Swami Shivapadananda on accelerating spiritual progress

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

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

Day 328

 

The guru is within. It is the guru’s breath in you. This is a secret,
yet we still look everywhere. Once the mantra [sacred syllable, word, name of God] is given, use it. Use it.

Dive deep. Love. Give.

In the beginning individual effort is needed. When surrender is
complete, Divine Grace dawns in the sadhaka [aspirant]. Grace itself does the
sadhana, and the sadhana goes with great speed. So turn to Him fully, now.
Listen to the sound of the mantra intensely. Ask, ‘Who? Where? What?’ This
leads you to the discovery of the nature of the mind.

The mind goes there – catch it. There it is – catch it again and again.
Yes, that is the mind. There is no hurry. As you progress the sages will be drawn
to you, even in the Himalayas. They will help
you without you knowing.

Spend more time at the Ashram.

These are the essentials for spiritual growth: silence and meditation –
keep bringing the mind back. It is easier at Yoga camp to do this. So go into
solitude and try. This is Yoga. Test it again and again. Tell the mind, ‘Go
inside,’ again and again. ‘No, not outside. Inside.’ If the mind is tamasic
[slothful], increase your sadhana. If I say, ‘This is my Ashram,’ there is a
problem. But if I say, ‘I am the caretaker,’ there is no problem.

Silence is a strong fortress in spiritual combat.

Click on ‘Continue reading’ below to find out about CDs of Swamiji speaking.

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.