Swamiji’s thoughts for starting a new calendar year. Talks Excerpt 202.
From Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
[Spoken on a New Year’s eve – the night before New Year’s day.]
Krishna said, ‘I am Time.’ That means the minutes and the seconds and the days, the months and the years.
Lord Vishnu is worshipped with good words, with good thoughts and with charity. Because we worship him in this way we reap the good.
Take positive steps and surrender to God – and see God’s grace in each moment. Thus by the end of the year you will have less negative and more positive thoughts. You will know in your heart: ‘I tried to do good and failed – never mind, here is another opportunity.’
Make a resolution tonight on how you will conduct your life in the new year – so you do not get hurt and others do not get hurt. If you make and keep that resolution, you are a human being. Animals cannot do this. Be prepared to give up your life, but not your resolution.
Your sadhana [spiritual practise] should improve in the New Year. Try to speak the truth and be full of love and compassion.
If someone harms you, hiss, but do not bite. Take these resolutions as far as is humanly possible.
In the shrine you have the company of the deities, the company of the holy name, the company of bhaktas [devotees].
Maybe there was some sadness – some dear ones left us. I pray they will have a better life hereafter. If they are sick: may they have less crosses to carry this year.
The Lord dwells in everything, covers everything. May He cover the new year and symbolise it in the New Year.
Always speak positively, not negatively.
The free-to-read, 396 page Flipbook version of Swamiji’s biography is available by clicking HERE.
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 an individual or a group of people with him, at the time.