Today is a special day that we celebrate the birth of Christ. Unfortunately with the commercialization of this day we forget the fundamental message of Christ. I always remember the ceremony in the Bombay, India. There would be a picture of Christ while the monk would do “arti” to it. The peace and spirituality of that ceremony still remains with me. For the Ramakrishna movement, Christmas eve was special since on this day, the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna gathered around a sacred fire in Antpur, Bengal the birth place of Swami Premananda and the seed of the monastic order blossomed on that night.
Greetings to everyone here in the courtyard on this auspicious occasion. May Mother bless each one of us today and always.