One God only
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
670
[Swamiji reads on from: A Primer of Hinduism by Prof. D.S. Sharma]
Daughter: Is not Narayana separate from Shiva? Are not Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva subordinate to the great God Narayana?
[Swamiji] She is asking if these are small gods, minor gods, demigods.
Father: No my child. There is only one God. The Vedas describe Him by the neuter noun Brahman, for in Godhead there is no distinction of sex. Sometimes He is simply called 'That' – tat [the Sanskrit word for it]. For no human description can ever do justice to his infinitude. Brahman in relation to the Universe is called Ishwara and Ishwara is termed Brahma when He creates.
[Swamiji] Brahman the nameless, the formless, the attributeless in terms of the world, is known as Ishwara. That Ishwara now becomes Brahma when He creates, Vishnu when He protects and Rudra when He destroys. They are not three separate things. I may like to destroy, so I pray to Lord Shiva. You like to preserve a little love and you pray to Lord Vishnu. And if you like to create you become an industrial man. [laughter] You do not find any Brahma temples because every inch of space is Brahma's temple; creation is taking place. All the schools are Saraswati's temples. All the industrial places are Saraswati's temples. That is where creation is taking place.
These names only denote the different aspects of one God. That is why they are called the Trimurthi [pictured] – the one with three forms.
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