Disc 137 Track 6. Swamiji says: ‘You have no right to disturb the faith of another person.’ [This post is about Advaita Vedanta. Proceed with caution.]

To listen to Swamiji speaking, please fully open the post and then click HERE.

Disclaimer/cautionary: This is not the ideal post for folks who prefer to think of ‘God’ as an entity totally separate from themselves. It’s about Advaita Vedanta – which is the Sanatani or Hindu philosophical term for ‘non-dualism’. Meaning that there is ONE, Indivisible Divine Consciousness [referred to as Brahman], in which everyone and everything, seen and unseen, is included. So it’s a discussion for spiritual seekers or aspirants who will not be discomfited by the idea.

For context, in the Sanatana Dharma, there are approaches to cater for all personalities, states of emotional and spiritual inclination and intellectual development. 

Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘As many minds, as many religions.’ And also, ‘As many devotees, as many paths.’ And extended that thought further to say, ‘There are innumerable paths to God.’ That’s the inclusiveness to be found. In which, as Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘Religions are like rivers. They all end in that one ocean called God.’ Whatever our concept of God may be. No path is invalid. He said that some rivers flow crooked (meaning they meander) whilst others go more directly towards the ocean. But there’s no superiority or inferiority. Every path is valid and right for the person on it, and where they are, right now. It’s not our business to try to persuade or force anyone to any viewpoint. Swamiji said to us innumerable times: ‘You have no right to disturb the faith of another person.’ 

The wise ones say that we are all on the path to a closeness and ultimate merging with God. Knowingly or unknowingly. We will all get there in good time, in accordance with our destiny or self-effort, which can, and does, according to the Great Ones in all religions, accelerate that journey.

In a nutshell in this discussion, Swamiji says that the Sanskrit word ‘Advaita’ (non-dualism), which is the opposite of ‘Dvaita’ (dualism) can be very simply summed up by understanding that it means, ‘Not two’. Please listen to his very accessible explanation of what Advaita means and how exquisitely inclusive it is. God Bless and enjoy. Jai Sri Ramakrishna! 

Footnote: In the recording, you’ll hear Swamiji refer to ‘Maya‘. Maya is often explained as illusion or delusion or said to mean ‘unreal’. But Swamiji taught us that it’s none of those – it’s simply partial truth. That is, not yet fully revealed to us, or within us.

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.