Bitter?
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
717
God finds Himself at home in the whole universe. He is not a restless creature. Even when sannyasis [monastic renunciates, monks] go on pilgrimage they go because the mind is restless. They feel their mind will not be restful in one place so they keep going from holy place to holy place. Some of them get big holes and others become whole. It becomes a disease of travelling - and yet they think they are holy.
When realised souls go on pilgrimage that is different. They go to re-awaken the Consciousness that is already in that particular place of pilgrimage.
Someone went to a guru [spiritual preceptor/teacher] and said, 'I want to go on pilgrimage.' The guru asked, 'Why?' He said, 'Because one becomes holy by going on pilgrimage.' So the guru gave him a bitter gourd (it's a kind of vegetable called karela [pictured above] in Hindi. It looks like brinjal [eggplant or aubergine] but it is very bitter.) Giving it to him the guru said, 'Take this with you on pilgrimage and please bring it back.'
After two years the disciple returned and the guru asked, 'How are you? Did you enjoy your pilgrimage?' 'Yes. Very, very good,' came the reply. 'Did it have the desired effect?' asked the guru. 'I think so,' answered the disciple.
Then the guru said, 'Let me see the bitter gourd. Bring it here.' He took it and ate a bit. It was still bitter, so he said, 'If the nature of this vegetable cannot change I do not know how your nature has changed. [Laughter] You went away bitter and you came back bitter, perhaps more bitter because the worship of different people must have made your ego go higher and higher.'
This is why Christ says, 'You must worship God behind locked doors.' [i.e. do not make a show of your 'spirituality']
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