Men and renunciation
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
703
Parents should not obstruct their sons either if they are going towards God. It is better than standing on the corner, smoking cigarettes and dagga [marijuana], it is better than going to the movies. If the child's mind is coming towards God, offer it to God. But every child that comes here should first see that he finishes his matric [final grade of secondary school], goes to the university and then comes and renounces when he has some equipment in him, some instrument, some weapon in him, to work with the public.
We do not want lazy children. A lazy man is not good for God nor is he good for mankind, and above all he is not good for himself. A lazy man should not renounce. A lazy man should go and work, get married and have a wife – if possible wives – [Swamiji teasing] and children. [laughter] Only a man who is not lazy, one who works so much for himself that later on he can work selflessly for others, must renounce.
I think that in Kaliyuga [this epoch/era/age] a man should try to renounce at about fifty. He should get away from his wife and children and try to become strong and independent. Do not hate your wife; do not hate your children; love them, but try to get detached.
Today people who are sixty or seventy want to remarry. This is a funny kind of a thing. They already have false teeth but they still want to eat bones. This kind of a life is not good. Ultimately renounce for God.
Never ever, not even in dream, forget your gurustan [the place where the guru (spiritual preceptor) came from]. Some of us have great gurustans. Never forget it. Uplift it always. Never talk ill about any holy man from any religion. All holy men are doing holy work to uplift their own minds and the minds of others towards God.
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