Swami Shivapadananda on the compassion of the Guru

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

Taken from Mother Radha's notes, written at Swamiji's feet.

Day 430

 
 

The guru will not hurt you. He, like the sun, has no darkness. He only has love; compassion; saving power. So first go to the guru. But we think we know everything.

Even after the guru teaches you, the ego comes up: "I did sadhana, I read books." This is the greatest mistake a disciple can make.
It is the grace of God which works through the guru.

If you manifest pride, you are not pride-less. If you manifest selfishness, you are not selfless. If you manifest vices, you are not virtuous. 

In the old days the disciples [chelas, shishyas] went to live with the guru. There were more disciples and fewer gurus. Now there are no disciples and lots of gurus.

You are only with the guru when you are full of dispassion [vairagya]; when you are fed up with the world. If you and I get tired of the conditions of the world we want to commit suicide.

The bygone disciples were well taught. They would not look for someone to give them wealth. They would carry dry wood, deep in the forest, walking with a stick.

There is no need for talk between the disciple and the guru when the guru sees that the senses are under control; that the disciple, by guru's grace, has burnt up his desires for the pleasures of the world.

You cannot give the guru anything. Whatever you give the guru is your desire, it is low. It is his blessing that makes it high.

May Brahman be realised.

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.

Reference websites: Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Sri Ramakrishna Dham