The power of Japa
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
750
I never tell a devotee something without 'stamping it on top' [making a particular impression/impact]. If I say, 'This is Devan,' I put a stamp that says, 'This is Devan'. If I say something which is not nice to a crowd then I'll stamp it on their minds. Each mind will know: 'I am this that Swamiji is talking about.' I stamp it. I don't leave it without a stamp. I just draw your notice to it: 'A spot [some impression] is here, take it out.'
Do you see how thought can uplift and remove obstacles? Thought makes me think of a light-bulb. When it is bright it makes me think it is touching the battery. If it's not bright I think, 'Well, darkness. It's not touching the battery called God.' Sometimes I look at a battery and think, 'God is like this'. You can't separate the battery from its power.
God is Almighty. Try and take the 'might' out. You can't do it. 'Might' can be felt but the 'might' is still there. The more it gives 'might' the more it should be there. Generate it. Your generator is sadhana [spiritual practice]. If the generator is faulty, the battery is not charged – no contact with God.
Don't think you are doing sadhana. Forget the word sadhana. Forget the word japa [meditative repetition of a mantra [sacred word or sounds syllable] or one of the many names ascribed to God]. Just do japa.
The greatest progress came to me when I did not know that I was doing japa and meditation for the sake of God-realisation. It was natural. My father used to do it, so I did it. My mother used to do it, so I did it. They just repeated God's name; I repeated God's name. I didn't ask the questions, 'Why repeat God's name? To become pure? To become impure? To become God-realised? To become protected?' Nothing. I just repeated because everyone was repeating. Later on, the evil, the maya [the divine power of illusion/delusion], came in: 'Oh, I must do meditation for God-realisation.' That was when the japa fell to the lowest.
So just do for the sake of doing. Who cares? Isn't it better to repeat God's name than to repeat evil things, worldly things? So just repeat.
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time. 2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order. Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and teachings.
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites – please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham