Ramachandra received mantra-diksha from Swami Yatiswaranandaji and joined the Order at Bangalore Math in 1960. Swami Vireswaranandaji gave him sannyasa-diksha in 1969. After serving in the Bangalore Ashrama for around 33 years, he served as head of Ponnampet and Belgaum Ashramas. He built up the Belgaum centre and its temple. He was an acclaimed singer, speaker, and writer and he inspired many young men and women to tread the path of renunciation. He attained mahasamadhi on 25 Feb 2005.
Lessons from Swami Purushottamananda
Better luck next time
When we do something wrong, the world immediately reacts with criticism. When I was in the Balaka Sangha, we used to play volleyball in the Bangalore Ashrama. If any one erred while serving, immediately the others would react negatively. Then Swami Purushottamanandaji would say, “You should rather encourage him saying ‘Better luck next time’, so that he can improve his game. There is no use in scolding for mistakes.” This idea of saying ‘Better luck next time’ helped me in my later years. It is such a wonderful ‘mantra’, and it gives many people hope and strength.
— Swami Bhaktikamananda
Be a humble representative
We were collecting funds for the new ashrama under construction in Belagavi, Karnataka. Swami Purushottamanandaji was the head of the centre. I had voluntarily taken a receipt book from the ashrama and was submitting accounts every weekend. Since I was a little aggressive in trying to convince donors to contribute, one doctor had called and told Purushottamanandaji that he was not happy with my approach for fund collection. After some days when I met Maharaj, he asked me how the fund collection was going on and if I was happy doing it. Then he said, “While collecting funds, I want you to keep in mind some points, which I forgot to tell earlier. These are:
- You are going as a representative of Ramakrishna Mission, not as an individual.
- A person who donates Rs. 10,000/- and one who donates just Rs. 100/- — both should be acknowledged with the same sense of gratitude.
- Don’t have any targets for collections. What matters to me is your efforts and approach; not how much you collect.
- People serve Sri Ramakrishna according to their capacity and attitude; and above all it is Sri Ramakrishna’s Will whether he will accept their contribution or not.
— Sri Ramesh B Umarani
Sri Ramakrishna’s Will
A man aged around 60 had lost all his family members and was working for one of my friends. When this man died from some disease, my friend called me over to his place and handed over the dead man’s purse to me. Surprised, I asked him why he was giving it to me. My friend replied that he saw the photograph of Sri Ramakrishna in the purse and knowing my connection with the ashrama thought it fit to give it to me; he had not even bothered to see all the contents of the purse. I straightaway took the purse to Purushottamananda Maharaj and told him the whole story. Maharaj, asked me to offer it to Sri Ramakrishna in the Shrine and then bring it back. He then told me to see the contents. I found a decent amount of money in it. Maharaj told me to take it into the Temple Construction Fund and prepare a receipt in the name of ‘A Devotee’. Then Maharaj wanted to know if I had ever approached this dead man for donation. When I replied “No”, Maharaj remarked, “The other day I told you we don’t know from whom Sri Ramakrishna will take his service. Now do you understand.”
I realised that in serving the Lord, we need to be just instruments, because Sri Ramakrishna knows how to get his work accomplished. From then onwards all my efforts have been to just become a suitable instrument in the hands of the Holy Trio for their mission.
— Sri Ramesh B Umarani
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