Swamiji’s talk at the end of a yoga camp.
Despite best efforts and the sound-editing technology currently available, recording echo on some of the previous clips has made listening very difficult. Starting with this post, we've chosen to upload clips of Swamiji speaking that were recorded in quieter environments, and the over-riding criterion is: Are they clear enough for easy listening? We hope you'll find them to be so.
This particular audio track is a recording of an early years (1970s) conclusion of a Yoga Camp at Tongaat Beach. Swamiji is looking at one of the certificates of attendance that each sadhaka received at the end of the camp. Swamiji is admiring the detail and thoughtfulness that Pravrajika Atmaprana Didi [then head of the Sri Sarada Devi ashram in Asherville, Durban] had put into the design and graphic elements.
Swamiji refers to each component on the certificate, starting with the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa emblem [pictured above].
In response to Swamiji asking what the emblem graphic is called, there's an entertaining to and fro, in which numerous people suggest what the 'correct' term is. I clearly hear Mother Radha's [a fuzzy but lovely picture of her alongside] voice saying 'emblem', which of course, it is. Swamiji thoroughly enjoyed the engagement from devotees on the description. 'Logo' seemed to win the day. Not wrong, because it comes from the Greek root word for a visual that illustrates a word. 😉
The detail on the certificate is a wonderful reminder of why the sadhaka is at the yoga camp. Covering Yama [things we spiritual aspirants should do] and Niyama [things we should not be doing] as well.
There's a delightful moment in the conversation, in which Swamiji mentions that Swamis Premananda and then-Saradananda had stayed over at the Asherville ashram several times. Atmaprana – who along with the architect Anthony Smallwood – had drawn up the plans for the ashram, jokingly complained about not having the opportunity to do so. So Swamiji not only sent her there to fulfil her wish, but installed her there permanently! The congregation chuckle merrily at this story. [It had always been Swamiji's intention to have the nuns in their own ashram, and as Swamiji once said to me: 'They'll one day go their own way.']
Atmaprana did a wonderful job of running what became a 'Mother House' for the nuns of the Centre. The complex included an adjacent property, which housed brahmacharinis and several dedicated women devotees. It was in that house that our beloved Sister Henny Schimmel – a great financial and in every other way supporter of both Gurudev [Swami Nischalananda Puri] and Swamiji, lived, and ended her earthly days.
A superb spiritual discourse results from Swamiji systematically discussing each carefully included element on the certificate, and the significance of them, for not only the monastic disciples, but for us non-monastics as well. Touching on aspects like the non-receiving of gifts [aparigraha] and other important spiritual cautionary guidelines. In this context, Swamiji shares a story told by Swami Yatiswaranandaji, about a genuinely holy man who was bizarrely tempted to steal a vase from the royal palace. The profound lesson as to why he felt so inclined, is something we can all learn from.
Swamiji goes on to say that every single sadhaka from the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, should have a copy of 'Meditation and Spiritual Life' by Swami Yatiswarananda, in their home. Swamiji, over many years got devotees at the ashram to read aloud from it, and it was the basis for many discourses and numerous 'Daily Talks' recorded by Mother Radha, and transcribed by her and her son, Brother Tim, our dear gurubhai – which feature on Swamiji's website, on a daily basis.
Swamiji wraps up this heart-warming discussion by asking for Master's [Sri Ramakrishna's] blessing on the Sannyasis [monks] and Sannyasinis [nuns] of the Centre, who as Swamiji says, 'Are slowly being groomed' to take care of Master's South African work to win the hearts and love of all the devotees. Not personally, but equally, for their own sake, and to become worthy of Gurudev [Swami Nischalananda Puri's] expectations.
Swamiji blesses devotees with the wish that as they go from the yoga camp, they will have Ram-naam [repetition of one of God's many names] on their lips and carry the love of God to everyone.
Duration: 06:43
The original audio recordings of these posts were made by close Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and Swami Shivapadananda devotee, Mother Radha. The audio editing and noise reduction of the original 1970s-onwards tapes, has been lovingly engineered, over many years, by her son and our dear gurubhai, Brother Tim. May Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji bless them both.
Admin tip: Underlined words are links. If you click on them, they'll take you to an explanation of the particular word or term. [In these overviews, Admin comments are typically in a smaller green font, and square bracketed, like this statement.]
Dear reader, if you spot typos or or other errors, please feel free to email the site admin on info@imbizo.com with your suggested correction/s.
Context: As always, care should be taken to remember that what Swamiji was saying, may have been very specific to the needs of people with him at the time. Please bear this in mind.
Links to our Guruparampara (spiritual lineage) organisations, which will broaden your knowledge base: Ramakrishna Math and Mission and our alma maters, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram in Durban. The Ramakrishna Centre of Johannesburg is also active in Gauteng province in South Africa.
There are various publications [The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna etc.] which you can download at no charge, from the Ramakrishna Centre of SA website page, HERE.