Swami Rama Tirtha
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| “ | I am That I have no scruple of change, nor fear of death, Nor was I ever born, Nor had I parents. I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute, I am That, I am That, I cause no misery, nor am I miserable; I have no enemy, nor am I enemy. I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute, I am That, I am That, I am without form, without limit, Beyond space, beyond time, I am in everything, everything is in me. I am the bliss of the universe, Everywhere am I. I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute, I am That, I am That, I am without body or change of the body, I am neither senses, nor object of the senses, I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute, I am That, I am That, I am neither sin, nor virtue, Nor temple, nor worship Nor pilgrimage, nor books. I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute, I am That, I am That. |
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Swami Rama Tirtha (Hindi: स्वामी रामतीर्थ) (October 22, 1873 – October 17, 1906) was an Indian teacher of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta [2].
He was among the first notable Hindu swamis to lecture and teach in the west, traveling to the United States in 1902, preceded by Swami Vivekananda in 1893, and followed by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920.[3][4] During his lecture tours in the U.S., he spoke frequently on his concept of 'practical Vedanta'[5] and on education of Indian youth.[6] He proposed bringing young Indians to American universities, and helped established several scholarships for Indian students.[7]
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[edit] Biography
Rama Tirtha was born in Murariwala, Gujranwala district, in Punjab (now in Pakistan) [8]. When he was a few days old his mother died, and he was raised by his elder brother Gossain Gurudas. After receiving his Masters degree in mathematics from Government College of Lahore, he became Professor of Mathematics at Forman Christian College in Lahore. A chance meeting with Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Lahore inspired his later decision to take up the life of a sannyasi.[9]
In the late 19th century, he became well known in Punjab for his speeches on worship of Krishna and later through lectures and essays on Advaita Vedanta. He eventually entered the monastic swami order in 1901, leaving his life as a math professor, husband, and father. A maharaja sponsored a trip by Rama Tirtha to Japan to teach Hinduism. From Japan he traveled in 1902 to the United States [10], where he spent two years lecturing on the essence of Hinduism and other religions, a philosophy he called "practical Vedanta." [5]
His talks also included denunciation of the caste system in India. Regarding the importance of education for women and the poor, he said, "Neglecting the education of women and children and the labouring classes is like cutting down the branches that are supporting us, nay, it is like striking a death-blow to the roots of the tree of nationality."[9] He began an organization to aid Indian students in American universities, arguing that India needed educated young people and not missionaries.[6] To solve the problem of poverty in India, he suggested bringing young Indian students to American universities, and helped to establish a number of scholarships for Indian students during his tour of America.[7]
Upon his return to India in 1904, he received acclaim for his tour of America, with large crowds thronging to his public lectures. In 1906, he withdrew from public life, weary of the public adoration and large crowds, moving to the foothills of the Himalaya. There he prepared to write a systematic presentation of his 'practical Vedanta.' His book was not finished, as he drowned while bathing in the Ganges on October 17, 1906.[5][8]
[edit] Legacy
Two of his closest disciples were Narayan Swami and Puran Singh, who wrote biographies of Rama Tirtha. Puran Singh's The Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab[11] appeared in 1924 and has been printed in English and Hindi. Narayan Swami's untitled account was published in 1935 as part of Rama Tirtha's collected works.[12]
Paramahansa Yogananda was a great admirer of Rama Tirtha, translating many of Rama Tirtha's poems from Bengali into English, and putting some of them to music.[13] One of Rama Tirtha's poems, titled "Marching Light", appeared in Yogananda's book of Hindu chants, Cosmic Chants as "Swami Ram Tirtha's Song":[14]
None can atone me, say who would injure me?
The world stands aside to make room for me.
I come, O blazing Light! The shadows must flee.
Hail, O ye ocean, divide up and part!
Or parched up and scorched up, be dried up, depart!
None can atone me, say who would injure me?
Beware, O ye mountains! Stand not in my way.
Your ribs will be shattered and tattered today!
Friends and couns’lors, pray waste not your breath,
Take up my orders, devour up ye death!
None can atone me, say who would injure me?
I ride on the tempest, astride on the gale.
My gun is the lightning, my shots never fail.
I chase as a huntsman, I eat as I seize
The trees and the mountains, the land and the seas.
None can atone me, say who would injure me?
I hitch to my chariot the fates and the gods;
In the voice of thunder, proclaim it abroad!
Howl, O ye winds! Blow, bugles, blow free!
Liberty! Liberty! Liberty! Om!
Swami Ram Tirtha Mission Ashram is located at Kotal Goan Rajpur, near Dehra Dun in Uttarakhand, India where his teachings are practised.
[edit] Further reading
- In Woods of God Realization: The complete works of Swami Rama Tirtha. Rama Tirtha Pratisthan. [1]
- Parables of Rama by Swami Rama Tirtha. Rama Tirtha Pratisthan. [2]
- Practical Vedanta Selected Works of Swami Rama Tirtha: Selected Works of Swami Rama Tirtha. 1978, Himalayan Institute Press. ISBN 0893890383.
- Yoga and the supreme bliss : songs of enlightenment. Swami Rama Tirtha, 1982, A.Z. Alston. ISBN 0950801909.
- Life, Teachings And Writings Of Swami Rama Tirtha, by Prem Lata. Sumit Publications, ISBN 8170001587.
- Swami Rama Tirtha - A Great Mystic Poet of India. [3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ I am That Swami Rama Tirtha (1873-1906)
- ^ Swami Rama Tirtha's View of Vedanta
- ^ Brooks, p. 72.
- ^ Frawley, p. 3.
- ^ a b c Rinehart, p. 1.
- ^ a b Bromley, p. 82.
- ^ a b Singh, appendix, article from Minneapolis Tribune: Would Save Countrymen: Swami Ram Plans the Redemption of the Ignorant Masses in India—American Education: He Would Have Them Come Here, as Did the Young Japanese.
- ^ a b Biography Divine Life Society website.
- ^ a b Khular.
- ^ Swami Rama Tirtha www.indopedia.org. The Indology.
- ^ Singh, Puran (1924). The Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab. Madras: Ganesh & Co..
- ^ Rinehart, p. 2.
- ^ Satyananda, p. 20.
- ^ Yogananda, p. 78
[edit] References
- Bromley, David G; Larry D. Shinn (1989). Krishna Consciousness in the West. Bucknell University Press. ISBN 083875144X.
- Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (2000). Meditation Revolution: A History and Theology of the Siddha Yoga Lineage. India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing. ISBN 812081648X.
- Frawley, David (2000). Vedantic Meditation: Lighting the Flame of Awareness. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1556433344.
- Khular, K. K. (November, 1999). Swami Ram Tirath:The Unfettered Thinker. India Government Ministry of External Affairs. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- Rinehart, Robin (1999). One Lifetime, Many Lives: The Experience of Modern Hindu Hagiography. United States: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0788505556.
- Satyananda, Swami (2006). "Yogananda Sanga", from A Collection of Biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga Gurus. iUniverse, Inc.. ISBN 978-0595386758.
- Singh, Puran (1924). The Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab. Madras: Ganesh & Co..
- Sivananda, Swami (2005). Lives of Saints. India: Divine Life Society. ISBN 978-8170520955.
- Yogananda, Paramahansa (1974). Cosmic Chants. Self-Realization Fellowship Publishers. ISBN 978-0876121313.
