Swami Shivapadananda on contact with the Holy

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

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

Day 240

In the Ramayana we read that Hanuman was sent out to meet Rama. He asked
Rama, “Are you the messenger of the Lord?” He recognised Rama. Hanuman asks after
the others, but he is drowned in the glory of Rama who is selfless.

Vibhishana [brother of Ravana] said, “I live here [in Sri Lanka] like a
tongue between teeth. I am taking the Lord’s name but will He ever have mercy
on me?” The only person who has knowledge, is he who is God. Without God’s
grace you can never meet a saintly person.

Vibhishana said, “The Lord’s nature is to be ever affectionate to his
servants.” The Lord looks to His servants to do His things.

As you go near to God, you become calm, not emotional, because emotion
is of the senses.

In the Ramayana the messenger of God, Hanuman, has the form of a monkey.
He meets Sita. Her hair is unkempt because she is repeating God’s names and
glories – that means she is above body-consciousness. Her method of
concentration? She walks and always sees [looks at] her toes, but her mind is
always concentrated on God.

Hanuman felt very sad because Sita was very sad. Then Ravana came accopanied by a
woman, who watched as he tried every method to win Sita’s love, but she had
given her love to Rama.