Spiritual growth guidelines
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
732
Sri Sarada Devi's [pictured above in bodily old age] life was one of simplicity and therefore her teachings are self-explanatory. You do not have to reason.
Just follow the rules. When you have grown in spirituality I will not tell you what to wear, how to wear it, how to sit, how to stand. Then you will not need the fences. You will grow above the fences.
You must please the Lord with more determination, discrimination and the virtues. You must force yourself to do these things. It is not a natural growth in man. The virtues are: love of truth, simplicity of living, control of natural desires, reading of scriptures, tolerance, endurance, equanimity [calm and balance] in the pairs of opposites [happiness, unhappiness etc.].
My guru [Sri Swami Nischalananda Puri] said, 'If you want to know a man's mind, open his wardrobe.' [Swamiji used to say if the cupboard was messy, the mind was messy].
Devotion includes all activities of life. That is, it includes all you do. As we withdraw from the world we must grow in benevolent Universal love – love of the [Universal, Atman] Self.
I watch my mind. The mind tricks us. When we see or think something we must justify: Is that truth? Is that righteousness? No.
We are never imperfect, though we think we are – and thinking makes it so. If you take to Advaita [Vedanta] your problems are solved. To read it is good; to practice it is better; and to realise it is best.
All writing is a symbol – you look at the symbol and get the meaning.
We are Master's [Sri Ramakrishna's] children. He did the thinking and now we will do the eating.
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