Meditation tips
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
Selected from Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji.
Day 806
When you sit for meditation focus your mind on your position of meditation and on your Chosen Ideal [Ishta Deva]. Look at the Deity's feet first and go upwards. Take it easy – there is no hurry. Try to see your Deity as definitely as possible. Work upwards until you reach the face then look lovingly at the smiling face of the Deity. Sometimes look at the feet or the hands.
Repeat the sacred name of that Deity mentally. Do not forget to try to see the form always – either the feet or the hands, or the smiling face.
When the mind goes elsewhere do not get worried, drag it back again lovingly and let it come and flow like the [river] Ganges on the form of the Ishta Devata.
You must have the softest feeling. Do it with love but let your body be firm. Whilst doing that, feel the Deity's living presence in that mental form that he has taken so lovingly for your sake.
Do not let your mind run elsewhere – if it drifts, lovingly pull it back again. All this must be done in a state of relaxation.
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Various thoughts
One thing that we must realise is that our scriptures not only give us the goal but also point out to us the methods to reach that goal.
In the Bhagavad Gita we notice that though Sri Krishna is so near and dear to Arjuna, yet Arjuna is forced to ask questions of the All-knower himself.
We should not go about teaching people unless those people want to learn.
When you visit a sadhu [holy person] or satsangi [spiritual service attendee], if you are a real sadhaka [spiritual aspirant], you will always turn the whole conversation, very lovingly, towards the Spirit.
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