Talks Excerpt 279. Swamiji explains identifying characteristics of an incarnation.
From Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
Prayer is a force. It goes to a person and changes their vibrations. It uplifts them. [Swamiji often reminded us that prayer directly impacts the subtle body of an individual – to their advantage.]
‘I think’ is ego.
The mind equals the life breath, egoism, individual consciousness. The fields are different, the Knower is only one.
Tamas is ignorance or non-perception of the Truth. It is doubt. Knowledge of the Self abolishes ignorance.
Question: Why is Ganga Mata [Mother Ganges] so often mentioned?
Swamiji: It is faith in her purifying nature. Like the earth cannot survive without water, man cannot survive without faith.
Sri Ramakrishna and Christ are in the line of 25 avatars. Buddha was 9th in the line of 10 incarnations. There is one more to come, and that is Kalki.
Every incarnation can be judged by two characteristics. One: he has a devotee, for example, a wife, a mother and so on, who is his Shakti. For example Jesus had Mary and Sri Ramakrishna had Sri Saradamani Devi. And two: he [the incarnation] is noted in early childhood by his unusual behaviour.
Sri Ramakrishna is to take a body again in 300 years time. So start purifying your household life now, so when he comes maybe he will be your descendent. He will take birth in the purest family. As you think so you become. If you think you are perfect, pure, you must become that. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. [The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:8] That is the only way. It is a Promise.
Purify yourself by doing a little sadhana [spiritual practise] and a little dharma [righteous living], and you must get Self-realisation. Or, if you are strong, you throw the whole lot away and go within. It is only the mind that keeps you away from what you are, from your Self. Shut off all the senses and you will get a glimpse of it.
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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.