One deity – many possible forms [Part 1 of several postings on the Ishta Deva]
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
DAILY READINGS
Day 1012
Two things go with meditation – contemplation [pratyahara], concentration [dharana], then meditation [dhyana]. Now to contemplate you do japa [meditative repetition of a mantra [sacred word, sound syllable or phrase] or one of the many names attributed to God]. Then while you're doing japa, you concentrate. And as you're concentrating, simultaneously you're meditating. That's why, it is said in the scriptures, that when you utter the mantra, you must know its meaning. The meaning of the mantra is to meditate on the form of the deity [Ishta Deva, chosen deity or Ideal]. And the form of the deity will give you the meaning of the mantra because of its almighty-ness. It is omnipresent [present everywhere], omniscient [all-knowing] and omnipotent [all-powerful].
When you are uttering the mantra…I say, 'Om namah Shivaya,' actually I am seeing Shiva's face, moon-like smile, the Ganga [river Ganges] pouring [from his head], 'Om namah Shivaya,' then I look to see his leg. 'Om namah Shivaya,' – he's got no socks on. [devotees laughing merrily] You must do that. You think I'm joking. I'm not joking – I'm telling you the truth! I think like that sometimes. And sometimes I think his hair is coming loose – I'll push it back up into place again. What do I care? My mind is pure, God is pure, so carry on. I must learn to converse with him because I gave him form and because I gave him form I gave him the limitations of a human being.
The only thing is he's a little more powerful than us all, or almighty, as I said – but because he took the form in which I want him…in other words, let us just say a king is my beloved and I have him take the form of a beggar. Naturally I'll have to give him a small bowl in his hand, and say, 'wait a minute – you haven't got dirty clothes,' I'll take a dirty cloth and dress him. As he walks he must look a little dirty, too. But he's really a king – I know he's a king. But I give him human form and I give him a little limitation. I unpin his hair and brush it, no socks [Swamiji teases], he didn't have a wash, I give him a bath and things like that. You understand what I'm saying?
Simultaneously you must think about your?…deity. As long as your mind does not wander away from that deity. Try as far as possible to bring it under control. When it wanders, it's not a sin. It's only telling you, 'look, you're still weak'. Then make it strong by bringing it back. Suppose you say, 'Om namah Shivaya…hmm…where's this particular devotee gone today? Oh, oh, alright…Om namah Shivaya'. See, it's not sin. Just 'come along, come back, come back, Om namah Shivaya.' You think about yet another devotee, 'alright, come back. Come back, Om namah Shivaya.' You continue like that. Bring the mind gently back.
Two things now. One, when you try to focus your mind, it starts running on other deities. The mind runs on other?…deities. That's one. Number two, you may have chosen a deity but because someone else praised their deity, you say, 'Oh well, I chose the wrong one.' So now, your mind doesn't set on that deity, now you want the other deity. There two subtle things in meditation. Supposing I took Shiva and some fellow who is a Krishna–bhakta [devotee of Lord Krishna] comes and says, 'Shiva is tamasic. My Krishna is sattvic'. I say, 'Hmm, I made the wrong choice.' Now the problem starts in my mind. I made the wrong choice. What is to be done? Remember that your deity is supposed to be all-mighty. That's why I'm playing on that word – not playing – but stressing it. Your deity is almighty. So your deity has the power to take the other form. That you must never forget. That your deity has the power to take any form under the sun – even above the sun.
If your deity is praised, then you like it. If it's not praised then you don't like it. Then there's something wrong with you. You don't like the deity. You like something in the deity – which means you are still limited. If you like the deity – if you say, 'Swamiji, I love you!', then whether I have a blind eye or hooked nose, you still love me. But you won't see my neighbour who has two normal eyes and then say, 'I'd better start loving him. Let this fellow go.' It's not like that. You understand? So number one to remember is that your deity is?…all-mighty and you're not supposed to change, no matter how much they praise another.
Know that your deity has taken the form of Sri Ramakrishna, your deity has taken the form of Krishna, your deity has taken the form of Kali, Durga, Bandhi, any other. Even if your deity is Jesus Christ, your deity has become Ramakrishna. Your deity has become Kali, your deity has become Durga. If you are a Krishna worshipper, Krishna has become everything. From that point of view you must watch.
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, 150 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order.
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