Swami Shivapadananda

Swami Shivapadananda on Lord Krishna’s teaching

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

581

   

[Swamiji Reads from the Bhagavad Gita]

Sri Krishna to Arjuna: Bound by your own karma, born of your own nature, that which from delusion you wish not to do, even that you shall do, helplessly, against your will, O son of Kunthi.

Swamiji: 'Against your will' you will have to do it, because your nature will make you do it. Fire will say, 'I do not want to burn,' but fire will be forced to burn.

The Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, and by his maya causes all beings to revolve as if mounted on a machine.

Swamiji: In other words: karma itself becomes the Lord's hands and legs. God Himself does not burn you; but if you hold fire, which was made by God, it will burn you.

Seek refuge in Him alone with all your heart. By his grace you will gain supreme peace and the eternal abode. Thus has wisdom, more profound than all profundities, been declared to you by Me. Reflect upon it fully and act as you choose.

Swamiji: In other words what the Lord is saying is, 'Go and reflect on it and if it makes sense then choose whichever course you like and do it.' If you want to bind yourself further to delusion, go ahead. But if you feel that the Lord is right, and that He knows better than you, then do what He says.

Listen again to My supreme word, the profoundest of all. You are beloved of Me therefore I shall tell you what is for your good.

Swamiji: Why is He telling us this? Why has God brought these scriptures to us? Because He loves us. We are his beloved. He did not just give the scripture to us because He wants to be a big shot. He loves us. He is part of it. He does not want us to suffer in ignorance, unknowingly. In reality you are born in joy, you live in joy and you pass on in joy. That is what the Upanishad says. But what is it in between that makes us feel that we are not living in bliss? That is what Sri Krishna is saying here: 'Look, I love you. You are still in bliss. Do it this way and then you will come to know.'

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

 

Swami Shivapadananda on faith in Sri Ramakrishna’s words

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

580

Pictured: Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886)

   

[Swamiji reads from a book on Latu Maharaj – later Swami Adbhutananda, a monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna]

In 1893 Latu Maharaj came to know of Swami Vivekananda's departure for America. He said about it later, 'I heard it from the lips of Holy Mother [Sri Sarada Devi] that brother Loren [Latu appeared to have an unusual speech pattern - and this is now he pronouned 'Naren' - which was the short form of Swami Vivekananda's pre-monastic name] had left for America. I felt a great longing to hear about him. After the Master [Sri Ramakrishna] passed away some were saying, 'What nonsense is this about Narendra having such a bright future?' But I never believed in their words. I would tell them to their faces, 'What the Master has said will come true to the last syllable. Loren will one day surpass us all. You will live to see it. How little faith you have in the words of the Master. Can his words be anything but true? '

Swamiji: Do you see how much faith he had in Master's words? You must remember, when you read The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, that whatever is said there, it is his word. You should have the same faith that Latu Maharaj had at that particular time.

[Latu Maharaj goes on] 'Then at long last when Swami Vivekananda's activities in America were published in the newspapers, oh, how can I describe my joy?'

One day Surendra Babu [a disciple of the Master] felt piqued at the Master and said to him, 'Why should you go to beg money of others in order to meet the expenses of this place? I should have been informed.' The Master consoled him saying, 'Are you not giving enough already? You are our reserve stock.' Surendra went downstairs. The Master sent Kedar [another disciple] after him to be sure that he was all right and to pacify him.

Swamiji: Here was a disciple of the Master, who was actually forcing him to take things from him, and who became angry when the Master did not accept those gifts. Usually one of two things happens: A disciple hides a gift and does not give it to the guru out of miserliness, or on the other hand if the guru refuses to take the gift he will get worried. The disciple may say, 'The guru did not accept it. Don't you think sin will come on me? Did I do anything wrong?' But neither of these two attitudes touched the disciple in question. He got angry.

Question: Should a person work for money?

