Mind is a rogue
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
714
Let us say you find R500 on a table. You look around and there is nobody to see you. You try to grab it. That is temptation. God has put it there for you to see how weak you are.
When you know that your mind is attracted toward weakness, what should you do? Take your mind from that temptation and put it on God Himself and say, 'God, do not tempt me. I love You. I shall not prostitute my love for Thee for anything in this Universe.' Thus God becomes the Eternal Groom and we become the Eternal Bride.
This temptation on the outside is called maya. Maya [the divine power of illusion/delusion] is attracting you in the form of kaya or body. It is attracting you always. So detect it and quickly shift the emphasis from body-consciousness to Spirit-consciousness.
Gurudev [Swami Nischalananda Puri – Swamiji's beloved Guru] also used to say: 'Don't ever trust your mind.' This mind is a thoroughbred rogue. It will hold you by the hands, just like a friend, tempt you, drop you down and then say, 'Look what I did to you!' Your mind enjoys the joke. Watch it every second, clear the road and think about God.
You have no business to say, 'But the other man is doing this so why shouldn't I?' Religion is subjective not objective. Objective has become maya; subjective becomes God-consciousness itself.
Gurudev also used to tell us: 'If you are attracted towards a friend, chase that friend away, go and make new friends. Your mind will go towards weakness by taking the same route.' When we were at yoga camp in Tongaat [on the north coast of KwaZulu Natal South Africa] we had a group of people, and we loved to discuss things by ourselves. We thought we were 'big boys'. Gurudev used to say, 'Forget it. It's a kind of attachment. Go to others and make friends. Try to test your mind to break away from your so-called enemy-friends. They are taking you away from God.'
So do not just sit by that 'friend' and think you are enjoying it, because that is your weakness. Remember that.
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