Daily Reading 93. Swamiji stresses the need to recognise that the divine is working through us, and explains the power of Master’s mantra bija.

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

In meditation forget the world, think of the Lord alone. After meditation sit and reflect. This leads to joy. Consciously minimise the tension of the nerves. This leads to peace. Relax before meditation.

You must have holy thoughts on going to sleep and think the mind is merged in divine light. Wherever the mind goes put Sri Ramakrishna there first. Follow dharma [righteousness]. Do everything for God. This is real renunciation. Do sadhana [spiritual practise] for spiritual upliftment.

Choose to become a God-man. Think: ‘Sri Ramakrishna is everywhere, is doing everything.‘ And ask yourself: ‘What would Sri Ramakrishna or Swami [Shivapadananda] do?’ Act like a saint and surrender completely. Meditate on light. See it spread through the Universe. Meditate on love and joy. Look at everyone, see Sri Ramakrishna there. Sri Ramakrishna said, [Not I, not I] but ‘Thou, thou.‘ This only comes after great suffering. If you can’t take God’s name, take refuge in me.

The bija [mantra-seed] of Sri Ramakrishna’s name is ऐं – ‘eym’ [not pronounced as ‘aim’ at something, but like, I’m – as in I’m going to go to pray]. The seed is so small yet a great big tree grows from it. Similarly in due time, from it springs spiritual Consciousness – devotion – love. Each mantra has a bija which arouses the Deity within us. The purpose of a mantra is to awaken the Spirit in man. I use the guru mantra for everything. It will carry you across the ocean of samsara [the cycle of birth and rebirth].

[Swamiji has explained before that ऐं [eym] is not just the seed mantra for Mother Saraswati, but in fact for All Consciousness – which Sri Ramakrishna encompasses and is.]

Let every kick [adversity, setback or suffering] make you think of God. We are not serious enough. Master [Sri Ramakrishna] claimed us and we don’t think of him. When you go to sleep think of God and His lilas [divine play]. Best of all, think you are sitting in His lap.

Question: How can we get the desire to repeat the mantra [sacred sound syllable or one of the many names attributed to God]?
Swamiji: By having faith.
Question: How do we get faith, Swamiji?
Swamiji: Think of the form [of the deity], think of the name and love God. This leads to faith and purity. If you think of Sri Ramakrishna, how can you think of anything else? Better repeat his name, otherwise you say one thing and repeat something else. It doesn’t matter if his photo isn’t there, or even if you throw it away – he will lead you to God.

Lust, anger, greed and laziness must be conquered. The mantra awakens tremendous power – Chaitanya [God] consciousness. Repeat His [God’s] name. All your deeds are controlled by His name. Touch the philosopher’s stone and all turns to gold – if God touches anything, it turns to Soul.

My guru [Swami Nischalananda Puri] did everything for me. Sometimes God can’t wait. It all happened suddenly.

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.