Talks Excerpt 715. Swamiji says: Understand the meaning of what we chant or pray.
From Mother Radha’s recordings of Swamiji.
Occupy your life in such a way that your mind will be full of God-thought only. Thus the world can be a place of mirth – not birth and death.
The hymn [Om Hrim Ritam] to Sri Ramakrishna is very beautiful. [To listen to it beautifully sung by monks of the Ramakrishna order on YouTube, click HERE.] It was written by [Swami Vivekananda] Master’s direct disciple – he and his brothers saw the truth in the Master. [For the Sanskrit wording and the English translation, click HERE]. While singing it, you should also read the meanings of the verses. Do not chant the hymn like parrots, but try to know the meaning of what you are chanting. Thus you will fill your mind with divine thoughts.
If you talk on a subject that can inspire you, then it can inspire the world. Talk about God to others, and see how you inspire yourself. When someone says, ‘Swamiji, I liked your talk.’ I reply: ‘But I like it more than you! That is why I spoke about it to you – because I like it so much.’
If you love God’s children (especially those who have devoted their whole lives to God) do not concern yourself with how much they love God. It is a blessing that they have given their lives to God.
Read books on the lives of saints and sages. By loving them, you will love God automatically. Saints and sages do not distinguish whatsoever between caste, colour or creed.
Devotee: At Easter why do they call it Good Friday? Swamiji: Because on this day the Lord [Jesus] sacrificed himself for the billions of sadhakas throughout the world. He gave his life as a sacrifice for his many devotees. That is why it is ‘good’ for us. He trusted us, his children, on the day he was crucified. God will do anything to save His children.
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 those with him at the time.