Talks Excerpt 699. Swamiji explains the pioneering role of his Guru, Swami Nischalananda Puri, in South African Hinduism.

From Mother Radha’s recordings of Swamiji.

Gurudev, Swami Nischalananda [Puri] [Swamiji’s beloved Guru and our ‘Gurudev’], was one of the greatest sannyasis born on the soil of South Africa. He was the first swami to appear here and therefore he was the one who had to take the blame and praise of his people. Only a Shiva can swallow the poison; others would run away from it.

First of all he had to destroy the superstition of the local people. He then preached about God and taught us how to march, even on the street, taking God’s name. Then we gradually began to understand the sacrifices that sannyasis make for the good of humanity.

Now, by his grace, we welcome all the sannyasis and we see them as God manifested; they have come to save our lives. Just as Ganesha, amongst the gods, is the greatest remover of obstacles, similarly in South Africa, Swami Nischalananda was the greatest manifestation to remove misconceptions. After him the other gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh [Lord Shiva], can march in slowly. And for this I prostrate again and again to the feet that manifested that power, and charged us with enthusiasm and inspiration to do Sri Ramakrishna’s work; to do the work of all those who bring unity.

It was that grace that inspired us. Learn the truth and follow it. Knowing the truth, try to practise it as far as possible. Never mind if you fail. It is better to die, trying to do what is good.

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 booklet, ‘Memories of my ashram days‘ at the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Avoca Ashram, 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 who may have been with him at that time.