Punctuality and Spirituality
[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 936
God is independent, so if you sit cross-legged, you are independent of the chair or the seat [i.e. you don't need physical support]. Relax and be respectful in front of God.
If you come late into the shrine, it is bad manners. Otherwise you can sit somewhere else and take God's name. It is very important to keep time with God. See the Deity [Ishta Deva] in your heart, look at his feet, legs body, two hands, face. See him smiling, full of light, of happiness. When He is smiling you are happier.
Look at Master [Sri Ramakrishna] and say, 'Om aim sarva deva devi swaroopaaya sri ramakrishnaaya namah.' [Meaning: I prostrate to Sri Ramakrishna who is the consciousness of all the gods and goddesses] And pray, O Lord, give me bhakti, jnana [divine knowledge], visvas – faith. Compel my mind to march the [spiritual] path through which the Self or the Deity will be revealed to me. Protect me from all things which will take me from God. Om shanti shanti shanti. [Om peace, peace, peace]
Always use a sattvic [gentle, balanced, harmonious] voice, a loving voice.
You must come here [to the Ashram, spiritual retreat centre, hermitage, monastery] for one reason – to discipline yourself and myself and to go towards God.
Read the Bhagavad Gita [a major Hindu scripture] chapter 2 every day.
Sri Ramakrishna's religion is the essence of all the religions under the sun – and even in the heavens.
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