Doing everything for God

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

617

[Pictured: Mohandas 'Mahatma' Gandhi]

 
 

[Swamiji's commentary on a part of the Bhagavad Gita]

The Bhagavad Gita, without doubt, shows us that we sadhakas [spiritual aspirants] have many doubts on our path to God-realisation. Sri Krishna says it precisely in chapter seven: With a mind intent on Me, practising yoga and taking refuge in Me, you will know Me. There are two things here: He says you must practise and at the same time you must take refuge in him. We must discriminate.

Many people in welfare societies are doing very good work but this does not mean that they will get God-realisation. Their work is not adapted as a discipline for God-realisation. Whilst doing the same work, if you take refuge in God, if you surrender the fruits to God, or feel that it is God's grace that is making you do it, then only does it become sadhana; then only will you get God-realisation. This applies to whichever form of God you are praying to. God is One but He has different forms.

There are two separate things here in the text: Firstly, yoga means a certain discipline. Secondly, taking refuge means surrendering or completely knowing that it is His Grace that makes you do everything. It is very important for doctors to understand this. No matter how much good you do in the world, the people will clap their hands and say what a good man you are, but you will do nothing for your Self. In this life you are born as a donkey – carrying people up and down the mountains; and you will probably die as a donkey. And in your next birth you will still not get any realisation because while doing all this you are thinking of grass, you are not thinking of God. So you will become even more of a grass-eater in the next birth.

Printing will not take you anywhere – print it for God. Singing will not take you anywhere – sing it for God. Explaining to others will not take you anywhere – do it for God.

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.

Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Nischalananda Puri, Swami Shivapadananda

Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read online…

Reference websites (please mouse-over
the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa,
Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2