Tokyo Commemorates Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda

Once a yearﾐfor 11 consecutive years, guests, well-wishers, friends and members of the Vedanta Society of Japan (Nippon Vedanta Kyokai) transform the public hall/theatre (Toshima Kohkaido) in Tokyo's Toshima Ward into a veritable shrine of religious tolerance, acceptance and universal wisdom in a public celebration of the birth of that greatest of the world's modern-day prophets, Swami Vivekananda.

Each June is the main venue by which the Society offers Swamiji's universal message to the Japanese public. No fees are charged and no collection plate is ever passed. The event is mainly funded by advertising space in a special brochure published for the occasion and other donations.

A broad discussion of Swamiji's unique and thought-provoking teachings for understanding the practical value of faith and in undertaking the pursuit of spiritual life are highlighted and explored by a panel of scholarly speakers from many faiths and points of view. This year the Celebration Committee decided to introduce another of the Ramakrishna Mission's Holy Trinity and dedicate the symposium talks to Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother, this being Her 150th birth anniversary.

The Transformation

Although the event was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., volunteers began arriving early. There were flowers to be trimmed, sorted and arranged; extensive sound and video equipment to be unloaded and all the necessary wires to be strung and connected and exhaustively tested for proper settings; there were boxes of Japanese- and English-language books, CDs, cassette tapes, photographs and incense to be unpacked and arranged for sale in the foyer; the stage was arranged for the panelists, the musicians, the event-title banner, a podium, a new, larger-than-life, full-colour, framed picture of Swami Vivekananda standing poised and confident and, for this year, an immense framed image of Sri Sarada Devi, in the popular sitting pose found in most shrines, in stunningly contrasting black and white. The lighting, too, had to be aimed and adjusted, with levels fine-tuned for both stage effect and the panelists' comfort, as well as visibility for an audience sitting in a dimmed theatre.

In addition to all this activity, downstairs (in what could be called the back stage dressing rooms were it not for the fact that these rooms are actually under the stage) musicians and singers are tuning and rehearsing. Excited chatter and brief outbursts of laughter emanated from back-stage-right and out through the halls, as still other volunteers were putting the final preparations to a tasty lunch of curries and soups enjoyed by all the volunteers.

At 2 o'clock sharp Swami Medhasananda, joined by two devotees, established a somber and reflective mood by chanting vedic prayer verses. Swami then delivered a brief welcome address, introduced the panelists and gave a brief introduction about the Holy Mother. Speakers Ms. Yasuko Yamada and His Excellency Sri Manilal Tripathi, Ambassador of India, offered bouquets at the feet of the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda respectively.

Ambassador on Vivekananda

The ambassador then delivered a talk on Swami Vivekananda focusing "on his views on the universality of all religions and his call for amity, understanding and harmony among all segments of the human race and all members of the extended family of man." The ambassador went on to quote the words of praise and admiration for Vivekananda and his legacy from such luminaries as Rabindra Nath Tagore and former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Later, in quoting Swamiji's own words on acceptance, he said, "Swami Vivekananda upheld the validity of all religions and their right to independent existence. In talking on the universality of religions, he said, 'Our watchword should be acceptance and not exclusion. Not only toleration, but acceptance. I believe in acceptance. I accept all religions and I worship God in whatever form they worship Him. I salute all the  prophets of the past, all the great ones of the present and all that are to come in the future.'"

"Swami Vivekananda's constant effort was to draw attention to the unifying, harmonizing virtue in the religious thought of all the great persuasions," he continued. "The importance of service, for example, is emphasized by the tenets and scriptures of all religions. There is a dictum in Hindu scriptures which, translated into English reads as follows: 'Amidst all the Puranas and scriptures, know the statement of the sage Vyas to be true that doing good to others conduces to merit, and doing harm to them leads to sin.' This compares to the Christian injunction: 'Know thou, that in the service of thy fellowmen, do thou serveth me,' and the same idea is contained in the Islamic saying: 'Not mere professing of the faith, but good works and service to fellowmen is true prayer.'"

"Friends," said the ambassador in closing, "the concept of the whole human race being one familyﾐVsudhaiva Kutumbakumﾐ is India's unique contribution to the common heritage of mankind. References to the entire human race belonging to a single family can be found repeatedly in our scriptures dating back many thousands of years. We have been fortunate that an unending chain of exceptionally gifted men and women have be born on our soil to reaffirm this spirit of universal brotherhood, this ethos of oneness of mankindﾐnot merely global friendship, but of a family-ship of an entire mankind. Swami Vivekananda was an outstanding embodiment of this spirit and among the most eloquent advocates of this ethos."

