Category Archives: PB Editorials

The Four Essential Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

— Swami Vireshananda — What is the essence of Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings? This question is difficult to answer. The Master did not write any book; nor did he give any lectures. Neither did he frame any definite rules and regulations to be followed. He expressed spiritual truths in simple language in his conversations with his […]

Swami Vivekananda—An Intuitive Psychologist

— Swami Vireshananda — Swami Vivekananda met William James, the father of modern American psychology, probably in 1894 and also in 1896. Mr James was already familiar with Eastern spirituality and hence, he was interested in what Swamiji had to offer to him. Swamiji made an ineffaceable impact on William James who later said: ‘That […]

Ramakrishna Mission in the 21st Century

— Swami Vireshananda — The inception of the Ramakrishna Mission is a momentous event in Indian history. The Mission brought about the national renaissance in India which ultimately culminated in political freedom. It also caused widespread social awareness and ini-­tiated a mass educational movement across the length and breadth of the country. It gave a […]

Death—Our Final Journey to the Unknown

— Swami Vireshananda — To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow. —William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act V, Sc. V. When we continue […]

The Universal Mother

— Swami Vireshananda — या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्ति-रूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥ To the Devi, who abides in all beings in the form of power, salutations to her, salutations to her again and again.1 Devi Mahatmyam or Chandi, the celebrated scripture on Divine Mother, ecstatically describes Her to be pervading every element […]

Culture, Civilisation, and Values

— Swami Vireshananda — The evolution of human society from primitive tribes to modern civilisation makes an interesting study. It is also the history of material and intellectual progress of human beings, if not spiritual. Civilisational history is a testimony to the extraordinary perseverance of humans in struggling against nature—enduring untold hardships, encountering dangers at […]

An Encyclopaedic Upanishad

— Swami Vireshananda — The main purpose of spiritual sādhana is to transcend physical understanding of reality and to raise our awareness to the realm of pure Consciousness. This is an extraordinary spiritual endeavour that takes us beyond the relative plane into a wonderful sphere of mystical revelations. It culminates in the discovery of non-difference […]