Finding peace
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
666
Swamiji reads from: A Primer of Hinduism by Prof. D.S. Sharma
Daughter: But how is this done?
Father: It is done by means of prayer, contemplation and love. In a word: by bhakti.
Daughter: What exactly is bhakti?
Father: A great Hindu devotee, the author of the Narada [Bhakti] Sutras, defined bhakti as 'an intense love of God'.
[Swamiji] You may think that you know this but it is worthwhile memorising it. That is why Sri Ramakrishna said, 'He who yearns intensely for God will find God.'
A man who loves God has no wants and no sorrows. He neither hates nor rejoices . . .
[Swamiji] A man who loves God will not hate anybody; nor will he rejoice at someone's downfall; his only concern is God.
. . . nor strives with zeal for any ends of his own . . .
[Swamiji] He does not care anything for himself, he always does everything for God and God alone.
. . . for through bhakti is he moved to rapture and through bhakti does he attain peace and is ever happy in spirit.
[Swamiji] A holy man is never sad. He is ever happy in Spirit. Why? Because he loves God and God is not a pawpaw [gloomy] faced person sitting somewhere with a headache. God is happy. When you join the Happy One you become happy yourself. So a pawpaw faced Swami should be taught how to become happy once again.
Once I made that mistake. I said to Swami Nisreyasananda [pictured – of the Ramakrishna Mission in Zimbabwe, Africa. Google his name], 'I am tired of all these things, Maharaj.' He said, 'If you write a sign board that says ALL SECOND-HAND FURNITURE WANTED and put it outside, what kind of furniture will you find in your yard?' I said, 'Second-hand furniture.' He said, 'That's what you are doing. You have written FED UP and everyone is putting fed up on you. Write BLISS and everyone will put bliss.' It is true.
You have a happy God, why should you be sad? Either something is wrong with your God or something is wrong with you. But I know there is nothing wrong with God so there must be something wrong with you.
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 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