Swamiji: Because money is part of artha [righteous wealth] you must work for it. But do not work as if it is 'my money'. It is God's prasad  [sacramental food or blessing] given to you. But you must make good use of it. Use it to uplift others, not to plunder others.

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

 

Swami Shivapadananda on the extraordinary selflessness and devotion of Swami Adbhutananda

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

579

[Pictured: A youthful Swami Adbhutananda - the pre-monastic Latu]

   

[Swamiji reads from a book on Latu Maharaj – later Swami Adbhutananda]

From 1891 to 1897 Latu Maharaj had no fixed residence. He stayed in the homes of various devotees in Calcutta and occasionally left the city. His real residence was the eastern bank of the [river] Ganges.

Swamiji: In India they sleep on the banks of the river Ganges.

Swamiji reads: But he would take food from a few devotee families and often stayed at the Monastery for a week or ten days at a stretch. During part of 1892 Latu Maharaj stayed at the Alambazar Monastery. The same year Swami Abhedananda suffered from an intestinal disease and Latu Maharaj nursed him. The Swami writes, 'How great was Latu Maharaj's love for his brother disciples. He whole-heartedly nursed me when I fell ill at Alambazar although the doctor said that the illness was contagious. Latu and Swami Saradananda used to wash the sores on my body everyday.'

Swamiji: What beautiful love. Can we love each other like that, as brother disciples?

Commenting on this, another Swami wrote, 'Latu Maharaj would come in the morning every day, spend the entire day with the Swami, and then leave to practise his austerities [tapasya] in the evening.'

One day in 1893 a devotee came to invite Latu Maharaj to visit his house for some holy occasion. When he entered the room where Latu Maharaj was staying, at the same home of another devotee, he saw Latu Maharaj sitting covered with a thick chaddar [cloth] from head to foot. Although the devotee called to him several times he received no reply. It was only after nearly an hour that they were able to talk with the Swami. When he had returned to normal consciousness Latu Maharaj said, 'Why do you invite me? Ask the sadhus of the Alambazar Monastery. If Brother Shashi [Swami Ramakrishnananda] goes it is as good as the Master going.'

Swamiji: What humility. He did not consider himself as great as his brother disciples.

The same year, during the rainy season, Holy Mother [Sri Sarada Devi], the nun-wife of Sri Ramakrishna] stayed at a house rented for her by one of the devotees. Latu Maharaj also stayed there. In reference to this period he said to a few others, 'While she was there, Mother practised the hard austerity of panchatapa  [panch means five and tapa, austerity] - a severe discipline which is observed by practising japa [meditative repetition of a mantra or one of God's many names] and meditation while seated encircled by four fires, with the sun blazing overhead. The Holy Mother and her companion, Jogin Ma, practised this austerity for a week.'

Swamiji: Sitting in this burning heat they were able to concentrate their minds on God. Is it any small matter? Today we just have to feel a little heat and we start looking for an electric fan. Why did they do this austerity? To teach man that without austerities nothing spiritual can be gained. Therefore the ashramites [those living at the Ashram] or monastery], the devotees and the householders should not treat lightly the observance of certain rules on certain days. These are austerities for us.

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

 

Swami Shivapadananda on Swami Adbhutananda’s insight vs. education

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

578

   

Latu Maharaj one of Master's direct disciples - also known as Swami Adbhutananda - has a wonderful history. And he had a wonderful association with Sri Ramakrishna. He was a man that was illiterate, he was a man that was only a cook. Nobody knew what caste or creed he belonged to.

While Latu Maharaj was serving Master [Sri Ramakrishna] at the Dakshineswar Temple, Master decided to teach him Sanskrit. Master gave him a couple of lessons but then, realizing it was hopeless, they both started laughing. Both had failed.

Master took him from where he was and thus proved to us that learning is no criterion for spirituality. Latu Maharaj later became a great saint and catered for his type of people. You can see how wonderful Master was, he even thought of those people who were illiterate and who may not have come in contact with saints and sages. These people had been left in the lurch as far as spirituality was concerned. Sri Ramakrishna manifested himself through Latu and gave the world a person who stunned even Swami Vivekananda [Sri Ramakrishna's leading disciple].

