Dispassion
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
DAILY READINGS
Selected from Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji.
Day 846
There are different types of renunciation [giving up the worldly life to follow an exclusively spiritual path]: [1] The Spiritual Truth which leads to God-realisation; [2] the grace of great saints leads to God's grace (a saint has the best dispassion – vairagya); [3] the true renunciation of a man of realisation. All conflicts and tensions are [then] set at rest for ever. Renunciation alone leads to fearlessness.
Do self-analysis and see the old memories [samskaras, vasanas, mental impressions] arise again and again. Dwell on the name and form of the holy Deity [Ishta Deva]. This will drive away bad thoughts. When there is a good thought the bad thought is gone. If you cannot avoid the bad thought, be a witness to it [exercise vairagya or dispassion], then you do not identify yourself with it. The witness and thought are two different things. Do not think: 'I am angry.' Think: 'The mind is angry.'
Of the three nerve currents [nadis] the Ida is the right nostril – sun and warm. Pingala is the left nostril – moon and cool. In the centre is the Sushumna [Swamiji points to his third eye, central forehead area] It is here.
Devotee: Why is Guru Purnima [the annual day on which the Guru [spiritual preceptor] is especially remembered, revered and worshipped] and on the full moon of Leo [the western sign of the zodiac]?
Swamiji: Because Vedvyasa [the father and 'author' of the Vedas – representation pictured above] wrote it on that day – and he is an incarnation [avatar]. Vedvyasa was the lion of all the gurus.
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time.
2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order.
Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and teachings.
For more about the Holy Trinity, and also the founding Swamis of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, please mouse over their names below:
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites – please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa
60; Ramakrishna Dham