Meditation, noise and karma
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
Selected from Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
Day 825
Devotee: When one meditates and there's a lot of noise what can one do?
Swamiji: Naturally you can't get rid of that noise if it's outside. But one thing I do is to think that Lord Shiva's dhootas [attendants/servants] are dancing now – this is the kind of noise carrying on – I see Lord Shiva's dhootas all dancing. I still connect myself with the meditation, with Lord Shiva. But inside, if your mind starts running here and there and you really can't manage it, it's nice to open your eyes and say a few mantras [sacred sound syllable, word or one of the many names attributed to God] loudly, or say some slokas [verses] from the Bhagavad Gita or Ramayana out loud.
That's what Sri Ramakrishna taught us when a person came to undermine him. The man wanted to show that Sri Ramakrishna was not an Incarnation [avatar] of God. He came and started reciting a mantra, Sri Ramakrishna recited louder than him, he recited louder than Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna recited louder than him and they went louder and louder until the other fellow gave up. Sri Ramakrishna was the loudest. The idea is that you must make such a loud noise with God's name that all other names must fear [be afraid] and run away. [laughter]
Devotee: Swamiji, sometimes do children have to pay for the sins of their parents?
Swamiji: Never. That never happens. No child will pay for the sins of its parents. Each one pays for their own sins. It may appear that the child is paying for the sins of the parents but the child can be paying the debts of the father and mother willingly – that's called dharma. But the parent's sin? The child can't do it. Either the past is linked up, or the present is linked up with it – intermingled. So don't ever fear that. Why? God is not that kind of an unjust Being – that if I make a mistake He punishes my son. It's not like our law courts. [laughter]
Remember always that God will not do something that is not right. All this is happening because of our collective karma [debt or burden of previous-birth behaviour] - and we have to go through it. But if I'm sincere it will counteract some of these karmas because truthfulness is the greatest austerity [tapasya] that cancels many sins. The only way to be stabilised in this is to say, 'If this is in God's hand, it's not in my hand. God won't do wrong. If God means to kill me, it's good. If God means to save me, it's good. Lord I surrender myself to You.' That is one of the ways. There may be other ways, but this is one of the best ways.
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