Swamiji says don’t trust your mind to do the right thing.
Swamiji gives illustrations, emphasising that Bhakti is the most powerful thing you can ask of God. Because of its binding power.
He gives example after example, of how even in human relationships, it creates bondage.
Swamiji's advice is to offer everything at the feet of the Lord.
And quickly, before the mind has a chance to negotiate on, or attempt to 'convert' the surrender of the fruits of activity to God.
Because it will very quickly want to do a trade and switch any merit into equity, in the form of favour or blessings with something.
Swamiji's sharing these gems of wisdom with the congregation in such a way they they're laughing along merrily – but the topic is in deep earnest.
We will learn from listening to and reflecting on these thoughts.
It's always empowering to know that someone sharing advice has actually walked that path, rather than be quoting someone else's ideas or theory on the topic. And here, as with so many other opportunities, Swamiji says, 'Make no mistake, this fellow [referring to himself] has been there. Creating inspiration for us to work harder at overcoming the pettiness and deviousness of the mind.
As Swamiji says, 'If you have to deal with other people, you're dealing with mind. If you have to deal with yourself, you're dealing with mind.' Swamiji's concluding thought in this homily is, 'Don't trust your mind. Trust God's mind.' How to trust it? Surrender your mind to God, and then it becomes God's mind.'
To listen to this advice, please click on the link below. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 05:34
NEW! For a fresh daily reading recorded and transcribed by Team Radha Ma and Brother Tim, Click HERE.
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. The Ramakrishna Centre of Johannesburg is also active in Gauteng province in South Africa.
There are various publications [The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna etc.] which you can download at no charge, from the Ramakrishna Centre of SA website page, HERE.