Insights into spiritual practice [sadhana]
[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 898
Learn the Hanuman Ashtakam [which follows the Hanuman Chalisa]. It is very important.
Remember Sri Ramakrishna's words: For God-realisation you need self-exertion. Swami Vivekananda said, 'Life is the unfoldment and development of a [living] being under circumstances tending to press it down.' Sri Ramakrishna said: You are not a sinner. You are a child of God. You are born in a new school of thought. Say, "O Lord, by your grace I am here."
You must do sadhana [spiritual practice]. You must get up on time. If you do not, the seed of laziness lies there. Do everything moderately. But what is taboo for brahmachari [God-conscious, sense-controlled] life, you should not do. When you are oblivious of yourself and only conscious of the Deity [Ishta Deva or Chosen Ideal], then you have surrendered. That is the key to surrender. When you start to do sadhana properly, the questions pop up in your mind. I know this from personal experience.
A saint's life is based on unity. As he unites with God, he unites the whole world. And that is why it is called Yoga [from the Sanskrit root word 'yuk', meaning: to unite].
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