If someone is dying
[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 832
Devotee: What should we do if someone is about to die?
Swamiji: You must do that japa [meditative repetition of a mantra or one of the many names attributed to God] that you always do because it is the strongest [most accustomed] japa in you. You touch him [or her] on the chest and the forehead and do that japa. Otherwise stand nearby and mentally do japa and feel the presence of your Deity [Ishta Deva]. If you can't do that then say the OM Tryambakam [Mahamritunjaya] mantra:
Om Tryambakam yajamahe, sugandhim pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhanat, mrityor mukshiya mamritat
[Meaning: We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Shiva) who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings. May he liberate me from death, for the sake of immortality, even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage (of the creeper).]
I get very impatient when a man is dying if he doesn't die quickly. My gurubhai [spiritual brother – initiated by the same guru] Vishnupriya when he came back from India had cancer. He was only here for one week – he actually came back just to see us. So we took him to hospital and saw the doctor. Then I told Vishnupriya, "Hey, give up the body, man. Do something quick." He asked me why and I said, "I want to go, I don't want to sit here all the time with you." So he closed his eyes as he was breathing his last and I held him and started repeating the mantra. He also repeated the mantra. After repeating it three times he left the body. This is true, it happened here. I felt very happy.
Otherwise I get very impatient. Why are they making me wait if they want to go? I know they don't "die" so it's better that they go and carry on with their work, fast, on the other side, (if there are any sides to it).
My mother asked me, "If I die you'll be happy?" I said, "If you die in God's name I'll be happy. Otherwise I won't be happy – [it will be] one life you've wasted."
Devotee: What does that mean, "in God's name"?
Swamiji: If you take God's name and are conscious of God and die, I'll be happy. Otherwise you don't know where your karma will take you. Then I won't be happy because one whole life you will have wasted.
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