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Ramakrishna Study Circle

Our elders, i.e. Senior Swamis, of our Order have always given great importance to the study of Kathamrita, i.e. the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Kathamrita is a complete scripture by itself and contains the essence of the Gita and Upanishads. Shri Kuvempu, one of the greatest ever literary figures of Karnataka, says “It is like a temple on one’s palm. The hand that holds it will be holding the very lotus feet of the Lord ……” We earnestly wish that more and more spiritual seekers read this scripture and get enlightened. In order to encourage this we wish to start Ramakrishna Study Circles throughout Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, etc.

Devotees in different areas can join together and form such study circles. Ideally, the number of members should be around 20. However, we are not prescribing any minimum or maximum limit. The following are the guidelines for the formation and nursing of Ramakrishna Study circles which wish to function under our guidance: -

1. Spiritual seekers residing fairly close to one another in an area and wishing to form a study circle may inform us through a letter to that effect.
A list of members with name, address and telephone numbers along with their signatures should be sent to us and the other copy retained with the study circle.

2. They have to name the study circle suitably indicating the area. For example, Ramakrishna Study Circle, Dwarka. Depending upon the size of the area and locality, there can be more than one study circle. For example, there may be several study circles in Noida, Gurgaon and Dwarka.

3. The members have to meet at a fixed time every week.

4. The meetings can be held at a common place or in the houses of the members by rotation

5.
The meetings should be of one hour duration and will consist of reading of Kathamrita (Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna) twice by a member for 15 minutes each (in English, Bengali or Hindi) to be followed by discussion by members after each reading.

6.
It is better not to introduce rituals like Arati or Prasad distribution. If the readings get extended beyond one hour, slowly the membership will drop.

7.
A record of the members attending the meetings should be maintained with their signatures.

8.
The members will elect a convenor from among themselves in the first year, who will hold office for one year. Every year there will be a new convenor.

9.
The convenor will maintain all the records of the study circle. He / she will also send a report to us every month, in the first week, furnishing the dates of the meetings hold in the previous month and the attendance in each. He / she will also forward to us the doubts etc. raised by the members for classification. The convenor, either alone or with others can also come to the Mission to discuss these and other matters relating to the study circle after ascertaining our availability;
Each study circle will hold an annual meeting every year in which it can invite one of our swamis who apart from giving a discourse will also discuss about the functioning of the study circle. Smaller study circles will combine together and organize a celebration.

10.
We shall keep track of the functioning of each study circle. We shall also assign an unique identification number for each study circle which should be quoted in all the correspondence with us.

Our future plans for the study circles include half-a-day, full day and even longer duration retreats for the members of the study circles both in the Mission premises as well as at other places well known for their calm and serene atmosphere, for the members of the study circles.

We earnestly pray that Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna awaken in the hearts of spiritual seekers deep shraddha and bhakti towards him.

Date : 25th Oct. 2007
Swami Shantatmananda
Secretary

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