Use Japa to get God
[Pictured: Murthi of Sri Ramakrishna in shrine at Belur Math, Dakshineswar, India]
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
[now a Centre of the international Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission]
DAILY READINGS
Selected from Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji.
Day 853
Do you want to be pure? Then concentrate all day on God's name. Do japa [meditative repetition of a mantra – sacred word/s or sound syllable] or one of the many names attributed to God] and think of His glories. What you think you become. How great must be japa. Concentration is a supreme discipline. Is meditation so easy? The great Rishis [sages, seers, saints] struggled. Sri Ramakrishna himself struggled for twelve years. Intense yearning can come any time, in any of the four ashramas [or life-stages, consisting of: brahmacharya (student), grihastha (married), vanaprastha (contemplative), sannyasa (renunciation]. Intensify a little the desire you have for God. The highest happiness is to know God, live with God, become God, and to know that God is there. His touch is so electrifying, it destroys all past karmas [life-debts, birth and rebirth obligations]. God's embrace is not like yours and mine
Do not waste your time. Read the scriptures and think. You and the scriptures must be the closest companions because the scriptures give the milk of Immortality.
Cling to the inside, not the outside [world and stimuli]. He God] is seated in your heart.
Do not hurt anyone in thought, word or deed [ahimsa]. That is the essence.
Devotee: It is so difficult to remember to do sadhana [regular spiritual practice], Swamiji.
Swamiji: That is because it is not a habit. For example, Lord Rama [the great Hindu incarnation of God] built a bridge to go to [Sri] Lanka, but Hanumanji [the exemplary devotee and disciple of Lord Rama] took Lord Rama's name and flew across. So God's name makes you float.
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.
For more about the Holy Trinity, and also the founding Swamis of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, please mouse over their names below:
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