Accepting God’s will entirely
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
686
Renounce your mind. The mind, the ego, has to be renounced. If you become ego-less you are a renunciate. A person may have the garb and be telling everybody, 'I am a great swami,' but then he is not a renunciate – he still has the 'I'. The garb [gerrua robes of the monk – see colour of Swami Vivekananda's cloth above] does not make a person a renunciate. Ravana [the demon king] wore the garb, and yet he was a bhogi [worldly man].
If you have faith in God, God will take care of it. Mirabai was exploited by people but nevertheless she enjoyed the bliss of God. When you have deep trust in God, God protects you, you will not even think about it. Self-surrender means you have no concern; God will take care. 'O God, if you kick me through others, good; if you exploit me through others, good; if you give me bliss and make me sit down on a throne, it's good.'
Gurudev [Sri Swami Nischalananda Puri – Swamiji's beloved Guru] gave Vishnupriya [Swamiji's brother disciple or gurubhai] and myself our garb at the same time. He told us, 'When everything is over you must take this garb, place it in front of the Master, and then wear it. With this garb I am giving you, you are a renunciate.' He burned some camphor and did all the mantras; then he gave the garb to us.
After Gurudev's passing away I told Vishnupriya, 'Bobby [his pre-brahmachari name], now you have to put on the garb because that's what Gurudev wanted.' He said, 'What? You are a fool.' I thought: 'He is bigger than my guru now.' [laughter] Vishnupriya said, 'We must first work, save money, then go and renounce. If you do that then the people cannot tell you anything.' Inside I thought: 'But what kind of a renunciation is it if my strength is in the bank?' So I said, 'But that's wrong.' He disagreed and so he went away. As it turned out he put some money in the bank, he went to India, came back with cancer and died after one week. His money was still in the bank. Now you can see what kind of renunciation it was.
When you surrender to God, God can kick you, God will kick you sometimes. Who cares? He does what He feels like with you. You are like a dried leaf – sometimes He blows you into deep water, sometimes onto the shore. You just sing Ram Ram. Sri Ramakrishna had cancer: He said, 'Jai Sri Kali, Jai Sri Kali.' When Gandhi was shot he said, 'Ram Ram.' He did not say, 'Why did you shoot me?' He was a renunciate.
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time. 2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order. Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and teachings.
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites – please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham