Vasanas and samskaras
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
764
[Pravrajika] Atmaprana [the first Sannyasini (Hindu nun) of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]: That is our whole problem: to try and forget the samsaras, the early things we learned.
Swamiji: Even Swami Vivekananda [lead disciple of Sri Ramakrishna] found it difficult. In the end he said, 'I hope I forget all that I have learnt.' Don't say he is saying it for nothing.
Atmaprana: I was wondering, Swamiji, what's the difference between the samskaras and the vasanas?
Swamiji: Vasanas are latent impressions already in the mind. Samskaras are the impressions that are already operating.
For instance we say, 'That is his samskara, it is his nature.' All the impressions have made up a part of his character. There is not much difference between samskaras and vasanas. Samskaras are well established and brought to the forefront. Vasanas are that which is still latent. Your vasanas can come up.
Swamiji: What do you understand by the term: 'God is everywhere'?
Devotee: It is permeating . . .
Swamiji: I am dead against you using the word permeate. When you use the word permeate it means there is something else but God. But there is nothing else but God. If I say the thread permeates this towel it means there is something else but the thread.
It's God permeating God. So all is God. Everything is God. Only at a certain level it becomes 'carrot', at a certain level it becomes 'dog', at a certain level it becomes 'man', at a certain level it becomes 'atheist'. Limitations are called dog, cat, god. These are limitations. When you are thinking of entering or permeating you are thinking of a foreign thing entering.
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