Swamiji speaks about grasping the opportunity of this birth.
Swamiji speaks about the opportunity presented by being born in a human body. [In verse 3 of the Vivekachudamani it says that if we're 1) born in a human body, 2) have a desire for liberation and 3) the blessings of holy company, it indicates that we're nearing the end of the cycle of birth and rebirth.]
The key message in this very serious talk by Swamiji, is whether we've chosen Shreyas or Preyas in this life? [See the definitions in the visual.]
In a nutshell, our choice is going to lead to a reduction in future pain, or an increase in future pain. It's a tough but individual choice. And as Swamiji says, we have only one person to blame, if we make the wrong choice. Ourselves.
To listen to this profound lesson, please click on the link below. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 09:12
Click here for the Flipbook version of: → Swamiji's biography
It's a free-to-read, draft 396 page, extended version of 'A Life Lived For Others. No need to install a PDF reader. It'll work in your present browser.
However, if you'd prefer a straight-up PDF version, please click HERE.
Dear Devotee, if we use the term 'He or he', when referring to Swamiji, it's not impolite or disrespectful. It's to minimise the repetitiveness of saying or writing 'Swamiji' too many times.
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, was often very specific to the needs of people with him at the time. Please bear this in mind.
Links to our Guru Parampara (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.