Breaking habits
A blessed 12th February 2010 Maha Shivaratri to all devotees
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
734
'Sacrifice' is the word that you must highlight in your life. Are you prepared to sacrifice your feelings? If you are, then that's all right.
Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, 'O Arjuna you say it is very difficult to control the mind; you say it is easier to control an elephant. Yes, I agree with you. It is very difficult but it becomes easy through practice and vairagya' [dispassion] You must not get attached. Dispassion.
Visitor: What happens if in the past one had become attached to lust, for instance, and one wants to break that old habit? It is very difficult . . .
Swamiji: Yes, it is difficult. We don't deny that it is difficult. That is why sacrifice comes into it. In spiritual life our gurus [spiritual preceptors/teachers] tell us: 'Adopt the attitude of non-cooperation with your mind.' Just adopt that idea. You are going to suffer in any case, right? You are going to do something wrong and you are going to suffer. You are a slave. Rather suffer trying to be a master than suffer being a slave.
Swami Vivekananda [the lead disciple of Sri Ramakrishna] told his brother disciples a similar thing when his brother disciples said, 'Look, there is no place to stay. Let's think about a way out. We are suffering.' Swami Vivekananda, with firm spiritual strength said, 'Do you think that if I can't get milk to drink I will drink filth and eat dirt? Rather I die.'
That's the phrase: 'Rather I die.' For what? For the right thing.
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