Converting noise to AUM
[Pictured, the AUM or OM symbol]
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
DAILY READINGS
Selected from Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji.
Day 958
Gurudev [His Holiness Sri Swami Nischalananda Maharaj, Swamiji's beloved guru, pictured – the 1st President and Spiritual head of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa] was saying that when 
you close your eyes and suppose a [water] tap is running continuously, and you can't stop it, then you slowly try to tune the sound AUM [the pranava] with it. That's what he meant. [i.e. sublimate it]
I used to do that when I went to India, when we travelled the length and breadth of it by train [Swamiji's group had hired a 'bogey' or carriage to themselves, which was left at sidings whenever they wished to stop somewhere]. Then every time I wanted to sleep there would be the clickety-clack noise of the wheels. I would start repeating AUM in rhythm with that sound. It goes with that noise – merge it up. Carry on. Any noise like that. And actually the machine [or other noise] will [appear to] 'say' what you want it to say, really.
Try it with the [ashram - monastery, hermitage – printing] press on the Heidelberg [one of the printing machines]. It will say what you want it to say. So tune it [any sound, irritating or otherwise] up with God's name. It will become very rhythmic because the machine doesn't change its pace or rhythm – it goes one way. So it will be rhythmic.
Devotee, the late Di Stott asks: What do you do when a sudden, sharp noise interrupts your meditation?
Swamiji: You mean when you get a shock? Open your eyes. What can you do? You can't force yourself. It happens. Like I used to meditate and a dog would bark. But you see it's a wonderful way to see how your mind reacts to it. It's very beautiful. God has come in the form of the dog to test you. If the mind gets angry [at the noise], then remember that anger is hiding [in you] – you're not supposed to get angry. Tune your mind up [to respond differently].
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