Swami Shivapadananda on the force of Nature
SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
583
[Reading from the Bhagavad Gita continued]
Has this been heard by you, O Partha, with an attentive mind? Has your delusion born of ignorance been destroyed?
Arjuna said, 'My delusion is destroyed. I have regained my memory through your grace.'
Swamiji: What is wrong with us? Our memory is weak. Here Arjuna says, 'I have regained my memory.'
Arjuna said, 'I am firm and free from doubt. I will act according to your words.'
Swamiji: Once he has said this he will not deviate. In chapter three of the [Bhagavad] Gita the Lord says, 'Even the wise propelled by their desires will be forced to do this.' A lot of people try to do things against their nature but their nature forces them to act accordingly – even wise men. For example the wise man may say, 'I won't teach these people, I'll keep everything to myself;' but his nature will force him to talk about wisdom.
So a sannyasi is a sannyasi not because he is a very good man or a lovely man. No. His nature is forcing him to be a sannyasi. An evil man cannot help himself, because his nature forces him to be evil. Surrender to God and your nature will change.
You may ask, 'Unless nature forces me why should I do sadhana [spiritual practice]?' No. It is not like that. You must take refuge at God's feet.
If I worship Mother Saraswati and if I think she can only give me Vidya [divine knowledge]- not money, not motor cars, nor strength – then she becomes a demigod, because I am putting limitations on her. Sri Krishna said, 'As you desire so I will fulfill. It is I who am seated in the hearts of these deities.'
Question: So we control God, Swamiji?
Swamiji: You control your nature and God Itself will fulfill it. You do not control God you control your nature.
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.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs
or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email
timhoare@webmail.co.za to order. Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and
teachings.
Reference websites (please mouse-over
the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa,
Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2