Talks Excerpt 557. Swamiji says ‘Because you always think that money is short, there will never be a lot.’
From Mother Radha’s recordings of Swamiji.
Do your sadhana – and at the same time follow ethical and moral rules to keep the mind and senses under control.
On birthdays you should fast and give charity to the poor. If you do not, it means that your heart is small and you will find that you do not progress. And because you always think that the money is short, there will never be a lot. Always give charity on holy days and birthdays. You must do this.
Never talk ill of anyone. God shows us that we have evil in us when we pick on the evil of others. A clean mirror reflects perfectly, an unclean mirror gives an imperfect reflection. A mind that is clean reflects purity, not otherwise.
It is a habit to pick on the shortcomings of others. Just a habit. By force praise them. Say something good about them. This saves heartache later and leads to happiness and peace. Know that your Deity is seated in all you meet.
At meal times, when people bring me a lot of food, my mind straight away thinks about the poor people living in Kwa Mashu [a nearby Durban African township] and that many people in Chatsworth and Phoenix [predominantly Indian-descent ethnicity areas of Durban] may not be looking at this quantity of food. Then I pray: ‘God, I am blessed that You are sending it to me but give them some too.’
I am sure when you go from this Yoga Camp (spiritual retreat) you will influence quite a few people to live a spiritual life. I am sure when you are with them you will not become like them, rather you will make them like yourself.
Mothers, encourage your purushas [husbands] to do more of the Lord’s work and purushas encourage your shaktis [wives] to do more and more work for the sake of our Gurus, Rishis and Munis.
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The free-to-read or download, 396-page Flipbook version of Swamiji’s biography is available by clicking HERE. If you’d prefer the PDF version, please click 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.