When Swami Vivekananda came back to India from the West he brought a group of Western disciples with him. He was showing these disciples some ancient ruins and explaining to them how they came to be and what their history was. Latu Maharaj was standing in the background listening to this and asked Swami Vivekananda, 'But how is that? How can that happen?' Swamiji tried to make him understand but, like a little child, Latu butted in every time. Now Swami Vivekananda was trying to impress the Western disciples and here was this fellow butting in. Of course Swami Vivekananda got very agitated and told him, 'Go from here. What does an illiterate man like you know?' To Swami Vivekananda's surprise Latu started rolling about with laughter. Swamiji became most concerned about this and asked him what was wrong with him. He said, 'No, I'm just laughing. I'm laughing at your education. If you, with your education, cannot make an illiterate man like me understand, then what is the use of your education?' This struck him like a thunderbolt and Swami Vivekananda, the tornado of spirituality, was humbled.

Do you see what greatness Master had? He compared the apparently low to the high and made that so called low even higher than the one who was considered to be high.

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

 

Swami Shivapadananda on avoiding becoming a chotta guru

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

577

   

Please do not think that you can go about telling everybody about spiritual things and becoming a chotta guru [little guru] yourself. You will make a blunder of other people's lives because each person needs certain [very specific] adjustments.

When we worship the formless aspect of God, it is still a kind of a form. In the case of God with mouth, nose and so on, He takes the form of a particular Being. But if you meditate on 'feeling,' then He takes the form of a feeling. When your meditation takes the form of the infinite sky it is still a form.

The greatest help in my life was japa [meditative repetition of a mantra or one of God's many names] and thinking as you repeat. If you do this constantly, you become soaked in the Immortal Name.

If your desire is to get God, all else fades into insignificance. Worldly desires are fulfilled by others going there. When you get drowned in the sea of Satchidananda [Existence, Knowledge Bliss Absolute] you become immortal. God's joy is bliss itself. It is not attributes, it is ananda [bliss] itself, it is That. The sun is fire, it does not give fire. In all circumstances God is the source of all joy. Always be in tune with God, by self-surrender.

He is everywhere. He is bliss by nature and nothing else. It is not put on [acted, contrived, artificial, unnatural].

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

   

 

Swami Shivapadananda with tips on enhancing meditation

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

576

   

Question: During the meditation period, after doing the mala, [prayer beads, rosary - pictured] Swamiji [has] said we must meditate on God's qualities. Is that without repeating His name at all?

Swamiji: Repeat it, son, because 'repeating His name' is the catch. If you do not repeat His name your mind will run here and there.

Devotee: When we are trying to concentrate on the [Ishta Deva] deity's form what happens if the form does not come to mind? What can we do in this case?

Swamiji: When the form does not come to mind, provided you have done your dhyana sloka, [meditation verses/prayer] do not worry. Just keep your mind in that particular spot where you are meditating.

Devotee: There are times when we are going through the guru mantra very mechanically. Instead of this, is sitting down silently and thinking about the form perhaps more productive?

Swamiji: No, no, no. You must get your mind to do the guru mantra and to think of the form. Make it productive. Your mind will revolt. It will tell you all sorts of things. That mind is a rogue because you are a rogue. Do not worry about this mechanical feeling. Just do it. It is the same as when you start riding a wild horse. It will drop you a few times but slowly you break that horse in. That horse must listen to you. You must not listen to the horse.

Who are you to judge your own spirituality? God will judge it for you. When you are trying hard He Himself will dish out things for you. Otherwise, if you find ways and means, God will let you keep on finding ways and means.

There is a story about a dhobi [washerman] who was washing some clothes when a bhakta [devotee]  of Lord Vishnu came along. He started singing God's name and walking on the washing. The dhobi, of course, got angry and started kicking the bhakta. Lord Vishnu got this very urgent message, so he went to the bhakta for a split second and then went back to heaven. The Divine Mother asked him, 'Lord, why did you go so far and not do anything?' He said, 'By the time I got there my bhakta had picked up a stone to hit the dhobi. As long as he can protect himself I'll sit here'.

