Consciousness in a grain of sand
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
756
[Pravrajika] Atmaprana [the first sannyasini (Hindu nun) of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]: They say as a really young boy Swami Vivekananda [lead disciple of Sri Ramakrishna] used to get completely absorbed in meditation. We don't see this sort of thing nowadays at all. Children can play at meditation but to be so absorbed that they don't hear anything . . .
Swamiji: Yes Ma [mother]. But in his case you must remember that he was not an ordinary man. He was born for that particular purpose, so it was natural for him to get into that state. It's nice if we can think like that. It can give us devotion to his personality and to his lotus feet, because we need to cling on. And the more we think about it the more that being's substance rubs off on us. If you keep on thinking about Swami Vivekananda, in the way of purity and uplifting others, then you will surely become like Swami Vivekananda in this birth. I know this. You must become like him. It just has to happen.
Om aim sarva deva devi swarupaya sri ramakrishnaya namah. [translation: I prostrate to Sri Ramakrishna, who is the consciousness of all the gods and goddesses] I tried to give this mantra to all of you, but I don't see any who have taken it.
Aim [the bija or 'seed' mantra] is consciousness, and consciousness is that substance which liberates. It is that substance which doesn't confuse but is intelligence. So when I walk I see that consciousness in everything. I even see that intelligent thing in the plants. While sitting I see it here. Naturally I have to become that intelligence, I have to be that intelligence. What else can I become ultimately? That power even liberates the worms.
Aim: Consciousness. Take time off to think about what I am saying. You will see what I am talking about. You will find even in the tiniest grain of sand that intelligence is there.
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