Swami Shivapadananda Puri talking further steps to self-purification.

Swamiji talks about how easily we make commitments and indeed even 'vows' without taking them seriously. He says that we're very good at saying things and metaphorically taking vows every day, but to little effect. 'You don't really mean what you say,' says Swamiji. 'What is the use? What you must be, is sincere in little things. What must we become? What is the ideal of this purity? What will it give you? What is needed is purity, sincerity and consistency.'

Swamiji then shares an exquisite story about Govind Singh the great Sikh guru, who was looking for someone to carry water to wounded soldiers on the battle field. Listening carefully to this story is a transformative moment. It gives an insight into what is needed to walk the spiritual path with sincerity and integrity. Sincere seva (service) done by the seemingly inconsequential. There is a great learning on selflessness in the story.

Swamiji says we are keeping God away, by wanting what we can get from God. Not God himself. Swamiji then talks about the yearning shown by Sri Ramakrishna as a lesson to us in how half-hearted we are in our efforts. Sri Ramakrishna said to his devotees, 'For twelve long years I cried for that grace, rubbing my face on the temple grounds, and Mother came (manifested).' Says Swamiji, 'One man sacrificed his life to bless us all today. Thousands of ashramas and centres are built in his name.'

Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, 'Your pure mind is your friend and your impure mind is the enemy.' Adds Swamiji: 'If you have a pure mind you will be able to bear suffering, and allow others to live. But if you have an impure mind you will not want to suffer, and may want to kill even the good man in this world.'

'We are all praying to God in different ways. But let us come to this conclusion, that God, I shall keep my heart pure. For your sake I will even take that which is poison, like Mirabai drank. Poison is not poison to the bhakta, an insult is no insult, because he only lives for God.'

Swamiji tells the story of a sadhu who had maintained mouna (external and mental silence) for twelve years, and during the Indian Mutiny, someone stabbed him and he fell to the ground. Those around him managed to apprehend the perpetrator and when he was brought before the bleeding sadhu, what pure thing came out of him? All the monk could say was, 'Ah, he's a messenger of my lord.' After twelve years he broke his mouna. He recognised the deity within the attacker, as the instrument of God, even in the murderer. With all that, he was not prepared to apportion blame. Because everything happens through God's will. Let us not do the wrong thing and put it (blame the consequences) on God. Because we know God always does what is right.'

Swamiji: 'Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said that a professional dancer will never take a wrong step. Although we are not professional dancers, we are still practising. When next we make a mistake, say, 'Alright, it was a mistake, next time I shall not repeat it – and thus perfect yourself slowly.'

Swamiji wraps up this homily by suggesting that we do a mini audit, morning and evening, criticising ourselves and see how much better we have become in this world, how much more we are living in God and for God, and how much more 'I' (ego) is left in us.

Enjoy the listening. Jai Sri Ramakrishna!

Click the link below to listen.

101 track 7

Duration 11:00

The original audio recordings of these posts, were made by close Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa and Swami Shivapadananda devotee, Mother Radha Hoare. The audio editing and noise reduction of the original 1970s tapes has been lovingly crafted, over many years, by our gurubhai Tim Hoare. We thank them both.