Daily Reading 108. Swamiji warns sadhakas against seeking companionship, and urges us to remain positive and never give up.

Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

It is dangerous to seek for companionship. Slowly seek the companionship of the Ishta Devata [chosen Deity or Ideal], or Brahman [the ONE undifferentiated consciousness]. The only companion is good thoughts about the Absolute [Brahman]. All other companions are good – but not the best.

Only you and God should know anything that is done in spirituality – or you, God and the teacher – otherwise it is an ego trip. The fastest trip to destruction.

If you say, ‘Peace, peace, peace,’ [or shanti, shanti, shanti] you see peace, where there is apparently no peace – and because of the power of the Master [Sri Ramakrishna], of the Supreme Self, it gives peace. But we pay attention to negative things around us, and so we attract more negative things. In troubled water you will see peace, though others may not see it. The electrical wire may be worn out but the electricity itself is perfect. We are so used to finding the negative. We must rather acknowledge the positive side.

Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi said, ‘Do not find fault with others.’ Thus as you concentrate on the positive, the negative is washed away.

The only thing a sadhaka [spiritual aspirant/practitioner] must know, is how to get devotion to the Lotus Feet of the Ishta Devata, to the Lotus Feet of God.

We must take some of these words and put them into practice. No matter how many times you fail, try again and again.

A child must at all times respect and obey his father and mother – except when they stand in the way of God-realisation.

Question: Why do we find meditation so dull and move away from it?
Swamiji: It is because we do not pursue it – we don’t do it at regular times etc. We must get up at 4.30 a.m. – it is so fresh. I do not know why people do not get up at that time. The blankets have greater appeal.

When I go to church I must be absorbed in Christ, absorbed in Christ alone – not in the cross. Christ and nothing else must exist for me.

To a close devotee: Offer all your sadhana [spiritual practice] at my feet. The more japa [repetition of a mantra or one of the many names attributed to God] you do, the better for me. I can talk to you like this, because you are my very own.

I came into this world to make you happy. When people have problems – just do japa. It works through them. Love, live, give. Love is the only thing, so give it – but love in a righteous [dharmic] sense.

To keep the mind [constantly] on God is very hard, it is an austerity [tapasya, or slow process of purification]. The one who is able to do that will have succeeded in stopping the mind’s restlessness forever.

Swami Vivekananda said, ‘How shall we worship Him? Through love, as the Beloved. God is nearer than anything in this life or the next.’

In all our actions we must judge whether it is making for diversity, or oneness. If diversity, then give it up. If it is oneness, it is good. Decide if your thoughts lead to disintegration and multiplicity or oneness.

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The free-to-read or download, 396-page Flipbook version of Swamiji’s biography, ‘A Life Lived For Others‘, is available by clicking HERE. If you’d prefer the PDF version, please click HERE.

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There’s also a Facebook site for Swamiji’s posts now. They feature newer readings published more recently. Click HERE to view.

These recordings or the excerpts from them, were made from the early 1970s onward, by Mother Radha, a close devotee of Swamiji’s and edited for uploading here by our gurubhai and her son, Brother Tim. Please be mindful that what Swamiji was saying may have been specific to those with him at the time.