Swamiji sharing stirring insights about his Guru, Swami Nischalananda Puri.
[I reached the end of the overview of this very special audio clip, feeling like I'd been drinking from a fire-hose. Such is the sheer volume, clarity and power of the information in this talk by Swamiji. May you feel the same way.]
Swamiji speaks about the differences and uniqueness of chelas [disciples]. Saying that no single one of them can express all aspects of a Guru. So each is effectively there to play and manifest a different role. Swamiji says that if you tally up all of Sri Ramakrishna's direct disciples, then you can come to some sort of conclusion about what Sri Ramakrishna was. Because that big light is so great, it's impossible for any one [single] small mirror to reflect. And it's this light, in which the chelas and devotees bask.
Swamiji speaks about the history of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, and how, despite all fears and efforts to the contrary, Gurudev's [Swami Nischalananda's] vision - even after his passing – pushed it to new heights. [Swamiji never took any credit or glory himself, for the Centre's astonishing progress – but we who saw his relentless 'work-ship' and sacrifice, know that he was executing the will of his own beloved Guru and that of Sri Ramakrishna. The over-arching message is that what the great ones want to manifest, will manifest, regardless of the size or number of obstacles.]
Swamiji explains how the role of ego can be useful in accomplishing certain things. He uses the analogy of someone holding the back of a bicycle, when you think it's you balancing and riding in those initial stages. But later on, we realise it was all God's grace doing the work. [Always through us as mere instruments in the hands of the writer – as Swamiji stressed again and again. And as Sri Ramakrishna did too, 'I am the machine and Thou art the Operator. I am the house, Thou art the Indweller. Not I, not I, but Thou.']
Swamiji describes the uniqueness of Gurudev's approach. How South African Hindus were not being motivated through loving words, so as Swamiji humorously puts it, Gurudev got them up 'with the opposite of loving words.' 😉 His one idea was that they needed to get up, says Swamiji. And they did. Some in opposition. Some in love. Some in service. [This is a great telling. Because when such power is connected, the reactions can be and often are, very diverse.] Swamiji is giving a never-before shared insight into the modus operandi of Swami Nischalananda, who was clearly was a spiritual and social revolutionary – and ahead of his time.
Swamiji quotes what the heads of other religious institutions had to say about the dynamism and energy of Swami Nischalananda. With Swami Venkatesananda, the head of the Divine Life Society of Mauritius [a frequent and much-loved visitor to the Ramakrishna Centre ashram, even in our 1970s days] said of Gurudev, that 'If even his hair looks like electricity, imagine what's inside?' These are unsolicited, objective, unbiased observations on Gurudev – especially when one considers that they would have been coming from effectively 'competitive' organisations.
Right down to Pastor F. Rowland, a zealous Christian 'missionary' minister [of the Bethesda Temple Full Gospel Church in Durban] who said, 'If it were not for Swami Nischalananda, I would have converted every Hindu.'
For all devotees of the Ramakrishna movement, this audio clip is an exquisite insight into a section of the Centre's history that risks being lost if it's not kept [in the best of South African traditions] as part of an oral history by devotees.
Hilariously, Swamiji says that if Swami Nischalananda joined the children in activities, he was regarded by them as the biggest kid of all! This speaks to rare personality versatility. Ditto with the youth. Ditto the elderly, who regarded him as a Rishi. Each time, in each place, he was a perfect fit.
Swamiji makes an interesting prophecy. He says, 'We may pass away, but our own children will dig up facts about him, that will be amazing to the future world, about his life in South Africa.'
Any sadhaka [spiritual seeker/aspirant] will love this recording. Any devotee of the Ramakrishna Centre will love it even more. The sound quality is beautiful, and the the messages and insights simply pour out of Swamiji as he shares these deeply personal and wonderful insights about his Guru, and our 'Paramguru', Swami Nischalananda Puri.
Swamiji wraps up the homily by saying that we don't preach persons or personalities, we preach only that which will glorify the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, which was Gurudev's aim.
To receive the blessing of these amazing insights, please click on the link below. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 09:41
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.
Admin tip: Underlined words are links. If you click on them, they'll take you to an explanation of the particular word or term. [In these overviews, Admin comments are typically in a smaller green font, and square bracketed, like this statement.]
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.
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.