Talk Excerpts 755 and 756 combined. Swamiji speaks on truthfulness, and the power of Sri Ramakrishna’s mantra.

From Mother Radha’s recordings of Swamiji.

Excerpt 755:
One thing stands out in the life of Sri Ramakrishna’s father, Kshudiram [Chattopadhyaya]: truthfulness. He lost all his wealth because he was truthful. He could not tell lies even about his visions. Thus we learn the truth about Master’s conception from him. Lord Vishnu appeared to Kshudiram and said, ‘I will be born as your son.’ Chandramani Devi, the Master’s mother, saw a light emanating from the Shiva lingam, and this light entered her body. Thereafter she knew that she was with child. This was the immaculate conception of our Master.

Once, the landlord asked Master’s father to lie in court. He said that he could never do that; and so the landlord asked him to leave. Through God’s grace, another friend gave him land to live on and earn a living.

When we know these important facts, the Master’s life will have a deeper meaning. When we contemplate on Sri Ramakrishna’s life, we often wonder: Can this be true? Then we remember how truthful he and his father were. 

Sri Ramakrishna was essentially a teacher of universality and Swami Vivekananda came to help him. If you read about Swami Vivekananda’s family you will see that universality of religion was already there. Both his parents were very broad-minded.

These rare souls were attracted to a particular place where it is conducive for them to work for the good of humanity.

Excerpt 756:
[Pravrajika Atmaprana Mataji, pictured above – our beloved Gurubhen and head of the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram in Asherville Durban]: They say as a really young boy Swami Vivekananda used to get completely absorbed in meditation. We don’t see this sort of thing nowadays at all. Children can play at meditation but to be so absorbed that they don’t hear anything . . .

Swamiji: Yes, Ma [Swamiji addressed all women as ‘Ma’ – Mother]. But in his case, you must remember that he was not an ordinary boy. He was born for that particular purpose, so it was natural for him to get into that state. It’s nice if we can think like that. It can give us devotion to his personality and to his lotus feet. And the more we think about him, the more we can strive to be like him. If you keep on thinking about him, in the way of purity and uplifting others, then you will surely imbibe some of his qualities.

[Swamiji recites the mantra to Sri Ramakrishna – a mantra which was empowered by Swami Vivekananda]: Om aim sarva deva devi swarupaya sri ramakrishnaya namah. Repeat this mantra. It is of great benefit to all.

Consciousness liberates us. It doesn’t confuse us, as it is intelligence. So when I walk I see that [one] consciousness in everything. I even see that intelligent being in the plants. While sitting I see it here. Naturally I have to become that intelligence. What else can I become ultimately? It liberates all. Even in the tiniest grain of sand, that intelligence is there.

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’re for newer readings published much 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.