Holy Mother Symposium

At the end of the Ambassador's address, he officially presented the release of a special issue of the Society's monthly organ, The Universal Gospel, dedicated to the Holy Mother, and a new CD of guided meditations in Japanese, which sold well at the in the foyer (see ad on page ). The swami then led a short guided meditation in both English and Japanese creating a peaceful atmosphere. Then the emcee, Ms. Kuniko Hirano, then introduced the moderator for the symposium, Dr. Tsuyoshi Nara, Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Dr. Nara also served as translator from both English to Japanese and Japanese to English for the speakers.The symposium was entitled, The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's Life and Teachings.

Ms. Yasuko Yamada, Executive Director of the Padma Yoga Ashram, was the first of three speakers. Ms. Yamada presented a personal approach to the topic in an address she titled, "Holy Mother and Me". She gave a brief description of a visit to the Holy Mother's "very beautiful" birthplace in Jayambati and personal reflections on a young Sarada's family and upbringing and village life there. Ms. Yama then went on to note some of Holy Mother's teachings by which she tries to live each day. "She was the embodiment of universal motherhood, and is worshipped as the Living Mother today." she said. "Five days prior to Her passing, She addressed a devotee, 'Why are you sad? You have seen Sri Ramakrishna. You must regard everyone as your own. Do not forget, I'll always be with you.' " Ms. Yamada concluded, "When I direct my attention to the picture of Holy Mother, it's as if Her smile says, 'Return,' and in relating this story to you now, my mind is already in Jayambati."

The next speaker, Ms. Ajanta Gupta, a news reader with Radio Japan, began by confessing that an in-depth discussion on the wonder of Sri Sarada Devi was beyond her capacity and that she would rather focus her comments on her own perceptions of universal motherhood. She went on to discuss the Mother's family, birth, and unique marriage to Sri Ramakrishna, completely devoid of any carnal manifestation. After rhetorically asking what the differences were between an ordinary mother and the Holy Mother, Ms. Gupta cited many examples of Mother's impartial compassion, unquestioning love and caring propensity for imparting moral learning to all; the pious, the fallen, Indian and foreigner alike. She also recited a story wherein Sri Ramakrishna rebuked the Mother for allowing another to bring His evening meals and asked Her to promise it wouldn't happen again. In response Sarada Devi told the Master that as Mother She could not make such a promise saying, "You are not my Master alone, You are for all!"

Professor Kathy Matsui of Seisen University took yet a different approach in her presentation, saying that in her opinion the Holy Mother was, in fact, the ideal role model and first practitioner of the UNESCO vision of womanhood in a free-world peace culture. Given all the various social roles for women in the modern world, Prof. Matsui pointed out that Sri Sarada Devi was both a housewife and a working woman of the highest order. As a wife She cooking and serving Her husband and His disciples as Her own, showering unconditional love on one and all. As a working woman She carried on Her husband's mission not as a duty, but with all love and happiness. "The Holy Mother," she concluded, "was a forerunner of the global citizen. She made no distinctions of caste or creed, Indian or foreigner, and her compassion included all beings, human or animal. She rejected all artificial barriers. Love oneself and love others without any expectations; with this message the Holy Mother transcends all group-centered limitations and represents the highest ideal of a global role model."

In Closing

Professor Nara then made a few closing remarks and gave his impressions of the three different approaches in the panel's talks in both Japanese and English, followed by a brief Q&A session. The Celebration Committee Secretary, Mr. A. P.S. Mani, gave his thanks for everyone's participation in a short address.

Then the audience was treated to devotional songs in Japanese composed and arranged by Kaori Izumida (Shanti) and performed by her and group of six lady-devotees, all dressed in Japanese summer kimonos. This was followed by an Indian presentation of songs by a seven-member group, featuring Mr. Samudra Gupta on keyboard and Mr. Masanori Hisamoto on tabla. In this case, the ladies all wore the finest saris. After these performances tea and snacks were served, followed by a slide presentation entitled, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, bringing this year's programme to a close at a little past 5 p.m.

Shortly afterward, the work of returning the Toshima Kohkaido to it's former state began in earnest. Just a busily; the wires that went up, came down; the books and the rest were repacked; flowers and bouquets were free for one and all to take home. By 7:30 Swami Medhasananda and some 20-plus remaining volunteers and friends were making their way to the other side of Ikebukuro Station, where a dinning room had been reserved. There they enjoyed each other's company; were treated to dinner by a certain visitor from the Philippines; and gave thanks for a successful celebration and a day well spent.  ･