Spiritual instruction is unique to each
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
725
[continued from previous reading – Day 724]
As long as you have not realised God anything that stands between you and realising God will be treated as Maya [God's power of illusion/delusion]. Master [Sri Ramakrishna] had to give instructions in such a way that the other man would not do those things that would obstruct the path that goes towards God.
Sometimes I will tell a person, 'Do such and such a thing.' But about another person my mind will say, 'No. Do not do that.' Thus I will say to that person, 'No, do not do the same thing.' [So each devotee was given unique instructions according to their nature and propensities]
People seeing this may say, 'That person is your favourite therefore you say, "Do it," and this person is not your favourite so you are saying, "Do not do it." ' No.It's not like that.
That Thing [Consciousness] inside knows – even if I am ignorant. Even if the conscious mind does not know, the unconscious mind knows that it will harm him.
[Holy] Mother [Sri Sarada Devi] said, 'Do not find fault with others.' But by virtue of the fact she said that, she already had found fault with others. [Swamiji laughs] [But] She was a teacher.
Mother used to say, 'Thakurji [Her affectionate term for Sri Ramakrishna, meaning 'Master'], you do your duty there – which is to teach your disciples. Now they are in the kitchen, they are my children. I will feed them. You said, "Do not give them more than one slice of bread," but I am giving them two slices.' Master understood that she was giving prasad [blessed, sacramental food]. That food would not be like ordinary food, it would remind the disciples of Mother Herself. In this case it was not really overeating. It was more like spiritual consciousness.
While remembering this incident we are still thinking of Mother Herself – which removes Maya.
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