If you find ways and means, God will let you keep on finding ways and means.

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

 

Swami Shivapadananda with additional meditation instructions

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

575

   

While you are meditating, images of other deities will come into your mind. If you are meditating on Sri Ramakrishna, Lord Shiva's image or Mother Kali's form may come into your mind. Do not push this image away. Our gurus say, 'Look at it for a little while. Then take it and merge it into your Deity [Ishta Deva] proper.' Let the other deities be respected and merged into your deity. Similarly you must picture your deity regardless of whatever other mantras come to mind.

This meditation I have described is meditation on God with form. In the Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna rightly says, 'O Arjuna, it is difficult to meditate on God without form, on My unmanifest aspect. It is easy to meditate on My form and forms.'

As a beginner you must start off with half an hour and keep it at half an hour for six months. Do not do more than that. Your mind will say, 'Go a little bit more than half an hour, you are a great yogi.' You will find that the mind gets dissatisfied like this; but even if it wants to do extra time do not do it. If, on the other hand, the mind wants to do less, push it for the full half hour.

After six months you can push the time a bit. Do five minutes more. Keep it like that for three months and after another three months you can increase it until you reach one hour. After that you do not have to keep time, it will take its own course.

After meditation, if you want to sing, you can lovingly sing a kirtan. You can sing before meditation too if you want.

Devotee: Swamiji, when we are meditating how will we know how long we have been sitting for?

Swamiji: If I say, 'You will know,' you may not believe me, but you will know. When you are almost reaching that half hour your mind will start telling you. Otherwise you can use an alarm clock.

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

 

Swami Shivapadananda on the conclusion of the meditation process

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

574

   

[Meditation continued]

   

Now let your deity become merged in the whole of creation. Feel that it is penetrating your whole body and, through your body, merged into the whole of creation. Thus you become vishvaroop [the universal form of the deity].

[Swamiji quotes from the Isha Upanishad]

    Isa vasyam ida gung sarvam

    yat kim ca jagatyam jagat

    tena tyak tena bhunjithah

    ma gradha kasya svid dhanam.

[Meaning:]

I renounce all my people's things.

I renounce all duality

and have taken refuge in that One

who permeates everything.

Feel that you are pure. Feel that you are holy. Feel that you are a humble servant of the Lord. Feel that you have a certain power. Because of God's power you have the power yourself.

After doing this if you want to repeat any other mantras, or any other slokas [verses] you may repeat them. Do this with vigour, do it with love, do it with rhythm. This will give you stability of mind.

Calmly sit like that. Open your eyes. Look at the whole world calmly. Your deity is hidden in the whole of creation. Your deity is the space. Do not get up straight away. Read some literature on your deity if you like. It is better to read something about your deity because it will increase love for that deity. Or read any other holy book for about five or ten minutes, whatever you feel like, and slowly prostrate. Get up with this drunkenness of God permeating everything. Then go about your daily work.

Hari Om Tat Sat

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.

Reference websites (please mouse-over the name to connect): Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramakrishna Centre of SA, Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa, Ramakrishna Dham, Swami Shivapadananda 2

Swami Shivapadananda with very specific meditation instructions

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

573

   

[Continued from Day 572, previous posting]

 

Now for the meditation itself. You repeat the guru mantra and at the same time you look at the deity [chosen Ideal or Ishta Deva] .

Your guru mantra should not be heard by anybody. But you can say it first in a whisper, so that only you and the deity can hear it. After doing it in a whisper you now do it silently without moving your lips or your tongue. You will find that sometimes when you are silent your tongue is moving but you are not aware of it. Now you meditate. Meditate in such a way that your mind is attached to the form of the Lord.

