Choose the divine right now!
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
790
The nature of the animal is survival of the fittest; the nature of man is self-sacrifice. I've got nothing else to think about in this world, only this.
'I am doing this so that I must have the upper hand; I am doing this so I must grow fat; I must grow fit.' No. I am doing this because I want that which is my real nature to shine out. Christ did this, he was prepared to self-sacrifice. Gandhi: self-sacrifice. Sri Ramakrishna: self-sacrifice. This is the real nature of man. Otherwise all are a mixture of animal and man. So sometimes the animal has the best of it – sensual things – sometimes not. You who become self controlled, the divine has the better of you.
Rama [the great Hindu Ramayana-featured Incarnation – avatar – of God] was a self controlled man – if you so will to call him man. That's the wonderful part about God: that God doesn't get angry if you call Him man. God is man plus. Plus what? I don't know. God is Creation plus. Plus what, is it? I don't know. Silly people get cross when you call Rama a man. I say, 'Yes, yes, but also I know he is plus – plus what he knows.' Wasn't Christ the son of a carpenter? But he was plus. Not only that.
What is your real nature? Do everything to keep that alive. If you are going in a direction look at the compass or you'll get lost in the sea. And do everything to keep that direction. That's all you have to do in this world. Nothing else is left to be done.
[Pravrajika] Atmaprana [the first sannyasini – Hindu nun – of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]: You make it sound so easy.
Swamiji: It is easy, if you want to do it. If you don't want to do it then it is the most difficult thing. That's why it takes birth after birth. That is why in spiritual life they stress so much on obedience. Obedience only expresses your willingness. Are you willing or not? You make it easier by the extent to which you are willing. To the extent you are not willing you make it tough. That's all. No sin.
Rather do now and suffer it out rather than not doing it and suffering many other things. [i.e. grasp the nettle now] At least here you'll suffer one thing just by doing that. But there, if you drift, so many other things will knock you. Thousands of other sufferings you are avoiding. When they asked Christ to jump from the high place he said, 'Get thee, devil, behind me.'
Anything that concerns with power, anything, if it does not bring bhakti [devotion, divine love] and jnana [divine or spiritual knowledge], it's the devil. Devil only stands here for maya [the divine power of seeming illusion/delusion]. 'Get thee behind me,' you must say. That is why Sri Ramakrishna was so against [occult] power – maya. [Even] Minute forms of maya.
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.
For more about the Holy Trinity, and also the founding Swamis of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, please mouse over their names below:
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