Swami Shivapadananda Puri continues the theme of ‘understanding the meaning’ of a word or mantra.
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This audio post is a continuation of the theme from the previous post, about the power of understanding the meaning of something.
Swamiji kickstarts this discussion with a delightful anecdote about his use of the word 'Rogue.'
A rogue is a dishonest or unprincipled person. Not 'rouge', which is something old ladies used to apply to their cheeks to try to look more attractive. 😉 Rogue is pronounced 'Rowg'.
Those of us who had the grace and privilege to know Swamiji in the body, knew that he used 'rogue' as a term of endearment. But it wasn't understood by everyone.
In 'A Life Lived For Others' the first instalment of the published biographical tribute to Swami Shivapadanandaji, by disciples and devotees from the Ramakrishna Centre, our beloved Brother Gyanadayal – Teddy as he was in his pre-ashram days – wrote about how puzzled he was initially, at being called a rogue. Swamiji told us that he used that term for people who had stolen his heart. He loved them!
In this particular and funny anecdote (please listen to Swamiji telling it), a man whom Swamiji called 'rogue', took huge offense, but turned out to be just that.
Swamiji: If you say a word and understand the meaning, there and then, something will happen. And when that happens – it's evolution. It will come more quickly. It will come earlier. So says Swamiji, we look at the words (of the Gayatri mantra), Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha Tat Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat. Swamiji says the Gayatri mantra is the highest mantra. It is the Mother of the Vedas (Vedic) mantras. Because if you study it carefully, you will see that all other mantras give you in 'fractional form', what is already in the Gayatri mantra.
Swamiji uses the opportunity to briefly explain in accessible terms, the difference between duality and monism, by going into depth on the individual word meaning within the Gayatri Mantra. It's really worth listening to the analogies that Swamiji uses.
Swamiji urges: Every Hindu – no matter his or her caste, colour or creed, should study this mantra. Though the mantra is uttered with variations by the different castes, the core or idea is the same.
Swamiji: At the end of meditation I always say (to the congregation or participants) open your eyes now and look at this beautiful world. It is the grace of God given to man, to reach God through his grace. And some people laugh at that statement, because they think, how can the world be the grace of God? It is the grace of God, if you recognise it one day.
Supposing one day I'm meant to come here. But you don't know me. And I come here and say, 'I'm Swami Premananda.' And you come and meet me, with prostrations and adorations, everything. But suddenly somebody says, 'He's Shivapadananda!' How do you feel then? So just like that, we're looking at this whole world as something foreign, a 'signpost' of God.
But the day we come to know what this world is, whose power it is, and we really know this world, then we will never hate this world. This very world will become a blessing to us, not Maya. Maya is a mirage which deludes our mind with a mysterious power. That is what has happened. That we are deluded. We don't know, in reality, what it is. How to arrive at this?
And the audio clip ends there – a right-royal cliff-hanger as they're called in Hollywood TV soapies. 🥹
More seriously, the question will certainly be answered in one of the many future postings to come.
Please click on the link below to listen. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Duration: 11:05
The original audio recordings of these posts, were made by close Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and Swami Shivapadananda devotee, Mother Radha. The audio editing and noise reduction of the original 1970s tapes has been lovingly crafted, over many years, by her son and our gurubhai Tim. We thank them both.