Daily reading 11. Swamiji reminds us that Nirvikalpa Samadhi ‘is only the beginning of spiritual life.’
Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
Make the individual consciousness the object of our study. Lust, anger, greed and helpless
dependence on others leads to disintegration. [Swamiji regularly reminded us that ‘lust, anger and greed are the three open gateways to hell’.] Separate the ‘I’ [ego/lower self] and the consciousness. Separate the seer from the seen. Know that the seer [higher Self] is the true one. Connect the ego with the Universal Self. How? By prayer, by repeating the mantra and knowing the meaning. This leads to a harmonious state within us, and we will be aware of consciousness.
‘Nirvikalpa Samadhi is only the beginning of spiritual life,’ said Swami Brahmananda.
The greatest mantra is M.Y.O.B. (Mind Your Own Business). Do not scold others, get on with your own work. Put all your love in towards God. Do not worry about other’s likes and dislikes. But do not be unmindful of their needs.
Those I love, I trouble them. Those I feel must live on their own, I leave them. I do not scold anybody
really, I just report what I see inside me.
You must think about the meaning of the mantras. Think how Krishna was born, how Rama was born, how Master [Sri Ramakrishna] was born.
When you get into a car, pray. [Swamiji regularly told us to invoke the protection of Lord Ganesha on commencing a journey.] When you get out, pray. When you’ll die in a car you do not know, but you put your foot down [drive fast].
Our only aim in life? It is to realise God and after that all desire ceases, all is peace.
Not so much heart, more intellect. The heart is the highest, but you must go there by using the intellect [discrimination].
Ask Him [God/your Ishta Devata] for liberation. To be liberated from small finite things. Then you will leave all of this and love Him in all, because He is the Eternal Being.
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.