Santana Dharma
[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 893
God's grace is always working, but is hidden by the ego [ahamkara]. Only a hero can take a hero's part. No weak man can betray Christ, only a strong man can do it.
Take refuge with saints and sages [through satsang and darshan]. And read the scriptures to learn His will. For you and me the world is full of birth and therefore death. For Sri Ramakrishna it is a "place of mirth". Because he saw the [Divine] Mother's will in everything. Otherwise it is birth and misery. So let me win His grace.
In Hindu scriptures it is said there are three states: sattva [balance], rajas [excessive or hyperactivity], tamas [sloth]. Now Sri Ramakrishna says, 'There is a fourth state – the Ishta Deva [Personal Deity or Chosen Ideal] state.
Hinduism is the mother of all religions and must have all kinds of devotees. If I am a Hindu, but I worship Christ, I must only give up the tamasic [lazier, lower-level] aspects of the Christ worship.
Sri Ramakrishna said, 'A Hindu family may worship different deities.'
Sri Ramakrishna also said, 'Take a man from where he is. If he is tamasic, make him rajasic. If he is rajasic, make him sattvic.' This is Sanatana Dharma [the 'Eternal Religion', known as Hinduism].
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