Daily Reading 17. Swamiji speaks about the Guru.

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

Reading an excerpt from a book by/about Swami Muktananda [Editorial note: Not sure which Swami Muktanandaji or from which monastic order. Of the Siddha Yoga tradition, or a monk of the Ramakrishna order in Varanasi occasionally referred to as Muktananda?]  

Reading: The worship of the guru is valid. It is the highest duty. Guru is Mahesh because he destroys all previous thoughts. Guru is Brahma [the Creator aspect of God] because he purifies the devotee’s mind and plants the seed of Truth in it. Guru is Vishnu because he sustains and protects the new awareness he has instilled in the devotee. Guru is the source of all knowledge, it can be acquired only from him, through him.

Ajnaana timirandasya – By applying the lotion of awareness of the Inner Self, the guru opens the inner eye of the devotee and drives away the darkness of ignorance. In God’s light it is easy to see Him. Ignorance makes Him invisible. Guru is the Inner Self of all, supremely effulgent. The world exists because he exists. The light of His love is all-pervasive.

Gurudev [Swami Nischalananda Puri – Swamiji’s beloved Guru and our ‘Gurudev’, The first President and Spiritual Head of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa] said: ‘Thy reality gives reality to the world, to the sun and the moon.’

Reading: Guru is compelled to reveal himself fully to the devotee whose tongue is constantly repeating his name [in japa], and who constantly meditates on the guru’s feet – which are the gateway to liberation. In these feet Shiva and Shakti live as one. And through them the devotee realises unity. As red and white light they shine through the guru’s feet. [end of reading].

Always use a sattvic [modulated, gentle] voice, a loving voice. You must come here [to the Guru] for one reason: To discipline yourself and to go towards God. Read the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 2 every day. Saints and sages say: The goal of life is to know God. Not in something out of the ordinary, but to know God in ordinary life. In thought, word and deed. God is omnipresent. So know Him everywhere, in everything.

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.