Daily Reading 75. Swamiji speaks on Avatar impact, the corrupting effect of yogic powers and spiritual maturation.

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

The ordinary guru is for you and me. An Avatar [Incarnation] is for the whole universe, regardless of dharma [path, religion or belief system]. An Avatar comes to show humanity. Sri Ramakrishna came and liberated all dharmas – not my or your dharma only.

Avatars also have great spiritual power. Sri Ramakrishna touched [then Naren, later Swami] Vivekananda’s chest and said, ‘Wake up, Ma!’ [Divine Mother – female aspect of the Universe] ‘Jaago ma.’ With this Vivekananda got into an ecstatic mood and saw his Ishta Devata [chosen Ideal or Deity]. Jesus Christ said, ‘Behold!’ and straight away they saw It. Sri Krishna said, ‘I embody myself with My maya.’

Who is the greatest yogi [in power demonstration/abuse terms] in Hinduism? Ravana. He spoke to Yama, the Lord of Death. He spoke to the Sun and it would stand still. Power corrupts. Patanjali said: Yogic powers are not spiritual, they are obstacles on the path of God-realisation.

Sri Ramakrishna said to Vivekananda, ‘I have the eight siddhis [psychic powers] and I want to give them to you.’ Swami Vivekananda asked, ‘Will they give me God-realisation?’ Master said, ‘No, but they will help you in the world.’ Hearing this, Swami Vivekananda wasn’t interested. Siddhis have concentration but not purity. A high desire is for God; a low desire is for the world.

If you use the Gayatri mantra in a certain way, at a certain time, it leads to powers. If you use it in a certain way, at a certain time, it leads to God-realisation.

Excerpt from Meditation and Spiritual Life, by Swami Yatiswarananda: The mantra may be said aloud, or muttered, or you may do [silent] mental japa and that is the best. Doing it mentally only He [the Deity] hears. When you mutter it, only the lips move.

You must hold to the centre of spiritual consciousness. Do not chop and change – otherwise you will not find the fruits thereof. Recite Sri Ramakrishna’s name ten times and then do the Hanuman Ashtakam. You will definitely feel it. Bow down, repeat the Deity’s name five times; whether it is Krishna or Hanuman or whomever, and think he is touching you.

Without brahmacharya you can never get higher realisation.

Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘When the fruit comes the flower drops off on its own.’

After thirty two years there is spiritual maturity. In the Upanishads we read: What you see is not the Self. He who thinks subtly, has a pure intellect, especially if he is thinking of the Atman.

When you go to a sadhu [holy person], you are having satsang [spiritual/religious service]. Ask him what you are confused about. If there is lack of concentration, the mind oscillates. So please concentrate.

Relative truth has a small ‘t’ – saguna [with attributes]. When we read, ‘God is ONE, that is Truth – with a capital T. It is nirguna [attribute-less].

Underlined words are hypertext links to clarification, explanation or other sources. Just tap on them.

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.