Controlling your mind
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
720
[Swamiji's Commentary on a Reading]
. . . one must turn the mind away before it gets attached to any object otherwise it becomes an impossible task afterwards.
It is a pity that after getting the mind under control for a certain period of time people let it loose. When it goes the second time, it takes a longer time to come under control because it already knows the tricks of how to bring it under control.
At first the mind did not know these tricks so you were able to get it under control quicker. But once it runs out it will not come back into the 'fowl [chicken] run', because it knows how you did it in the first place. Also, if you do wrong once then next time you will continue doing wrong because the mind will say, 'The first time I did not get caught so I will do it again.' Or the mind will blackmail you. Do not fall for any one of these.
. . . if one gives up these enjoyments (lust and greed) one verily renounces the world.
You do not have to put on the [monastic, gerrua] garb to renounce. If you give up things like lust and greed you are renouncing the world. You can be in any garb you like. The man who takes the garb takes it for self-protection and to remind himself that: 'I have singled myself out to march the path.' The garb also helps others to think about the Great Being, God Himself.
Vishnu vastra Shiva rupam. The gerrua [saffron/ochre] mantra says: It is Vishnu's preserving power that is this cloth and it is the form of Lord Shiva, a veritable form of renunciation and knowledge.
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