One God one Guru
[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 864
Once a Guru [spiritual preceptor] called his disciples and told them, 'We are at war with the Mughals and virtually all the soldiers are engaged in war. There is no one to do first-aid, no one to carry water.' So they found an old man, an old disciple. The Guru asked him: 'Could you please do this service in the war, carrying water to the wounded and dying on the battle field?' He humbly consented and carried out this worshipful task.
After a few days a report came back to the Guru that this old man was a traitor. When the Guru asked why, they said, 'This man, instead of giving water to our own soldiers, we see that he is giving water to the enemies also.' So they summoned him and the Guru asked whether he was carrying out his duty. He said, 'Yes.' Then the Guru asked, 'But how is it that you are giving water to the enemy too?' He said, 'Maharaj, I don't give water to any enemies, I don't give water to anybody else but You. In the battlefield I see You are wounded, are dying of thirst, so I give You water. I see You fighting with the army, one against the other. I see You fighting against Yourself, and I find joy. When I come here I see You are giving instructions as the Guru. I see You, Lord.' The Guru looked at the other disciples.
Thus only a man like that can be a first-aid giver to the whole Universe. No 'mine', no 'yours'. Only a man or a disciple like that can cure the illness, the sickness, of death and birth, of old age, of rotting, decaying bodies. Only a man like that.
Therefore when you sing you must see only your Deity. 'O Lord, when I close my eyes I see Thee – One without a second – nothing to compare It with.'
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