Swamiji on pathways to God.
Swamiji starts the discussion by talking about the food of cows and rabbits. Give the recipient of food or a gift, what it loves.
And what, Swamiji asks, does God love? Surrender. Complete surrender [to His will]. God loves love which is not tinged by our likes and dislikes. We mistake 'like', and call it love.
Swamiji toys with the spelling of the word 'like', and shows in a creative way, what it can mean in terms of birth and rebirth in this world. Manipulating it yet again, he gives it a divine connotation. Swamiji is saying that love is the only thing that really lives – because it lives beyond the world – not in the world. Completing the illustration by bringing it to the life of the Lord Jesus.
Swamiji referring yet again to the Vedantic example of the rope being mistaken for a snake. Comparing that which has never not existed with that which is transitory. And the way to clear the misinterpretation, or understand it for what it is, is to have knowledge of it – which is Jnana Yoga. Through Jnana we are united.
But many sannyasis [Hindu monks] Swamiji says, seem to overlook the second verse of the same Upanishad. Becoming a jnani is not an easy thing. You have to actually deny your own body. Your mind. Your intellect. Your stomach. It's a very, very tough and difficult path. But the same Upanishad, knows that all are not going to be that tough – the most that can happen with many people, is that they'll get deluded. They think they're jnanis.
Swamiji quoting Sri Ramakrishna when he said that Advaita [non-dual] philosophy is just for the chosen few. He talks about the nature of the mind and the fact that no amount of action – karma [work] – will remove this. Does this mean there's no hope, then? Swamiji explains the different types of activity. He says it takes exertion to the fullest – to know the highest. That's what it [karma] actually means.
Swamiji makes a sweet joke about our late grumpy but wonderful ashram brother, Uncle Peter van den Bergh – who was a part-time magician. He says that Peter used to charge a ZAR1 gate fee to his show, but then produce ZAR5000 by 'magic', on stage. What then, asks Swamiji, is the need to charge the gate entry fee? 😉
Swamiji yet again explaining that the 'illusion' that the world is said to be, and saying that it is not to be denied completely. It's there. But we don't know the right nature of it, just as we don't actually know our own real nature. He wraps up the topic by talking about the need to go above thinking, ending with a quote from the Lord Jesus about 'The peace that passeth [transcends] all understanding.' Swamiji repeats, 'All understanding.'
To get to grips with this great lesson, please click on the link below. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 07:47
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-onwards tapes, has been lovingly engineered, over many years, by her son and our dear gurubhai, Brother Tim. May Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji bless them both.
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Context: As always, care should be taken to remember that what Swamiji was saying, may have been very specific to the needs of people with him at the time. Please bear this in mind.
Links to our Guruparampara (spiritual lineage) organisations, which will broaden your knowledge base: Ramakrishna Math and Mission and our alma maters, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram in Durban.
Today's post image is borrowed from RainbowToken.com