Perceiving God
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
804
How many times have we thought God would be influenced by our prayer? Yes, God will be influenced if you sincerely, faithfully repent [express genuine remorse] – repent means you say, 'Lord I am weak, I can't help myself, I'm trying to do the right things, but why is it I'm failing?' Do that – cry to Him [God]. He will come and make you strong.
Once Duryodhana was asked by Krishna Bhagawan, 'Why are you doing all these bad things? Duryodhana replied, 'Lord, lord, I know it is adharma [unrighteousness], I know it is wrong, but every time I do the right thing, something happens and I do the wrong thing.' [Swamiji chuckles] The Lord smiled. What did the Lord do? He smiled. Then, the Lord in the end gives moksha [liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth] to Duryodhana, too.
But you see, when your mind is blind you can't see the perfect. Duryodhana also saw the Vishwaroop [universal aspect] of Sri Krishna. But when he saw the Vishwaroop aspect he wanted to capture the Lord and tie him up and keep him. [Swamiji chuckles]. Krishna Bhagawan did like that [Swami gestures] and Duryodhana was moved away. On the other hand, when Arjuna [Lord Krishna's disciple] also saw the Vishwaroop, he, humbly prostrated to the Lord. One when he sees and recognises this is God, the Universal Being, then he really sees. The other sees God and recognises the devil inside Him, he does not see. From that point of view, in the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna Bhagawan says, 'I have not yet shown [truly 'revealed'] my Vishwaroop to anybody, Arjuna – it is only you who have seen it. It does not mean the other person didn't see it – because He [God] showed it to Duryodhana also, but Duryodhana didn't see God. What did he see? Something else but God.
From that point of view He [God] is only showing [revealing] it to Arjuna. Who is showing it to Arjuna? That means God Himself deluded Duroydhana because God was seated in his heart but He [God] didn't make [allow] Duryodhana open his heart. Here, because the man [Arjuna] was pure and prepared to do his duty, the Lord was seated in his heart and opened his heart [gave him receptivity] and through intellectual discrimination Arjuna realised 'this is the Universal God, Lord.'
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