Living together vs. marriage and taking drugs
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
738
Today I see the modern style of not getting married is in fashion. You just live together and enjoy yourself. That is not moral. You are using somebody for the sake of using them. It is like animals. But we have evolved. Let us not be like animals, because this characteristic is the most potent creative power given to man.
Visitor: I disagree with you in that aspect, Swamiji. I think you can enter into a relationship by living together for a while.
Swamiji: No, son. Never. Otherwise why would your scriptures say you must make a marriage vow?
Visitor: What are the spiritual merits of taking drugs and why are drugs mentioned in the scriptures.
Swamiji: After seeing God a man becomes a saint, he never wants to injure anybody, he is selfless, he is not selfish. But do drug addicts care two hoots about killing you? Do they care two hoots to steal from you? If the drug craving comes on them do you think they will leave you alone? They will steal anything from you, even if you yourself are starving. I have seen this. One drug addict knocked his father flat because the father asked, 'What happened to the money that was here? You took it.' He just knocked his father down.
Our scriptures do say that our yogis took drugs. But it is misunderstood. It's like saying to you, 'Do you know that the doctors give alcohol?' And you saying, 'Well, because the doctors prescribe it I must start drinking it.' There is no sense in that. The doctors do give you alcohol – pharmaceutical alcohol. There is no getting away from that, but it is mixed with medicine and has medicinal value.
So the yogis did take drugs – ganja [marijuana] and other things – but they took them as prescribed by the guru. The guru brought them up to a certain height of vibration and purity, and from there, when they were given the drug, these people were elevated. After that they didn't need it. When they came down they didn't need ganja and other things.
Some people will probably say, 'But after coming down they took it again.' Never.
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