Daily Reading 85. Swamiji gives intense practical advice for our day-to-day spiritual growth.

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

Devotee: They say that patterns appear in trays of sand when mantras are sung [in response to the vibrations]. Isn’t that very beautiful, Swamiji?
Swamiji: I would not say it is very beautiful, but I would say that if you thought of your Deity and repeated his name [japa] in your mind, you become the form of the Deity – and that is beautiful!

Never take me for granted and you will be all right. Never assume I will give you 1, 2, 3 chances. If you have any problem, just ask Sri Ramakrishna. He will give. Sri Ramakrishna will do it. Always keep the guru happy and you will be happy.

As you get older read one page of Sri Ramakrishna’s Gospel, and rest, and meditate on it. Do this continually.

Swami Vivekananda said, ‘By the unselfishness of the guru’s love, matter in the chela is changed in spirit.’

Pray to God to remove thoughts from the subconscious mind. Offer them to the divine. Witness everything that comes up. Be unattached to them, then you will transcend [rise above] them.

We need one pointed service of the guru – that is the secret. It keeps the mind alert, sharp – but it takes a long time.

Pray and take refuge in Sri Ramakrishna if you want peace and happiness in this world. By selfless service you will be happy.

It is written that as Master’s disciple ‘M’ [Mahendranath Gupta, the recorder of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna] died he said, ‘O Master, O Mother, take me on your lap.’ This is a mantra.

In the beginning we do sadhana with intellect. Later it becomes natural. The heart takes over. The Lord says, ‘All is done by me because I am natural in you.’

When samadhi [superconsciousness] comes, you are always in samadhi. We read how Sri Ramakrishna was in agony when a wounded man touched him. This is because he [Master] became the Deity.

One injection of satsang is enough in one day. It keeps the poisonous trap of maya away.

If you want to be calm give up all attachment. Every action must become worship. Offer all work to God, and remember: I am a humble servant of God – everything is done by His great strength.

Worship God with all your heart – but our hearts are full of many other things. Shift the centre of consciousness from yourself to God.

Swami Vivekananda says, ‘Seeing the many sins of the world, love all.’

Think: I am free by nature. Know that we are perfect but we have forgotten it.

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.