Swami Shivapadananda gives devotees practical, immediately implementable spiritual advice.
Swamiji [Pictured] says that doing sadhana (spiritual practise) in the morning and evening is fine for beginners. But after two or three years, we should be in a state where we constantly repeat God's name [Japa] – which when it becomes automatic, is known as 'ajapa'.
[Saint Paul in the Christian Bible, in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, wrote to them saying, 'Pray without ceasing.' Constant God-consciousness. The same thing.]
Swamiji says that when we take God's name we must 'imagine.' Imagine that we see God everywhere and in everything. Swamiji stressed to us in our early days that 'Imagination is the greatest gift.' In this audio clip he says the same thing, slightly differently.
Says Swamiji: When you start imagining, you get inspiration. It all begins with the letter 'I'. Image, Imagination, Inspiration, Intuition. Whether you look at your deity as a photograph, a painted version, a concrete (or other stone) image – murti – or a mental image, it doesn't matter. When looking at whichever image, we must imagine the Deity's Divine qualities. And when we imagine, we'll get inspiration. When we get inspiration, it will lead to intuition, and that will lead to us being enlightened. Swamiji says, 'That is what we call samadhi.'
Listen to what Swamiji says about our minds when we're offering agarbatti or lighting a prayer lamp. It's a sobering and embarrassing thought. 🤭
'Imagination is the most divine instrument given to man, to reach God.' – Swamiji.
Says Swamiji: The mind is the gateway to the world, and the gateway to God.
Please do listen as Swamiji explains what happens what happens when we think of the beautiful characteristics of our Deity, or even think in general. He uses a telephone analogy to illustrate what happens during that good or bad, thought process. [Yes, in those days, this is similar to what the ashram phone looked like!😉]
Swamiji explains what happens to us when we experience hatred or anger. [Admin: Swamiji once said to me, that anger is a terrible emotion. Not only does it generate bad vibrations, but it sends the whole mind into chaos. Adding to the bad – and, please note this – it damages the good that is there. An awful thought.]
Swamiji explains what happens if we don't steer our minds towards, and lock into God-thought, now, while we have the physical and mental capacity. He says leaving it for senior years, means it will be too late. Cares and worldly woes will take over and in his words, 'Then you can forget it.' He says, 'NOW is the time.'
Numerous examples, analogies and very helpful and accessible insights flow in a torrent, in this discussion. Earbuds or headphones are the way to sit somewhere in a quiet space – perhaps in nature? – and soak up this glorious wisdom on multiple fronts.
It even includes a tip on the use of Bhastrika pranayama – the breathing technique to refresh and energise so we don't fall asleep whilst attempting to meditate. A warning [from personal experience] if you want to try bhastrika, have some Kleenex tissues close by. 😂
Please click on the link below for this beautiful listen. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 11:51
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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Dear reader, if you spot typos or or other errors, please feel free to email the site admin on info@imbizo.com with your suggested correction/s.
Links to broaden your knowledge: Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Sri Sarada Devi ashram, Durban
Phone image borrowed from Logos Sermons.