Daily Reading 78. Swamiji discusses intellect and gives practical tips for spiritual progress.

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

Question: Can I repeat OM [or AUM] and still think of Sri Ramakrishna? Or is it better to repeat his name?
Swamiji: It is better to repeat His name and think of him, otherwise you will say one thing, and you will think of something else. It does not matter if the holy photo is not there, or even if you have thrown it out, he will lead you to God.

Laziness must be conquered. Lust, anger, greed and laziness must be conquered. This means that we must consciously destroy laziness. Otherwise you are not good for God – nor for a demon. The mind tells you if you are a good or bad man. Prayer is very, very important – not only for now – but to prepare yourself for old age.

Without a sharp intellect we are lost. Intellect gives us deep understanding and concentrated mind. The Gayatri mantra asks God to give you a good intellect, and to direct your intellect and understanding. Then when you fail, God will take over and show you the road.

Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘Forget whether Krishna existed or whether he is a mythical figure. Rather ask if you can imbibe all the qualities Krishna had.’ So take a lesson from Krishna and become God-like. Then you will know what God wants from you, what you are.

[Swami] Vivekananda said about Master: ‘Whether you see him as an ordinary man, as a sannyasi, as an avatar or not, the most important thing is the ideas he left behind. Can you practise them?’

On Brahmacharya: Swami Vivekananda said that chastity is the cleanliness of sensuality – meaning because you are a brahmachari you are worshipping the Supreme Being and you develop a longing for the Atman. Firstly we need satsang [prayer services], holy company and reading of the scriptures. Discrimination and brahmacharya lead to understanding.

What we really want in life, we seek in meditation. That is very, very important. Parents must teach their children to live a life of brahmacharya. All the saints realised God through brahmacharya. Brahmacharya grows into yearning – and yearning grows into knowledge and the vision of Rama [God].

On prayer: If you pray for yourself it is selfish. If for example you pray, ‘Make me better’ or, ‘Give me this or that,’ it is selfish. But if I pray for others that is unselfish; it is not for my body.

Question: How can we get the desire to do more japa?
Swamiji: By having faith.
Question: How to get faith, Swamiji?
Swamiji: Think of the Form, of the Name, and love God. Then you will get the faith, you will get the purity. Christ said, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.’ See how much I love the Lord’s name? See Sri Ramakrishna within, then no bad thoughts will come. When there are good thoughts, how will bad thoughts come? If you think of Sri Ramakrishna, how will you think of anything else?

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.