Daily Reading 24. Swamiji speaks on word or mantra meaning.

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

In the Chandogya Upanishad it says, ‘Utter the words and know the meaning. He does not deny me, I deny him. So let there be no denial in ignorance.’

Virtues are present. But we have not given them their due time to manifest. So ask the omniscient Lord to become the power of manifestation, and manifest through this body and mind. When you become peaceful, it is, as it were, to your advantage, not disadvantage.

Om shanti shanti shanti. [OM peace, peace, peace]. Only a sattvic voice can say it. Not a tamasic voice – too slow; nor a rajasic voice – too fast.

Every mantra you utter, as far as possible, concentrate on its meaning, in imagination and thought. Then you’ll have a sattvic voice. When we say: ‘Yogis speak sweetly, calmly,’ we are trying to tell you that you must speak sattvically. So do not get too excited or too dull. When the mind becomes slow, concentrate on the meaning of the words, then you’ll pour out sweetness, calmness, serenity through your voice.

Did you ever imagine how Jesus spoke, how he walked, how he sat, how he touched a child? Can we be like that? Think: All are God’s child.

Always have your Ishta Devata in your mind. This will bring concentration.

The scriptures must not be done away with. Take out the important principles and put them into practise. Sri Ramakrishna taught us how to extract from the scriptures. And then how to
practise these principles. Gurudev [Swamiji’s Guru, Swami Nischalananda Puri] said, ‘Take [just] one commandment and make it your life principle. All the others will follow you like a dog.’ You are always dealing with the mind.

Jesus the Christ said: Love thy neighbour as thyself. So, take: ‘I must love. I must love. I must love.’ Take it and practise it.

Underlined words are links to clarification, explanation or other sources. Just tap on them.

The free-to-read or download, 396-page Flipbook version of Swamiji’s biography, ‘A Life Lived For Others‘, is available by clicking HERE. If you’d prefer the PDF version, please click HERE.

For our gurubhai Atmaprakash Kramer’s beautiful pictorial ‘memoir’ booklet of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Avoca Ashram, please click HERE.

There’s also a Facebook site for Swamiji’s posts now. They feature newer readings published more recently. Click HERE to view.

These recordings or the excerpts from them, were made from the early 1970s onward, by Mother Radha, a close devotee of Swamiji’s and edited for uploading here by our gurubhai and her son, Brother Tim. Please be mindful that what Swamiji was saying may have been specific to those with him at the time.