The Last Days of Josephine MacLeod
Prabuddha Bharata|November 2022
JOSEPHINE MACLEOD, known to all as "Tantine', was a dear friend to Swami Vivekananda and the Vedanta movement worldwide. She passed away peacefully at the age of ninety on October 14, 1949 at the Vedanta Society of Southern California.
Karl Whitmarsh
The Last Days of Josephine MacLeod

For nearly thirty years I have had in my possession correspondence of my great-aunt, Katharine Whitmarsh (Prasanna), regarding Tantine's last days. Recently I sorted through these papers in an effort to bring to light any new information about Tantine that might be of interest.

As is well known, Tantine had a formidable personality and consequently tended to inspire strong feelings of devotion or antipathy. At the end of her life, her closest blood relatives were the two living children of her sister Betty Leggett: Alberta Sturges Montagu and Frances (France) Leggett. But Alberta, though full of affection for her eccentric aunt, lived far away in England. And France, though geographically close, was emotionally distant from Tantine.

And so it was that Prasanna came to be the principal caregiver and protector of Tantine in the last few months of the elderly woman's life. Though they were but distant relations, their mutual devotion to Vivekananda and the Vedanta movement had brought them close together.

Prasanna told me that on one occasion most likely in 1947-she and France were discussing Tantine, who in her advanced years had become delusional and erratic. At that time,

France was thinking of putting Tantine in a rest home. France said: 'I can't deal with Tantine any longer-you get along with her, why don't you look after her.' To which Prasanna simply replied: 'Yes, I would do just that.

Knowing that Tantine was very fond of Swami Prabhavananda, Prasanna got in touch with him. The Swami offered to let Tantine come and live at the Vedanta Society of Southern California, an offer which she readily accepted. Tantine had visited the Hollywood center many times before.

Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av Prabuddha Bharata.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av Prabuddha Bharata.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA PRABUDDHA BHARATASe alt
Jesus Christ: The Compassion Incarnate
Prabuddha Bharata

Jesus Christ: The Compassion Incarnate

The idea of the incarnation of God is prevalent among Hindus and Christians. Both believe the ‘Word’ to be the source of incarnations and the created beings— sentient and insentient.

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2022
Inspiring Anecdotes
Prabuddha Bharata

Inspiring Anecdotes

Original in Hindi: Sharat Chandra Pendarkar

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2022
When the Divine Lord Protects
Prabuddha Bharata

When the Divine Lord Protects

GLIMPSES OF HUMAN VALUES - 4

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2022
Mother of All
Prabuddha Bharata

Mother of All

I am going out on a limb to declare that Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi is the real spirit behind the birth, growth, and success of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2022
'I Have Come to Help You in Your Chosen Path'
Prabuddha Bharata

'I Have Come to Help You in Your Chosen Path'

In the initial days of Holy Mother’s stay in Dakshineswar, when she was there for the first time, Sri Ramakrishna suddenly asked her by way of examining her: ‘Well my dear, have you come to drag me down to the worldly level?’ The Mother replied without a moment’s hesitation: ‘No. Why should I drag you to worldly ways? I have come to help you in your chosen path [Tomār ishṭa pathe sahājya korte eshechhi].’

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2022
Holy Mother in the World
Prabuddha Bharata

Holy Mother in the World

Sri Sarada Devi, reverently and affectionately referred to as Holy Mother by those affiliated with the Ramakrishna Movement, lived from 1853 to 1920. She lived in the world but was not of the world.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2022
The Holy Mother in Puri
Prabuddha Bharata

The Holy Mother in Puri

A Compilation

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2022
Spiritual Conversations with Swami Premananda
Prabuddha Bharata

Spiritual Conversations with Swami Premananda

SPIRITUAL TALKS

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2022
The Transforming Power Of Vedanta
Prabuddha Bharata

The Transforming Power Of Vedanta

A religion will remain always powerful as long as it can transform the lives of people and change their outlook."¹ These words were spoken by Swami Ritajananda, a Ramakrishna Order monk who headed the Vedanta centre in France for 33 years.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2022
The Lengthening Shadow: 125 Years of the Ramakrishna Mission
Prabuddha Bharata

The Lengthening Shadow: 125 Years of the Ramakrishna Mission

ON 1 MAY 1987, in Calcutta, Swami Vivekananda planted the seed that has now blossomed into the vast, unique and indispensable organisation that is the Ramakrishna Mission.

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2022