity of the worship of Lord Yama and farewell ritual for ones forefath

this day was celebrated as the final day for the above purpose.

2.This day came to be known for a special Laxmi Puja. After the monsoon and the

crops the predominantly agrarian society celebrated this day for the grace of the Godd

of Wealth.


9/16 Pa

3.On this day alone Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya after the fourteen yea

Vanavasa. So the embodiment of Dharma, who had shown to the world so explicitly

the real strength was in living a righteous life (Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah), was welco

by the people of Ayodhya in a grand way. However strong the evil is, it will finall

defeated and righteousness shall prevail.

4.There is another important event associated with this day. The great Maharaja

who was a great & righteous king of his times, and for whom Lord Vishnu him

descended in the form of Vaman. When the young brahmachari asked for three steland from the king, and which he finally could not give, then Lord manifested in his

form and sent the king to Patala for three days. He was in fact made the King of Pa

for 3 days, and it was during this time that he went to Patala to become its King. S

people who revered that righteous king do Deepa Dana for these three days,

Chaudas to Pratipada.

Note : Please remember that we always revere Nature or Prakriti, as Lords manifesta

so there should always be necessary sensitivity to avoid bringing about pollution,

desist making the decoration of your house and exploding of crackers etc an exerci

one-up-manship. Dharma should never be used for egotrips. Such lack of vivekatake away all the beauty of any celebration, and will ultimately make these festiva

instrument to harm & spoil the nature. Let us always keep the nature clean & beau

and pass on a worthy world to our children.

On Pratipada & Dwitiya lamps are lit and festivities continue. On the last day

sisters pray for the well-being of their brothers.

Smile :)

A smile costs nothing, but gives much-It takes but a moment, but the memory of it usually lasts forever.

None are so rich that can get along without it-And none are so poor but that can be made rich by it.It enriches those who receive, without making poor those who give-

It creates sunshine in the home,

Fosters good will in business,And is the best antidote for trouble-And yet it cannot be begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is of no value.Unless it is given away.

Some people are too busy to give you a smile-Give them one of yours-For the good Lord knows that no one needs a smile so badlyAs he or she who has no more smiles left to give.


10/16anta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Whatever our hands touch...we leavefingerprints on.

On walls, on furniture, on door knobs,

dishes and books.

As we touch we leave our identity..

Oh please where ever I go today...

help me leave heart prints.

Heart prints of compassion,understanding and love.

Heart prints of kindness and genuineconcern.

May my heart touch a lonely neighbor...

or a runaway daughter...

or an anxious mother...

or perhaps a dear friend!

I shall go out today...

to leave heart prints...

and if some one should say...

"I felt your touch

Heart Prints


11/16 Padanta Sandesh - April 2009 P

Onceup

on

atime...

Stories bySages The Story of Bhasmasura

There is a very famous and suggestive story of a Asura (demon) caBhasmasura. He was very ambitious person, and wanted great powers, speciadestroy anyone he wanted - by hook or crook. He worked very hard for it

performed severe austerities, and appeased Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva became hto see his dedication and intensity of his wish, and asked him what he wishedHe requested for a boon wherein anyone will be turned to ashes (bhasma)

moment he kept his hand on their head. Even though Lord Shiva was surprisehear such a strange and negative wish, yet hoping that the devotee will useboon for some good cause, he granted the boon. The fellow was highly elategetting this fantastic power, and he started dreaming of conquering everyone

one could stand in his way now to rule the world, no matter who the opponent they could be destroyed in a second. He had already dreamt about the varconsequences of this boon so much that his joys knew no bounds, and in

elation he lost all sense of discrimination & sense. It was too good to be truhim, so a doubt too become obvious. He wondered whether Lord Shiva has rgranted him this boon. He wanted to test, and as no one else was aroundthought why now try the boon on Lord Shiva himself.

The deluded ungracious fool started walking towards Lord Shiva, whoindeed surprised. He knew the power of his boon, and he is now the one who ga boon at one moment and then takes it back the next moment. Anyway the fe

wanted to know whether the boon has really been given, so he turned and stawalking away, and to his surprise this Bhasmasura (named after the boon) stacoming after Lord Shiva with a sly smile of a conqueror. Lord started running analso ran after him. However, Lord Shiva ran very fast and went over to Lord Vis

and told him the whole story and asked for his help to handle this nuisance. Vishnu assured Shivji that he will sort out the matter. He will use the poweBhasmasura against him. Man alone can become his greatest enemy, and he a

can become his greatest friend too. Just as a huge elephant is tamed by the ilect of man, so also such thoughtless ferocious demons needed to be hanintelligently rather than by brute force.

