Swami Shivapadananda on ‘growing the Pearl’
SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
Taken from Mother Radha's notes, written at Swamiji's feet.
Day 377
Judge yourself, not others. Shun anger and happiness [i.e. extremes], this is the middle [sattvic, balanced] path.
Be hard on yourself and soft on others. This too is sadhana [spiritual practice].
There is attachment to the Guru, yes, but only inside. Dive deep and find the pearl of love. Adore the guru above all else, and love all else.
An Avatar [Incarnation of God] is a pure, perfect mirror. Others are not. Only to the extent of their purity do they reflect the sun. You can break the mirror but the sun is still shining. Stone does not reflect so well and therefore we do not easily see God in it. Go inside and find Satchidananda [Existence, Knowledge, Bliss absolute].
Remember the story of how the oyster shell gets sand in it and closes up? Later the shell opens and there is a pearl there. But you must not keep peeping inside to see how the pearl is getting on. Just put a grain of sand in the shell and leave it, leave it. Then later on, a beautiful pearl will be yours. The oyster is the guru.
Desire binds but also, when it is properly used, it frees.
Divine love must spread out from you, that is what loving is.
Be like a cow, chew over the guru's words. We have a time limit. Swamiji [meaning himself] tries to push through as many words as possible.
The heart must be like an open rose.
Visualise the guru on top of the head, pure white.
Faith is unshakable trust in the Unchanging.
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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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Reference websites: Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Sri Ramakrishna Dham