Sri Ramakrishna Math in Mylapore organised a ‘Doctor’s Convention’ as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda. The event saw doctors from several streams involved in a motley of lectures and discourses from eminent doctors and spiritual leaders.
The main focus of the programme was to propagate the teachings of Swami Vivekananda among doctors so as to aid them to handle stress through spirituality.
Swami Brahmeshanandaji of Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama, Varanasi, kickstarted the proceedings with a session of meditation.
Delivering the introductory address, Dr Palaniswamy spoke at length about the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and also outlined the relevance of his ideals in a doctor’s life. A special lecture was also delivered by the chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, B K Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, who explained about Swami Vivekananda’s life.
He said, “Vivekananda’s greatness was also acknowledged by his contemporaries. Rabindranath Tagore has said that if one has to understand India, he is supposed to read the works of Vivekananda. SC Bose also said if had he not been involved in the freedom struggle, he would have been at the feet of Swami Vivekananda, learning Vedanta.”
Krishnaraj further added, “According to Vivekananda, every soul is divine and one’s goal should be to achieve that divinity through work or worship.”
Swami Brahmeshananda, in his address, urged all doctors to acquaint themselves with the teachings of Vivekananda. He said, “There are innumerous examples of doctors achieving success after learning the teachings of Vivekananda. There are a total of eight volumes and they carry more relevance to everyday life than any scripture.”
Swamiji spoke at length about the need for propagating Vivekananda’s teachings and urged doctors to carry on his essence through their service. Other dignitaries who were present at the convention were S P Thyagarajan, former vice-chancellor of Madras University, Dr N Sathyabama of Apollo Hospitals and Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, Adhyaksha of Sri Ramakrishna Math.