Sadhana of Service

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These articles are talks given by Shri Eknath Ranade, which have as their theme and object, the man making and nation-building mission of Swami Vivekananda and were prepared and delivered to mould the life workers of Vivekananda Kendra, to be worthy vehicles and fit instruments for the fulfilment of this great mission. A treatise on the art and science of organization, It analyses the essentials and ideals of an organization, and outlines the characteristics and qualities of an ideal worker. These talks are his heritage to all social workers in every organization.

Regeneration of our Youth-force through the highly potent ideals of Tyaga and Seva and integration of our country enhancing the awareness among them of the spiritual uniqueness and wholeness of our nation, were themes dear to both Swami Vivekanand and Mananeeya Eknathji. “Sadhana of Service” embodies these in a remarkably practical way.

It is with a head bowed in humility and reverence that I am writing this foreword to late Ma. Eknathji’s collection of lectures brought together in this book entitled ‘Sadhana of Service.’ This foreword is only a small candle-light leading the way to a sunlit field.

To a society which no longer understands the beauty of Sadhana and has forgotten its habit of service this book comes as an eye-opener revealing the wonderful potentialities of the Sadhana of Service. Disciplined as Ma. Eknathji was in his life and to a way of service, his own life stands as a monumental illustration of the strength, nobility, vitality, dynamism, will-power and a host of other enriching qualities which naturally flow into such a life of dedication, integrity and surrender. It is with a heart filled with wonder, appreciation and prayerful thanks that this Nation would remember Ma. Eknathji’s great contributions to the stream of National life.

His association since childhood with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha, specially with its illustrious Founder Dr. Hedgewar and later with Param Poojaneeya Guruji Golwalkar laid the foundation for his own disciplined life of brahmacharya and sadhana and was largely instrumental in bringing out his immense potentialities for the service of our Motherland. The qualities of will-power, industry, perseverance, fearlessness, forthrightness and integrity combined with his tremendous organising combined with his tremendous organising capacity acquired in those early years marked him out during the Vivekananda Centenary year to be the potential builder of the national monument, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. In paying homage to the great Swamiji by compiling his messages into the book “Rousing Call to the Hindu Nation” he added a new spirit and lustre to his life which made him worthier to undertake the task of not only constructing a granite memorial but also of establishing a living, ever-growing, dynamic memorial to Swamiji in the form of the Service Mission, Vivekananda Kendra based on Swamiji’s famous call: “A hundred thousand men and women, fired in the zeal of holiness, fortified with eternal faith in the Lord and nerved to lion’s courage by their sympathy for the poor, and the fallen and the downtrodden, will go over the length and breadth of the land, preaching the gospel of salvation, the gospel of help, the gospel of social raising-up and the gospel of equality.”

These talks have as their theme and object the man-making and nation-building mission of Swami Vivekananda and were prepared and delivered by Shri Eknathji to inspire the life-worker trainees of Vivekananda Kendra and mould them to be worthy vehicles and fit instruments for the fulfilment of this great mission. Today when he is with us only in spirit, these words come as his Last Will and Testament, not only to the workers and well-wishers of the progressively growing and steadily expanding Vivekananda Kendra but also to all those sincerely interested in nation-building activities wherever they may be.

The book is an excellent treatise on the art and science of organisation. It analyses the essentials and ideals of an organisation, and outlines the characteristics and qualities of an ideal worker. As the matter unfolds, we are taken from mere technicalities to the more rewarding and fulfilling results of discipline, dedication and surrender through which service becomes a vehicle for self-unfoldment and gathers to it the beauty and effectiveness of true Karma yoga. It was this Karma yoga which was adopted as the central theme by Vivekananda Kendra. This whole philosophy later found expression in the beautiful and meaningful Vivekananda Kendra Prayer, the daily chanting of which has raised it to the level of a pledge.

A tree is best known by its fruits. The worth and value, the inspiring, moulding, man-making capacity and power of these talks are best evidenced and truly testified in the impact his words made on the trainees and how they have been able to translate his message into action, in their various fields of activity in the far-flung areas of the country. These talks are his heritage to all social workers in every organisation. They are based on his lifetime experiences in selfless service of the Nation. Small though the book is in size, it is great in content and powerful in its application. It comes as Ma. Eknathji’s gift to those who love this great Nation, worship this Motherland, and would readily volunteer for selfless service in any field of activity in Vivekananda Kendra or in any other service organisation.

Nine years have rolled by since we brought out the first edition of this book. These were indeed years of great struggle and turmoil for our nation and to Kendra too, as we were growing and consolidating on the wonderfully solid foundation which Late Ma. Eknathji laid. Today Vivekananda Kendra has emerged as a very positive Youth Movement and won the sympathy and appreciation of the whole country. It is this faith reposed in us by our youth and our elders that has courage and strength to embark at the national level on a programme of far-reaching consequences on the occasion of the Centenary of Swami Vivekananda’s meditation on the Rock at Kanyakumari.

Regeneration of our Youth-force through the highly potent ideals of Tyaga and Seva and integration of our country enhancing the awareness among them of the spiritual uniqueness and wholeness of our nation, were themes dear to both Swami Vivekananda and Mananeeya Eknathji. “Sadhana of Service” embodies these in a remarkably practical way.

May the Eternal Spirit of our Great Masters inspire and guide us in our efforts in the years ahead. Vivekananda Kendra is specially proud and happy to bring out this third edition of Sadhana of service on 19th November, Mananeeya Eknathji’s 77th Birthday, coinciding with our Vivekananda Bharat Parikrama, 1992.