It is best to do the mantra one hundred and eight times [a full japa mala]. You may do it with a mala or you may do with your fingers. After one hundred and eight times I put my hands here [near the heart], this is for meditation on God with form and meditate on Him.

Go on meditating with love, with devotion, with sincerity. Love. Devotion. Sincerity. Meditate and at the same time reflect on the qualities and attributes of that deity. He is Almighty. He is One without a second. He is the embodiment of all the powers in this world. Whatever you ask, whatever you need, that the Lord will give.

This should go on for half an hour in the beginning and you will find that the time goes so fast.

Now you say lovingly, consciously, to your deity who is seated in your heart [anahata chakra], 'O Lord, O Mother [Divine], come up now and sit in the throat chakra [psychic centre].' Let your deity come up from the heart in your imagination. Let it sit in the vishuddha chakra and meditate on it there for at least two minutes. See the deity as you saw it in your heart. After you have seen it there for two minutes you then say to your deity, 'Lord, come and sit on the ajna chakra, the centre between the eyebrows.' See it there for another two minutes with the same love. After that is done, say, 'Lord, come now onto the sahasrara chakra, the thousand petalled lotus.' But, as the deity is going to the sahasrara, your guru merges in the deity. Now your deity is seated there. You must try to absorb the guru in the deity. Even if you cannot find out how to merge it, let it go to the sahasrara. Let the deity occupy that space because that means that the guru is merged with the deity.

Now you meditate there for at least five minutes. Then you say, 'O Lord, come [down] now to the ajna chakra.' You bring it there and meditate on the deity because your guru has merged in the deity. Meditate there for at least another three to five minutes. Then, when you have finished that, you say to your deity, 'Lord, come and sit in the vishuddha chakra.' Again you make the deity sit in the throat chakra. And there you again meditate for three to five minutes.

Look at the deity with all the love and at the same time keep on repeating the mantra. When you are taking the deity up you continue repeating the mantra. When you are coming down you continue repeating the mantra.

After three to five minutes you say to the deity, 'Lord, now come into the space where I meditate on you,' (that is in your heart or right in the middle of your chest) and let the deity sit there. You utter your mantra for another half an hour, just as you did before taking the deity up.

After half an hour again pray to your deity for love, devotion, faith and conviction. Then, as you did in the beginning, send out peaceful thoughts or say the mantra that wishes the whole world peace.

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.

Swami Shivapadananda continues meditation instructions

 

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

572

   

[Preparation for meditation continued]

The next part [in meditation preparation] that you must follow is dhyanam. Dhyanam means you meditate as described in the dhyanam mantra.

   

I will give you one example: Let us say Ganesha [the aspect of God that removes obstacles - pictured] is your deity, and he is seated on a lotus in your heart. Then you say this mantra:

    Gajaananam bhoota ganaadhi sevitam,

    Kapittha jamboo phalachaarubhakshanam,     

    Umaasutam shokavinaasha kaarakam,

    Namaami vigneshwara paada pankajam.

Maybe you do not know Sanskrit so in English you can say:

The Lord has taken the form of Ganesha. He has an elephant face and is draped with a yellow dhoti. He has four arms: in one hand he has a whip; with another hand he is blessing; with another hand he is saying, 'Fear not,' and with his fourth hand he has taken something to eat (a ladu or a piece of fruit). He has lotus feet (see that he has lotus feet) and I prostrate to him.

Mentally prostrate to him within yourself.

Now you offer your deity something. You may offer him any five or ten things, whatever you like. But the less things you offer the better for you, because then it will not puzzle your mind.

I like to take agarbatti [or dhoop - incense] and light it. I wave it round the face of the deity three times. Then I take a little chandan [sandalwood paste] and put it on the deity's forehead. Then I take a little bit of sweetmeat [ladu, fruit, jalebi (pictured) milk, etc.] and I feed him.

After feeding him I offer a little water. Then I say, 'Lord, now sit in a firm asana [seated posture] inside me so I will also be firm.' Then I meditate. [To be continued]

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.