Rogue is as rogue does
[Pictured: Swami Shivapadananda]
[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 827
Someone came to the Ashram (monastery). This is a true story – no lies. A man walked in with a briefcase. I was brought up in a very [financially] poor home. And I don't go for high-flown philosophies. As I was, I was happy. I wanted to keep that happiness inside. So if someone came [to the ashram] instead of me meeting [or greeting] him with pomp and ceremony, especially when I love him – inside me something loves people – up to now I haven't made out 'what' loves. I think sometimes I love, but I think it's wrong because I don't love. I don't know what love is. Inside [of me] this 'something' loves and I reach out to the person, saying 'Hey you rogue!'
But by 'rogue' I don't mean anything bad, I don't insult him, I feel happiness when I address him like that. To this person, who came to the Ashram at Headquarters [of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa] at Avoca [on North Coast of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa] I said 'AUM Namo Narayanaya [I prostrate to the God in you], and he responded in the same way. I then said, 'Oh you rogue. Yes sir.' He replied 'What do you mean, I'm a rogue?' I got a shock. It was like pressing a starter button somewhere. [laughter] I said [again], 'You're a rogue!' He said, 'So you think I'm a rogue – hmph!' He turned and walked away. I was thinking, 'What happened here?' To all the people who were there I apologised and said, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make him angry – I don't know what he's angry about.
After two or three days I read in one of the newspapers [Swamiji chuckles], that he was caught stealing in a particular company. [laughter from devotees]. He was charged with fraud. But I did not know anything about it. [all chuckling]. I call everybody rogue. But rogue to me is 'Krishan rogue'. That He [God] stole my love, that He forced the [divine] love out of me. That's what I mean by rogue. The cream of my heart was given out [extracted or distributed] by force. I didn't [consciously] give it – but something inside of me gave it out. That's what I mean. Nothing else.
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