Renunciation
[2nd President and Spiritual Head, The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
702
[Pictured: Pravrajika Atmaprana (formerly Rosemary Oosthuizen and 'Sri'), the first female renunciate
of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
Those people who stay nearby the ashrams [service monasteries] should get in the habit of going there every week. Go and ask the swamis [Hindu monks] or brahmacharis [students/monastic postulants/aspirants] what is to be done and offer your help. In that way you will be improving the ashram and yourself. Do not come here only because there is a yoga camp. Yoga is to be practised every second of your life, not once a year or once in six months.
Those young girls and boys that want to lead a spiritual life must renounce, they must come. Do not fear. But before coming here read the life of Sri Sarada Devi, read the life of great sannyasis and sannyasinis [Hindu nuns]; then read the life of Sri Rama and Mother Sita; read the life of Raja Janaka and his family. Then weigh yourself up and see where you fit in. If your mind says, 'Truly I have love for God and I want to give my whole life to God,' then come. With open arms I welcome you. I am not yet out of the body. I will be the first one to say to you, 'Come my child, sit in the ashram and become a sadhu [holy man/person].'
Parents must see that the children are inspired and that their minds are going towards God. Parents should at no time try to take them away from God. This is to commit the greatest sin. You should actually encourage them.
Once someone told Sri Sarada Devi [the nun-wife-consort of Sri Ramakrishna], 'Why don't you tell some of these girls to go home and get married?' Sri Sarada Devi was very disappointed. She said, 'What? Don't you see what is happening with you yourself at home? Aren't you having trouble everyday with your husband? Here these girls are loving God. Must I tell them, "Leave God and go home"?' By these words she made it clear that she allowed renunciation for women.
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