Swami Shivapadananda has divine fun with the satsang children…
This is a joy-filled lesson, tailored to the attending children – but of profound value for all of us.
Swamiji continues the theme of seva or service from the previous discussion. He shares a story about Sri Krishna Bhagavan and the allocation of duties for setting up and conducting a maha (great) yagna. Swamiji equates it with the ultra-humble service performed by Sri Ramakrishna to crush any sense of pride in caste. A telling lesson for all of us, as Swamiji says, on 'service in humility'. Not 'service in pride'.
[Admin: Swamiji told us again and again, 'As the pen is an instrument in your hands, so you are an instrument in the hands of God.' Any credit coming from an action or service goes to the author of that action. Not the instrument. So book reviews never praise the pen or laptop computer, but the author. And Swamiji pointed out on several occasions that if the instrument proves unsuitable or doesn't work properly, the Divine will use another instrument. So it's a great grace and privilege to be able to be God's hands and feet on earth. Not something for us to take pride in, or think that we're 'special' for being the instrument. Swamiji used to add: 'And when you forget this, remind yourself of it, yet again.']
Swamiji shares a story about a gathering convened by Lord Brahma where the gods were seated on one side and the 'demons' on the other. Lord Brahma has with him, a container of the nectar of immortality (amritam) – telling the gathering that if they drink some of the nectar, they will never die.
Swamiji engages the satsang congregation by dividing them into gods on one side of the room and demons on the other. He then asks who would drink the nectar of immortality. He gets only one volunteer. An entertaining session follows in which Swamiji puts the proposition to the group again, and gets a larger group willing to drink the hypothetical nectar.
This being a session aimed at broadening the understanding of the young people, Swamiji then calls up two of the children and has them participate in a fun exercise with a memorable and wonderful outcome. The satsang attendees are so engaged, with much hilarity filling the venue during this unforgettable lesson. Please listen to it unfold. It's for children of all ages – meaning us, too!
Click on the link below to listen. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 08:39
The original audio recordings of these posts were made by close Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and Swami Shivapadananda devotee, Mother Radha. The audio editing and noise reduction of the original 1970s tapes has been lovingly crafted, over many years, by her son and our gurubhai, Brother Tim. May Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji bless them both.
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Links to broaden your knowledge: Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Sri Sarada Devi ashram, Durban
Allegory of the long spoons picture on this post borrowed from The Icicle Fund.