[Meaning of Gayatri Mantra above: We meditate on that Ishwara's glory, who has created the universe; who is fit to be worshipped; who is the embodiment of knowledge and light; who is the remover of all sins and ignorance. May He enlighten our intellect.]
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
719
Ritual worship [the physical offering of items to God] is a kind of spiritual discipline. If a man cannot do ritual worship I cannot see him doing meditation. He is bluffing himself. Meditation is also a method to think about God. You start from burning the candle until you burn out your own ego in God's bliss.
Breathing is a kind of work, meditation is a kind of work. Every work is a ritual. The simplest ritual worship taught to the child should be to offer love to God - and that is represented by flowers. The simplest way to offer life to God is water. So offer water and flowers to God.
The details of ritual worship came out in the Vedas. In South India they did not have all the sacrifices. In the north they had most of them because they were people who called themselves nomads [wanderers], but they were mad. In the bush they used to sacrifice all those things. But in the south they used to call it pushpa. The word puja [ritual worship comes from the word pushpa - flower, the offering of flowers.
In the Gayatri Mantra people were only asked to offer water. The Gayatri Mantra is the highest and greatest mantra because it only asks for enlightenment, understanding, and for one to travel on the right path, the path of dharma [righteousnesses/duty]. If the Gayatri Mantra can benefit all of you, very good.
Some of the pundits [or pandit] or Brahmins say you must not give the Gayatri Mantra to a non-Brahmin. I am not going to comment on that. I only say to you, all those people who can understand it and can lead the life should be given that mantra.
Before anything else, go and learn the Gayatri Mantra of Sri Ramakrishna:
Om Ramakrishnaya vidmahe gadadharaya dhimahi.
Tanno devah pracodayat.
[Meaning: I meditate on the self-effulgent Ramakrishna, who is the bearer of the club (of righteousness or dharma). May He, the Lord, give me enlightenment.]
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.
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
