Daily Reading 134. A Sri Hanuman Jayanti talk. Swamiji says fasting burns karma and He gives a remedy for depression.
Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi, said, ‘I am your real Mother, the Mother of the virtuous and the sinner.’ This is the love the Eternal Mother, Sri Sarada Devi, had for us.
If you are sick, the karma must be there. One’s karma works though this body and we are sick and suffering. So some sin was committed somewhere. Fasting burns this and cleanses you.
Ekadashi is the worship of Vishnu’s Shakti [the female Divine power]; She who assists the devotees. She protects you even if you do not know she is protecting you. If you fast on Ekadashi, [the Divine] Mother never dies to you. And no one can affect the body and mind of Her child. No black magic can come near you. She is a living talisman, living in your heart. The Divine Mother gives you what you need. If you need health, she gives it. If you need work, she gives it. At least on Ekadasi day you should fast. Even if not for spiritual progress, you are giving your system a rest.
Jealousy is obstruction and destruction. But in the scriptures when there was jealousy on God, good always came out of it. Christ gave Judas eternal life [see footnote]. Ravana carried Sita away but Rama sent him to heaven.
What is the absolute and relative goal? To realise dharma. Meditation on God leads us to God.
[Footnote: Swamiji always said that Judas is in ‘heaven’ with Jesus. He played an essential (if seemingly unpleasant ‘betrayal’) role in the fulfillment of the Lord Jesus’ divine mission. Without him, the divine play [lila] could not have come to the necessary conclusion. He was therefore not cursed, or a sinner, but rather a role-player according to his divine Master’s will.]
A prayer given on Hanuman Jayanti [the ‘birthday’ or arrival of Lord Hanuman]: Close your eyes and forget the world, forget the ‘me.’ Pray to the Lord that all his children get pure love to God’s Lotus Feet and, like Hanumanji, get unlimited strength and an ocean of knowledge. Pray to the Lord to bless all the leaders of our country, no matter who the leaders are. May Hanuman, who straightened out [overcame] Ravana, straighten out all evil people. May Hanuman direct you and guide you and strengthen your faith in him, by whatever name you call him, and thereafter lead us into that peaceful state called Ram Rajya. Now prostrate mentally.
Repeat OM three times. Look at each other and say ‘Happy birthday’ to Hanumanji. Hanuman is the Guru personified. He is the Guru ‘bodyless’ – though he may have many bodies – that guides you without a body. Think of the Guru and of the Guru saying ‘swaha’ [the Sanskrit word used when making an oblation]. Regardless of karma [contracted destiny] man must always stick to dharma [righteousness]. Do right even if it hurts.
Do not say words that hurt. Be very kind to one another. You must do sadhana [spiritual practise] sincerely. You must have no depression. If it comes you must think: ‘I am Swamiji’s child – you have come to tempt me – get out.’ You must take depression out slowly, it will not happen overnight. Do not react to bad things.
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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.
For our gurubhai Atmaprakash Kramer’s beautiful pictorial ‘memoir’ booklet of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Avoca Ashram, please click HERE.
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.