Daily Reading 96. Swamiji says, ‘In arthritis and asthma the cause is stress and tension.’
Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
During sadhana [spiritual practise/meditation] relax muscles at a physical level and breathing at an emotional level. Pranayama [yoga breathing] leads to mental relaxation. Altogether this leads to peace of mind.
In arthritis and asthma, the cause is stress and tension. Yoga removes the root cause of stress and tension. Don’t blame the environment [anything outside of yourself] as this leads to anger and harms the body. In deep relaxation we tap hidden energy.
Swami Purushottamananda Puri [Swamiji’s paramguru – his guru’s guru] said about vichara [reasoning, reflection]: ‘When the eyes are wide open, looking at the world, understanding the emptiness of it – this is real sadhana.’
An excerpt from a book [on Ramana Maharshi?]: Total surrender is stillness of the mind and the attainment of supreme peace.
Swamiji: Mentally prostrate to all.
Reading: Increase your love for God – then your love for others increases.
Swamiji: I found this was the key to my spiritual life.
Reading: All poise, power comes from the divine – the mantra is a direct means of tapping this source. The life of a spiritual aspirant must be conscious and alert. It must be less unconscious thinking and activity. Be master of your mind. Only think of God and your [higher] Self. If you have a problem, bring in the divine current – ventilate the whole atmosphere. Be straightforward, aloof in company of the worldly, but not haughty.
Swamiji: Surrender to the Divine is the mightiest form of sadhana [spiritual practise].
When all external consolation has gone and life is very painful, this leads to God – see it as a curative crisis. Practise self-surrender more and more. When you realise Paramatman [supreme, undifferentiated consciousness] as your own Self, you overcome grief and sorrow.
Worship the Lord in all – then you will not find fault. Awaken the attitude: God is there and I prostrate to Him. And: God is the Master, and I am the servant. Offer the fruit [merit, outcome] of your labour to the Supreme Spirit. Why? To stop the ego.
Devotee: I can’t always say [use] my [prayer] beads [japa mala].
Swamiji: It’s enough to remember Sri Ramakrishna always and salute Him mentally. Master [Sri Ramakrishna] will look after you here and hereafter, don’t worry.
With what do you think? The mind, the Self. Meditate on mind – think about it. Where does your mind go? It gathers itself together, it doesn’t go anywhere else. You are as it were, within when you meditate on the mind. Meditate on God with form [saguna Brahman]. Then meditate on the same Deity as formless [nirguna Brahman], without limitations.
Be imperturbable. Find rest in the mantra [sacred sound syllable or one of the many names attributed to God] – not in sleep. Tired? Pray: ‘O Lord you are energy, fill me with energy, strength.’ This calms the mind. Real silence is silence of mind.
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.