More on Karma and Grace [kripa]
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
DAILY READINGS
Selected from Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji.
Day 930
Swamiji continues speaking on karma and grace [kripa]
Remember how that person came to Swami Vivekananda [spiritual heir to Sri Ramakrishna] and said, 'Oh, I so want to build these cow-sheds, these gosalas. We want this from you. You are a great sannyasi [Swami, Hindu monk, sadhu, holy man], please give these things to us.' Then Swami Vivekananda asked him, 'Oh, it's very nice that you want to build so many gosalas – but what about the famine? There are so many people who are sick and have been washed away, what are you doing about that?' The man said, 'No, well, that is their karma.' Then Swami Vivekananda said, 'Well, if that is their karma then that is your cows' karma too. Go from here. I rather worship man first, man who can look after the animals, rather than worship the animals who can't even look after man. Go from here.'
Blame prarabdha [karma]? [the karma due to be worked out in this birth – see post 928 and 929] You can't do that. [It's] Grace ['kripa' in action].
God has shown us how to get up there [higher spiritual consciousness] – ascend. But He didn't show us how to descend because scriptures are not meant to teach us geography and history. If you want that, there are a lot of texts written on that. You can go and read them. But when you come to the scriptural things and holy men – that is something else.
If you want to know how to make bread, you've got a mother. She'll teach you [the more mundane things of life]. So don't come and ask me what to do about that. [i.e. come here for spiritual tuition]
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