audiobook Cultivating Spirituality: A Modern Shin Buddhist Anthology by Mark L. Blum in History

Description

Surendranath Dasgupta was born inK usthia; a subdivision of Bengal; in October 1885 (loth of A svina). He came from a well-known family in Goila; District Barishal; East Bengal. This family was particularly known for its great tradition of Sanskrit learning and culture. His great-grandfather was a distinguished scholar and also aV aidya (physician of the Ayurvedic school of medicine). He was known by his title Kavindra ;and was running aS anskrit institution known asK avindra College ;which continued in existence up to the time of the partition of India in 1947. This institution maintained about 150 students with free board and lodging; and taught Kavya; Grammar; Nyaya; Vedanta and Ayurveda in traditional Indian style. Professor Dasgupta sfather; Kaliprasanna Dasgupta; was the only member of the family who learnt English and took up the job of a surveyor. In his early years; between five and eight; while he did not know anyS anskrit; he showed certain remarkable gifts of answering philosophical and religious questions in a very easy and spontaneous manner. He could demonstrate the various Yogic postures (asanas); and used to pass easily into trance states; while looking at the river Ganges or listening to some Kirtan song. He was visited by hundreds of learned men and pious saints at his fathers residence at Kalighat and was styled Khoka Bhagawan (C hild God). Mention may particularly be made of Srimat Bijay Krishna Goswami; Prabhu Jagat Bandhu andS ivanarayan Paramhansa. He was sometimes taken to the Theosophical Society; Calcutta; where a big audience used to assemble; and the boy was put on the table and questioned on religious and theological matters. The answers that he gave were published in theB engali andE nglish newspapers along with the questions. Some of these are still preserved. He was educated at Diamond Harbour for a time; and then for seven y(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)