Disc 135 Track 2. Swamiji says that if we’re sincere as we pray, we MUST get the result.
To listen to Swamiji speaking, please fully open this post and then click HERE. This audio recording comprises several short and very interesting segments.
On Prayer: Swamiji starts off by saying that if we’re doing prayers from the Puranas, the Vedas, the Bible etc. and that if we’re sincere as we utter the words, we MUST get the result – there’s no other way about it, no doubt about it. Swamiji repeats the words, ‘Without a doubt’ several times to entrench and emphasise the point. He says that if the result doesn’t come, it means we are not yet sincere and must not put the blame on God, but accept that we still have some ‘self-adjusting’ to do.
On the Ishta Devata: Swamiji says we must make the concept of our Ishta Devata [Chosen Ideal or personal Deity] a big and powerful image in the mind, whoever our Chosen Ideal may be. The key is to focus the mind on a single idea or object. In case we think this is overly difficult, Swamiji asks: is it possible for [the average] man to perform any action or task without first concentrating the mind on it?
On Mantra: Swamiji says that repetition of a single holy word or any syllable representative or symbolic of God or Truth – this is mantra.
Fasting: Says Swamiji: We must fast [as spiritual and sadhana tapasya]. We are not animals. We are made in the image of God. Swamiji gives a list of the days on which we should fast. Ekadashi day, full moon, new moon, and several others. He says if we can’t perform this kind of self-discipline, who and what are we? Slaves – and no better than animals.
On Vasishtha Guha: Swamiji relates a delightful and inspirational story about an experience he had in the Vasishtha Guha cave. This was the dwelling place of our ‘Guruji’ – Swami Purushottamananda Puri, our spiritual ‘great grandfather’, for many years. Guruji was guru to Swami Nischalananda Puri, our ‘Gurudev’. Gurudev was founder and first President of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. You need to hear Swamiji sharing this anecdote. It clearly had massive impact on him Swamiji wraps up the various points in this recording by saying that the highest prayer, is to wish benefit for others.
The free-to-read or download, 396 page Flipbook version of Swamiji’s biography is available by clicking HERE. If you’d prefer the PDF version, please click HERE.
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 an individual or a group of people with him, at the time.