Swamiji discusses associates and building faith. Talk excerpt 193.
From Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
[Following on from previous Talk excerpt 192].
Question from devotee: Who is ‘good company’?
Swamiji: If a person takes your mind towards God it is good. You can only tell if a person is good or not by being with them for some time.
The guru told Duryodhana, ‘Go and find one good man.’ He looked everywhere, but could not find one good man. The guru told Yudhishthira, ‘Go and find one bad man.’ He looked but could not find one bad man.
Duryodhana did the greatest sin to his guru. He should have said, ‘You are the greatest good,’ and prostrated. But this is the way the mind works, isn’t it? It goes out [externalises] – it evolves. No. It involves.
Question: How do you get dispassion, Swamiji?
Swamiji: By not having passion for the things of the world, by having passion for God. Just pray for love to His Lotus Feet – and God will do everything for you.
Question: How do we get faith like that?
Swamiji: Mine was built on a sixpence [6-penny coin – half a shilling – in the old South African British Sterling currency. Swamiji, then Inder, desperately wanted to see one of his favourite – likely cowboy – movies at the local Mayville, Durban, cinema. But he didn’t have any money. Seeing a piece of newspaper lying on the ground, he moved it with his foot – only to spot a silver six-penny coin lying right there. He knew that the Divine Mother had heard his desire and blessed him.]
Swj: Faith is always there. But we do not know it, until we have experiences that build our faith. Sri Ramakrishna said we must get intense yearning. But I would rather use the word ‘want.’ We do not want God, we want the world.
Question: How do we discourage people without being judgmental?
Swamiji: Just say you are busy. Do not let them know directly. Or say that so and so gave you something to do. Use a simple harmless excuse. It is a waste of energy to be with those people whose company you do not want.
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These recordings were made from the 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 an individual or a group of people with him, at the time.