Swami Shivapadananda on spiritual progress
SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
Taken from Mother Radha's notes, written at Swamiji's feet.
Day 388
Swamiji: Does God help you when you ask? Devotee: I do not know, Swamiji.
Swamiji: See everything that happens as that help.
As you go deeper you will hear Om [or AUM, the anahata shabd, or sound] within you always.
You must get what you desire. [The Divine] Mother must give it to you.
Clasp God's feet in your heart. As you feel love well up within you, it will pour forth into the world. Do not try to impress on others how much you know about God. Your actions express it. Open the heart and the mind. This leads to God.
How? By japa [repetition of a mantra or God's names] and meditation. If you have a great taste for food, sex etc, forget it. Do japa.
Try to see beyond the body you see and love. Gradually you will learn to see and love That. Only then will the attachment [to sense objects] drop.
Love for the guru must grow every day. If the guru tells you to sit and do japa every day, do it with great love.
Devotee: Sometimes the heart opens a little and then closes again. Why is that, Swamiji?
Swamiji: Because the ego jumps up and then the heart closes.
Always pray to [the Divine] Mother that you do not know what your spiritual progress is.
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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.
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Besides these daily readings Mother Radha recorded many hours of our beloved Swamiji speaking.
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Reference websites: Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Sri Ramakrishna Dham