Character and modesty
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
657
Swami Vivekananda said we need to learn about our character. He said that he did not want weak men. A man can be weak in body but if he has a strong character he is the strongest of men. What is the use of having a big healthy body with bulging muscles but with an immoral character? That kind of a man or woman is not wanted.
There are many forms of modesty. One of these is modesty in speaking. You must utter words that are sweet, loving and encouraging – never running anybody down.
Another kind of modesty is to dress in such a way that it does not expose your body to awaken sensuality in other people. Even the dressing of your hair should not be like the Himalayan mountains. [laughter] There is modesty in simplicity.
Sri Sarada Devi was born in the modern times and you can see how simple and modest she was. And what she thought she lovingly said.
Simplicity, purity, love, service – all this that Sri Ramakrishna told us – falls into the category of a modest woman.
You are a woman but that does not mean that you have no strength. Though our great scriptures depict women as modest, they also show that she can become Kali or Durga in times of trouble. She is the 'Almighty Strength'. She is not weak in any way. She is not below man. If anything she is equal to man; but her office demands that she be more sattvic, more patient, more loving and more serving.
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 Puri, Swami Shivapadananda
Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read
online…
Reference websites (please mouse-over
the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math
and Mission, Ramakrishna
Centre of SA, Ramakrishna
Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2