Lord Vishnu took a form of a very beautiful angelic damsel and came the asura. He was taken back by this extraordinary beauty and got attracted toLord Vishnu as Mohini started seducing Bhasmasura, and as expected he fe

this beautiful damsel. Bhasmasura thought that today his luck is right on the

and he is getting the best things he can dream of. The running of Lord Shiva,confirmed to him that he had indeed been given the boon, so now there was scomplacency about the boon, specially when there was someone like Lord Vis

himself seducing him. So much so that he shortly proposed to her. Lord VishnMohini said that for her to accept his invitation, he will have to dance with Bhasmasura accepted and started dancing with the woman. While dancingwoman kept her hand over head, Bhasmasura - lost in the intoxication of extr

power and lust, in an attempt to copy her, kept his hand over his own head anhe himself got burned and that very moment turned to ashes. The boon dideven last a day.


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Ved

antaMissio

n/Ashram

Programs

anta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Sept11 VM / VA Programs

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VMNewsBloga

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Sept11 VM / VA Programs

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14/16danta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Whatever Gods dream about manmay be, it seems certain it cannot come

true unless man cooperates

Be a first rate version of yourself, nota second rate version of someone else

Having a dream is what keeps youalive. Overcoming the challenges make

life worth living.

The man who has nothing to boast of buthis illustrious ancestry is like the potato

-the best part under ground.

Wise Words


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Forthcoming Programs

Page # 15

Gita Gyana Yagna, Mumbai:Poojya Guruji visits Mumbai twice every year for conducting a Gyana Yagna. This year

also he plans to visit Mumbai from 19th to 25nd Dec. The subject matter of the discourseseries will be Gita Chapter 5, and the 1st Valli of the 2nd Chapter of Kathopanishad (Startingwith Paranchikhani mantra). The inauguration will be on the evening of 19th Dec and the

conclusion on 25th evening.

Discourses at Vedanta Ashram, Indore:Poojya Guruji Swami Atmanandaji is regularly giving discourses on the sixth & last

section of Kathopanishad. Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will start her discourses on the 1stValli of the 2nd Chapter of Kathopanishad for the Elder Citizen Group at the Ashram. From4th Oct,

Gita Jayanti Celebrations, Indore:This year the Gita Jayanti is on the 6th of Dec. Every year there are mega celebrations

of Gita Jayanti at Indore, in which the Mahatmas of Vedanta Ashram too participate actively.There will be talks at Agrasen Dham, Gita Bhavan and also program at Vedanta Ashram.

Sadhana Camp-1, Indore:A five days Sadhana Camp at Vedanta Ashram will be organized next year from 21st

to 25th Jan 2012. Delegates can arrive on 20th evening and leave on 26th. The subjectmatter of the discourses will be Drg-Dryshya Viveka and Gita Chapter 15.

Sadhana Camp-2, Indore:A Sadhana Camp prior to Mahashivratri will be organized at Vedanta Ashram, Indore

from 15th to 20th Feb 2012. The campers should arrive by 14th and leave after Mahashivratricelebrations on 21st Feb. The subject matter of the discourses will be Drg-Dryshya Vivekaand Gita Chapter 15.


16/16

Web Site of the International Vedanta Mission:

http://www.vmission.org.in/

International Vedanta Mission News Blog:http://vmissionews.blogspot.com/

This is a Net Publication of the

International Vedanta Mission

Om Tat Sat

Appeal for Funds: Project Lift at Vedanta Ashram

Old age is a bane. The age of our parents & grandparents. Restricted movement is inevitable. Thus in

places where all such people go for spiritual solace & knowledge, some basic amenities become a great

necessity. That is what we have been experiencing at Vedanta Ashram. Many of our disciples, devotees,

and visitors cannot avail the facilities on top floors, so it was decided by the Ashram authorities to install

an elevator at the earliest. The Project Lift was finally taken up after all the study & evaluations, and the

work was formally started during the Ganesh Parva - in Sept.

It has been decided to appeal to all the people who care for such matters to contribute their vee-bit to

make this project possible. Help in such matter is the least we can do for those who lovingly picked us up

in our childhood to help us climb to places where we could not. Ashram is a public place for all such

people, young or old. The project will cost around a minimum of Rs.15 lakhs (Around 30K USD). Weneed urgent help to complete such a public utility project run by a NGO. Please donate liberally, for all

such handicapped people, or maybe in the loving memory of your parents etc, for the benefit of all such

disabled people. Remember you also will become disabled & handicapped one day. The scriptures too

prompts us to do daan, charity - regularly & liberally. It is a sin just to live for oneself.

Vedanta Parmarthic Sewa Trust is a registered charitable Public Trust. Donations to Trust are exempt

under section 80-G of IT Act of India. Please contact us at the earliest. We have already jumped into the

project, with the belief that there will be enough people to get us through. You can donate by using your

credit / debit cards, paypal, cash, cheques or even online transfers directly in our Bank Account. Please

contact us with whatever you can & wish to donate for such a social & cultural cause. Just drop us a mail

and we will immediately revert back. Every drop counts.

Blessings & Best Wishes,

Swami Atmananda

Managing Trustee, Vedanta Parmarthic Sewa Trust (vmission-at-gmail.com)

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vedanta sandesh - oct 2011

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