ADVAITA ASHRAMA

(A branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math) 5 Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata 700014 Phone: 91 33 22644000/22640898/22866483 PARTICIPATION IN THE SPECIAL YOUTH PROGRAMME Introductory Note It is a well known fact of modern history that Swami Vivekananda (18631902), the patriot monk of India is one of the main moulders of the modern world. Hence the Govt. of India has taken a keen interest to observe the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in collaboration with Ramakrishna Mission1 in a constructive way taking up different projects mentioned hereunder with a view to build a glorious India. As a preparation to observe the 150th birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in a befitting manner, a National Committee under the Chairmanship of the Honble Prime Minister and also a National Implementation Committee under the Chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister were formed in 2010. As a part of the 4-year long (2010-14) Swamijis 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations, the following two kinds of projects are undertaken by the Central Executive Committee of Ramakrishna Mission, viz. Group A (deals with mainly Central Govt. funded programmes) and Group B (deals with other programmes run primarily with Ramakrishna Missions own resources). Intending to infuse high moral values into different strata of society (in a general way) the above Group A projects are structured and collectively named as Swami Vivekananda Value Education Project. The said projects, being run in different parts of our country, are as follows : (1) Print Media (2) Electronic Media (3) Cultural Activities (4) Special Youth Programmes and (5) Special Service Activities [viz. (a) Gadadhar Abhyudaya Prakalpa (b) Vivekananda Swasthya Pariseva Prakalpa (c) Akhandananda Seva Prakalpa (d) Saradapalli Vikash Prakalpa etc.] Observing rapid and alarming changes in the society, particularly among the youths, Sustained Graded Value Education Programme (in short SGVEP) is planned to organize (in a special way) under Special Youth Programmes of Group A (Central Govt. funded) project. SGVEP project has been categorized into two : TYPE A (Classroom based SGVEP) & TYPE B(Non-formal SGVEP). Contd..(2)
1 Ramakrishna Math & Mission are twin organizations which form the core of a worldwide spiritual movement, which aims at the harmony of religions, harmony of the East and the West, harmony of the ancient and the modern, spiritual fulfillment, all round development of human faculties, social equality, and peace for all humanity, without any distinctions of creed, cast race or nationality.

Advaita Ashrama (a branch centre of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math) likes to take up the TYPE B PROGRAMME: NON-FORMAL SGVEP as mentioned earlier, in a following manner

1.

Target Group: Under this programme, the target group is divided, as per maturity level, into three groups :
Group-I Blak Sagha (Students of class V to VIII) 30 to 50 students : SUNDAY(morning) Group-II Kishor Sagha (Students of class IX to XII) 30 to 50 students : SUNDAY(morning) Group-III Yuvak Sagha (Under-graduate and post-graduate students and working youths)30 to 50 students : SATURDAY(evening)

2.

Implementation:

Advaita Ashrama likes to bring its Vivekananda Study Circle under the fold of Type-B Programme. Therefore, for implementation (a) A half-day camp for 3-4 hours can be conducted. So, we suppose, in a year, about 40 such classes can be held.

(b) These half-day camps will have a composite programme like: 1) Prayer : 10 mins. 2) Meditation : 10 mins. 3) Class on the selected book : 30 mins. 4) Question-Answer session : 30 mins. 5) Swadesh Mantra : 10 mins. 6) Bhajans : 15 mins 7) Free-hand Exercises : 30 mins. 8) Service activities : 20 mins. 9) Refreshment : 25 mins. Total : 180 mins.(3 hrs.) 10) Audio-visual session (occasionally) 11) Visiting a historical place once in 6 months 12) Occasional field work related to the ideal once in 6 months. (c) As this Advaita Ashrama has a monastery for monks only, and the venue of the classes is the monastery building, only boys can attend these classes. (d) This programme will mainly be conducted in English as well as in the local language. 3. Textbooks: (a) The following books have been selected as textbooks for two years from our literature. Group I (i) Short Life & Teachings of Swami Vivekananda, and (ii) Short Life of Sri Ramakrishna, Group II (i) Education, and (ii) My India, India Eternal, Group III (i) Lectures from Colombo to Almora, (ii) Letters of Swami Vivekananda, and (iii) The East and the West. (b) A token charge for these books may be collected from the registered candidates under SGVEP (Type B). They may, however, be given free of cost to the poor students.

Dated : 21 June 2012

(Swami Bodhasarananda) Adhyaksha