Disc 136 Track 5. Swamiji says: If we just reject information without investigating it, we’re not scientists.
To listen to Swamiji speaking, please fully open the post and then click HERE.
[There’s a fountain running in the background. But it mercifully doesn’t impair the audibility of the track.] Overview of track contents:
Swamiji speaks about Lord’s Shiva’s companion – Nandi the bull. Who Swamiji says is not really a bull.
God is not partial or dependant on us ‘liking’ him says Swamiji. Like the sun, He shines on sinner and saint, alike.
Swamiji says it doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in God. But at least have the enquiring mind of a scientist to explore what the great saints and sages [Rishis and Munis] provided in the form of scriptures, or explore and experiment to determine for yourself whether there is an outcome or not. Then you can say with assurance, ‘It’s lies’ – if that’s your conclusion – and discard it.
If we just reject information without investigating it, we’re not scientists. We’re just fools in a human body. It must be like any other knowledge that one tests. Take up this subject of ‘The practise of religion’ and see in your own mind, if it works or not.
Swamiji comments briefly on some so-called saints who become upset if someone criticises them. Swamiji hints that if they get upset, the person doing the criticising is doing that ‘saint’ a favour, because they’re clearly still caught in the trap of ego.
Swamiji quotes from pointers given by Swami Vivekananda: Never lose faith in the power of good work. To do good to others. Never! No matter how much people may criticise, do not lose faith in that. Wherever you find it – regardless of religion – encourage it.
The national trait in India is jealousy, said Swami Vivekananda. So, take away jealousy. Guard against it.
These things (said Swami Vivekananda) only come out of great purity of mind. To purify the mind, we practise religion. And to concentrate the mind on that supreme good, to do that, we follow religion. Some will do good without religion. But the test is that when we become selfless, are you then becoming God-like? If you become selfish then there is something wrong.
Swamiji puts all these thoughts into context by telling a wonderful story about the Sage, Narada, having a discussion with Lord Vishnu, and how he was taught a valuable lesson by the Lord, which applies to us all. Please, please listen to Swamiji telling this story. It’s a heart-warmer and a life-altering one.
Swamiji wraps up the lesson by asking where our hearts and minds are when we’re praying. In a distracted state? Or has the heart truly been fully given to God?
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.