Daily Reading 10. Swamiji shares some tips on sadhana and self-control.

 

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

First there must be self-effort; and then God will help you. Do not sleep [be in a state of tamas]; then you can help others. If you think you are the body, you treat others as the body. If you think that you are God, you will treat others as God. 

Christ had mercy on the whole of humanity, not only on Christians. He said: Come to me ye heavy laden. He was like a tap – but he was fully conscious. Christ was crucified for others. Are you prepared to be crucified like that, or are you selfish? If I cannot be like Christ, then let me be like his disciples, who are compared to sheep [trusting and devoted to the shepherd] or children.

When you look at God’s qualities, know that they can be yours. ‘I love you, Lord.’ Say it in English, in Sanskrit, it does not matter. It is what you feel when you say it. Enjoy it. Practise. Practise. Practise. You are the master of the situation. If the child comes and throws the ball, what will you do? You will play. That is what we want.

It is not so much what you say but what you think that is important.

Brahmacharya is control of all the senses. You should not see [or look at] what should not be seen.

Swamiji reads from a book by Swami Yatiswarananda: ‘Cognising, feeling, willing and action are constantly at war within us and this leads to conflict. Ego is individual consciousness in tune with cosmic consciousness. How to live in harmony with all? That is the highest ideal. Go step by step with infinite patience and perseverance. The body must be fit and healthy, a temple of the divine spirit.’

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.