Your individual Deity is ‘Everything’.
Swamiji explains that no matter which Deity's name is being used in song, by way of illustration, being spoken about, etc. that we must relate it always to our own personal chosen ideal [Ishta Devata].
He used to regularly emphasise to us that no one Deity is less than any other. All Deities are from the same ONE source and therefore they are as Swamiji says, 'Everything'. Not partial or a section of, but everything.
Swamiji gives Sri Ramakrishna's example of how some people refer to water as 'pani', and others as 'jal', but the liquid is one and the same. Regardless of where it's sourced, fresh and flowing, or even frozen as ice.
[Swamiji reminded us again and again that in Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism, the saying is: Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti – meaning: Truth is One, Sages call it by various names. Sri Ramakrishna said, 'Yato mat, tato path' – Bengali for 'As many faiths, so many paths' – which reinforces this. So ONE divine omnipresence – and our individual Deity is THAT, too.]
After giving a variety of examples to entrench the point, Swamiji retells the story of an old man acting as a water-bearer in the Moghul wars. Swamiji has frequently used this as an example of how the true sadhaka [spiritual seeker] will see their Deity in everyone else, regardless of the role that person might be playing in life. Swamiji refers to this kind of ideal sadhaka, as being the only person really suitable for 'being a first-aider to the universe.'
The tapasya [austerities] of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya and their request of Lord Vishnu is a unique example, says Swamiji. There's a delightful sting in the tail here, regarding what they asked of the Lord and how they asked it.
The discussion comes back to 'When you think of your deity – there must be no second.' Which demonstrates the vital importance of understanding this point. Your Deity is all. Complete. With form or without form, Swamiji says, they're still ONE without a second.
Swamiji wraps up the homily by saying that there are three stages of meditation awareness – first the deity with form – but still one without a second – then the Absolute – without form – then a merging of the Self. Swamiji chuckling merrily at 'how egoistic that must sound'. But he differentiates between the ONE 'Self' and our individual self. And with the ONE Self there is no ego because there is no second – only ONE.
To listen to these profound explanations, please click on the link below. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 13:18
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.
The image in this post is borrowed from A-Z quotes.