Grace vs. Prarabdha Karma
[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 929
Devotee: I was thinking about that story of when Mother Sarada Devi [the Holy Mother – nun-wife of Sri Ramakrishna] was walking along the road [at night in a very isolated area] and she met those rouges [rough type intent on theft and physical harm] and she said, 'It's your daughter, Sarada,' instead of shouting and screaming; and I was wondering what her state of mind was?
Swamiji: Her state of mind was pure and love. That is why it was so effective.
Sarada Devi must have felt the love to have said that and for that love to be active on him. Her state of mind was like that. That was her grace on him, really.
That was Narada's grace which went on Valmiki. Nothing else. The seven Rishis [Sapta Rishis] felt that this world was not permanent and nobody could say it is. Look at it. Look at it with clean mind; but don't put your 'I' in it.
Devotee: Returning to the question previously asked: So though these people were thieves it was their good prarabdha [karma] to meet her [Mother Sarada Devi] . . .
Swamiji: Yes son. You may use the words, 'Their good prarabdha.' But coming back to your scripture, it says, The Self only reveals to those It thinks fit. So, even if he is a sinner, you can't say what karma he could have done. We don't know. But the word grace has got no qualification. Once you say 'prarabdha' then you must take out 'grace'. So I say it was Mother's grace because she is a mother. What else can she do? The mother doesn't see if the child is worthy or not worthy. 'It's my child,' she'd say.
Devotee: I fully accept this . . .
Swamiji: Look, from that point of view your answer is right. But I'd like to put it on Grace.
If a man does something wrong everyone can say: 'It's his prarabdha. What can he do about it?' But we can't really say that all the time, can we?
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 Ramakrishna Dham