Swamiji talks about the ‘attracting power’ of a spiritual person, us being good, and our desires.
Swamiji starts by explaining that when one has reached spiritual heights on whatever path one is following, others will experience a desire to want the particular good that you, so to speak, are displaying – not consciously, but unconsciously. Why 'unconsciously'? Because, do not set out to attract people. Neither to go for 'distracting'.
But they in their enthusiasm for this God-joined love, they block them out. They become unconscious containers of peace. And when this happens, the people around them feel the mysterious good. Why mysterious? Because they do not know anything about it. But it is not mysterious to the God-man, the saint, because it is his natural state. And when the desire enters the other person, he will also want to reach that thing.
Like a donkey, he will come to drink itself out of the fountain of bliss that will be coming from this Divine Being. On the other hand, you can force a hundred thousand donkeys to the water, but if they don't want to drink, nobody can force them.
Similarly, do not waste your time. Do not go to seek to make people 'good'. Only One Being can make people good, and that is God, and God alone. What is your duty? It is to be good, and do good, as far as possible. Then, frustration and hindrance to growth, will not come about. Then all will live in harmony. Why? Because it is said in the Bhagavad Gita, that the desire in a man for worldly things, is the cause of all misery. How?
When you desire something and somebody puts an obstacle in the way, then anger comes up. And you get drunk with anger, hatred and jealousy arises. Birth is given to them (the emotions), and you lose control of your serene, peaceful mind. By this I mean, each one – whatever you desire – you will naturally want to have that thing. And if a spiritual man comes there, thinking that he is doing good, and obstructs your desire (Swamiji chuckles) you will turn to be his enemy. Example, the life of Jesus the Christ. How many turned against him? They thought he was a hindrance to their desire of either becoming a famous government man or leader.
So, you will do well if you control desire, and desire the things that you want for the best. But the intelligent man and the intelligent being will always desire for that thing, which is conducive to the highest good. But if you're not so intelligent, you will desire the things which are lower, and thus suffer thousands of times, before you realise that you can not catch time. Time is moving on. Before you realise it, you cannot catch even your own shadow, and these pleasures are like shadows on tiles that will vanish. You are chasing after that, which when you hold it, turns into dust – sensual pleasures.
Duration: 07:40
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 dear gurubhai, Brother Tim. May Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji bless them both.
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