Swami Shivapadananda on faith in the Guru
SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
Taken from Mother Radha's notes, written at Swamiji's feet.
Day 375
We must have devotion for the guru [spiritual Preceptor]. That is where the spiritual journey begins. Lay yourself open to him, surrender to him, let him do what he wants.
How long ago were you initiated by your guru? Think, think. The mala [prayer beads, rosary] is his breath. What do we know of the love of the guru? Nothing. The moment we know what his love is, we shall be God-realised. If you want him to be a donkey, he will be a donkey. Whatever you want him to be, he will be that. If you see him as God, you will become God.
A book will not give you realisation, it only gives inspiration to repeat the name. Say the mantra [sacred word, sound syllable or Gods names] all the time, i.e. 99.9% of the time, day and night. In three years you will have fabulous experiences.
But we do not want to do it. This is how the chelas [disciples, devotees] are in the Kali Yuga [age of darkness/ignorance which is said to have started ending with the advent of Sri Ramakrishna], We repeat the mantra for a bit, we have no experiences and so we say that the guru is no good.
Defend the guru to the point of blows, or walk away, or say, 'It is not possible to listen to such a thing,' and then change the subject.
The ashram [monastery, hermitage – see footnote] is the shelter from which to do God's and guru's work. You must do it. Be good, do good.
Your mind wants to run outside all the time but once you say the mantra, you will want to run inside [i.e. remain introspective] all the time.
The guru is greater than God because the guru captures God and brings him to the chela. He whom no man can conquer can be caught and held by the Guru and brought before you: 'Here He is.'
Footnote: Pictured is the Ramakrishna Centre of SA Ashram at Glen Anil on the KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, North Coast. It was conceptualised and seen almost to completion by Swami Shivapadananda before he gave up his body on 1st October 1994.
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Reference websites: Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Sri Ramakrishna Dham