Ecstatic moods and God-realisation
[Pictured: Mathur Babu, son-in-law of the Rani Rasmani, she who was founder of the Kali Temple at Dakshineswar]
[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 967
Blessed children of God, another day, another evening has almost gone by. We have gathered here to try and get love for God's lotus feet. That is what we are here for. Otherwise, what is the use of us trying to get together [in satsang]? Earlier we said that life is one long discipline, based on certain principles. These principles as you know, are divided into four different stages [the ashramas of brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa]. One must not misunderstand that one has to, lifelong, follow this.
Yes, if you do not become perfect in it, if you do not perfect that moral and ethical aspect of yourself, then it is natural that you should go on trying until you get yourself perfect. If you fail in standard one [at school], the teacher will not do you a favour and pass you. Why? Not because the teacher is against you, but the teacher wants a perfect standard one pupil so he can face up to standard two.
Similarly when Swami Vivekananda [spiritual heir to Sri Ramakrishna] was asked in India – this is very important that I'm going to say – 'Swamiji, are you God-realised?' You see, they look at a swami and they want to know, 'is that fellow God-realised?' Swami Vivekananda continued walking down the aisle. The voice came firm and strong again, 'Swamiji, I'm asking if you're God-realised?' Swamiji continued walking, then turned and said to the man, 'What's your question?' The man replied, 'are you God-realised?' Swami Vivekananda said, 'Just know – it is difficult enough to be a gentleman.' [Swamiji chuckles] The idea is that you must first become a gentle man. You are not yet gentle in this world. You haven't got the qualities of a good human being. How can you even imagine what God-realisation is? Even if I gave it to you?
It is useless trying to give man that state when that man you know perfectly well in your heart, that he will not make use of this. From this point of view, like Jesus Christ said, 'Do not throw pearls before swine [pigs].' Do not throw pearls in front of swine. Now swine is not a swear word. Swine only means the sensual man. What's the use of you giving spirituality to the man who values material things [Swamiji chuckling] – what's the use of giving him that truth which is the highest when he will himself reject it. Question mark – how do I know that he will reject it? Is there nothing in the mind, that the man seeing it, he will 'get' it?
The requirement is this; that you will only want what you love. You will only want what you… love. In the life of Mathur Babu [the son in law of the Rani Rasmani (pictured below), the founder of the 
Kali Temple at Dakshineswar] you see that standing out gloriously. After a long fight [nagging] with Sri Ramakrishna, he wanted to be absorbed in bhavasamadhi. A trance [spiritual state] of a pure type where you can see [the Divine] Mother and see this whole universe permeated by God [Swamiji chuckling heartily] – after Master [Sri Ramakrishna] gave him the state, he comes back to the Master and says, 'Please take away your ecstatic moods. I do not want it. I can't carry on with my office work.' [Swamiji and devotees enjoying this] He says, 'I can't do it. Take it back.' This is recorded in Master's life. From that point of view, when you look at it, it may sound very superficial the way the saints and sages carry on, but it's not superficial – they know what they're doing.
If they have to give it to you, it'll only bring about more suffering on your family, on your brothers and on to others. Because, apparently without preparation, you will neglect the duty which is a stepping stone to higher things. The example – Mathur Babu. Therefore it is so essential that we first should practise our allotted duty and transform it into sadhana [spiritual practice]. Until that happens, the higher levels will not come. The higher level will not….come.
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, 150 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 Ramakrishna Dham