Talk Excerpt 226. Swamiji says that bhakti [love] is the key to all spiritual doorways.

From Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

Swami Vivekananda says that we must feel from the heart. What is intellect [buddhi]? What is reason? It only goes a few steps and then stops. But through the heart comes inspiration and love [bhakti] – which open more inaccessible gates. Love is the key to all the doors.

Secrets of the universe: Feel [bhava]. Do you feel?

You know I am a Kali worshipper, a Shiva worshipper, a Hanuman worshipper and a Rama worshipper. Well, all of these I found here, in Sri Ramakrishna. Why must I run here and there?

One of life’s aspects is when we meet, share, depart. Some depart and go to light the fire wherever they go. Some, wherever they are, pray that God brings peace and love to this country. This happens by the grace of God and the grace of the Guru.

On hearing an excerpt from the Vivekachudamani, Swamiji says: Is cow’s milk available everywhere on a cow? No. Only in one place does it flow, the udder.

There is divinity in everything but Sri Krishna says, ‘Among the trees I am the ashwattha . . .’ Thus where the Divine is more apparent, we say it is Vibhuti [holy ash]. Yes it is everywhere, but where it is more perceptible, tangible, brighter, it is called Vibhuti. This is apparent when God descends as an Incarnation [avatar] and brings two or three devotees with Him.

We become what we worship. What you ponder over, you become.

In his letters Swami Vivekananda says that if we read this again and again we will imbibe his Spirit.

The free-to-read or download, 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.