Daily reading 20. Swamiji gives advice on diet and thought-habits.

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

In the Upanishads it is said: ‘Eat sattvic food‘. But do not become a fanatic [go overboard, become obsessive].

In India people have the habit to sit down [cross-legged, on the floor]. They sit like that and eat, sit like that and talk. Anything they do in the day, they do to make the meditation posture easy.

In sleep you should do things that make you go towards God – not away from God and God thought.

Reading from Meditation and Spiritual Life, by Swami Yatiswarananda: Rhythmic breathing must become a habit.

Swamiji: But we have given up good habits, let alone spiritual habits. Master [Sri Ramakrishna] said [to the Divine Mother], ‘I am the machine and Thou art the operator’. And, ‘I am the house and Thou art the Indweller.’

You must be aware that you do not cultivate bad habits. Always guard your mind against your habits and thoughts. Only think about God and your Self. Forget anything else. Every sadhaka should try to do this. You must have a relationship with a particular aspect of God, or a holy person. If you don’t have it you must cultivate it, you must feel it.

Reading: Then you must learn to see the Cosmic Being at the back of the Personal God. Then see the Absolute at the back of the Cosmic. The Personal God takes us step by step to the highest knowledge. 
Swamiji: The fact that you say, ‘I want to be an Advaitist or Advaitin‘ [non-dualist] means you must deny the body and the mind. 

Reading: If you have a problem, bring in the divine current and ventilate the whole atmosphere. Be straightforward in all your dealings. Be childlike, but not childish. Be aloof in the company of worldly people in a dignified way – but without being haughty.  
Swamiji: This is very important.
Reading:  Do not listen to advice from fools. 
Swamiji: This is very, very important.

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.