Swami Shivapadananda

On Sri Hanuman’s protective power

[Pictured: Sri Hanuman and Lord Rama embracing]

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

[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 947

 

Swamiji reads and comments]

She [Sita] fixed Rama in her heart and then spoke to Ravana, 'You think that a lotus will blossom in front of a glow worm? A false heart will not melt the heart of a pure person.'

Swamiji: Ravana [the demon king] had ten heads and had pride in them, because of miraculous powers. But really it was one head with ten senses. Ravana wanted to kill Sita because she had insulted him, but his wife, Mandodari stopped him. If the husband is unfaithful, the wife must not be unfaithful. She must try, even if he fails.

Ravana gave Sita an ultimatum, 'I give you one month to decide, otherwise I shall kill you.' But she never gave in.

Later, after returning to Ayodhya, Sita took a vow to go through the trial by fire. If she had made a mistake, knowingly or unknowingly, it did not matter, Rama must not take his wife back under a cloud. She wanted to prove her love, to burn her body, which she had given in thought and word to Rama.

Reading the Sundara Kandam about Hanuman brings happiness.

It is very important to take spiritual life seriously. Rely on Hanuman, call him in thought, word and deed and do what he does.

Swami Vivekananda [spiritual heir to Sri Ramakrishna] said, 'Everyone on the spiritual path must worship Hanuman first. He is a perfect sannyasi [monk, swami, holy man], a perfect brahmachari [mind constantly on God and a celibate], a perfect bhakta [devote]. He is perfect in every way.'

To recite the Hanuman Chalisa you must be clean in thought, word and deed. When Hanuman is happy with you, everything comes right. He is the guru [spiritual preceptor] personified and the guru bodiless. He guards you without a body.

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

   

Siddhis [powers] and different relationships with God

 

 [Pictured: Mother Yasoda and baby Krishna]

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

[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 904

 

Yes, God exists, if in your own little prayer rooms [home shrines] if you really pray to God and forget asking him for this, that and everything [else] and tell him, 'I want to see you!' I'm sure one of us in the family will realise him to see him. We are beggars you see. We go in our shrines and temples and say 'God' as if [because] we say 'God' he will listen to us, as if he does not know his duty. Your father when he gave you birth, your mother when she gave you birth, don't you think and mother did their duty? That they'll have to protect you? They'll have to look after you? Yes, if you ask God for something, to make your mind humble, that indirectly your mind must feel you are relying on God, that is good. But we do not feel that we rely on God. We feel it's our right, because we burn a little bit of camphor, we offer a little fruit and we say, 'it's a right' because I'm worshipping that thing, it must give me all the things [I ask for]'. And if it doesn't come [manifest] you try another one. And that doesn't come right you'll try [yet] another one. [Swamiji chuckling] By the time you've tried the third one probably you'll leave earth [i.e. have passed on]. God hasn't come, nothing has come.

So, you must remember this. That you must worship God for God's sake. You must love God for love's sake. And when this [love] comes, you'll get everything. You'll get land, you'll get money, you'll get a wife, children, you'll be king of kings. Because, whoever God's grace falls upon, that particular being becomes master of everything under the sun. He's got the eight psychic powers and the eight psychic powers can make wonders in this world. Ashta siddhis [eight siddhis] they call it.

It is said in the Hanuman Chalisa, 'Oh Lord, you are given the eight siddhis [powers] to become big, small, appear, disappear [etc.] and not only that, you also have the nine kind jewels of bhakti [divine love or devotion]. You know what that is? They are the nine relationships with God. Like 'I am the servant and Thou art the master', 'I am the mother and Thou art the child'. Example of 'I am the servant and Thou art the master?' – Hanumanji and Sri Rama. 'I am the mother and Thou art the child?' – Yasoda [Sri Krishna's mother] or Mary [the mother of Jesus]. You could say 'You are my beloved' – Radha and Krishna. 'You are my friend. I am your friend?' – Arjuna and Krishna. Like that you go on – there are nine relationships [attitudes to] with God that you can have. Hanumanji had all nine.

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

 

Swami Shivapadananda on the nature of Sri Hanuman

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

611

   

So Sri Hanuman works and works and works. Whether you say he is wrong or say he is right, he cares not. Only one thing is planted in his heart: 'I shall accomplish my Lord's work. Even if Ravana [king of the demons] is in heaven I shall bring him here; even if he is in [Sri] Lanka I shall carry the whole of Lanka and bring him here. I do not care for the praise or blame of the world. I, Hanuman, only take Sri Rama's name.'

Sri Krishna also gave Arjuna [his disciple] equality - he became Arjuna's charioteer. Yes, God Himself becomes your servant. He becomes a driver in the life on Earth; and He becomes the victor on the flag of dharma [righteousness] in the form of Hanumanji. That Sri Hanuman took birth, and that Sri Hanuman we worship. As long as his jhanda [flag] flies in the ashrams [monasteries] of Sri Ramakrishna bhakti [devotion] will be the slave there, jnana [wisdom, knowledge] will be the slave there, karma [in this sense, work] will be the slave there and mind control will be the crown there. Yes. Jai Hanuman, Jai Hanuman.

Elsewhere in the Ramayana we find that Sri Rama asked Hanumanji a question in the assembly: 'O Hanuman, what do you think of me in relation to yourself?' Hanumanji's tears were rolling down his cheeks. Full of love and tainted with jnana he said, 'O Lord, when I think that I am the body (like when you think you are the body) then, Lord, you are the Almighty and I am your servant. O Lord, when I think I am the jivatman, the conscious, separated individual, then I am part of you, I am a part manifestation, I am your power. O Lord, when I think that I am the Atman [universal soul or consciousness], I am Thyself; when I realise that I am the Atman, you and I are one.' So Sri Hanuman, from this point of view, identified himself with all the gods and goddesses and the whole universe.

This Hanumanji is the glory of India, nay, the glory of all bhaktas [devotees]. Others made God appear, but he tore his chest open, dared [risked] his life, and showed God within himself. Others have made gods appear and disappear; but when the gods and goddesses appeared in front of Sri Ramakrishna he, like a great ocean, welcomed them and absorbed them within his own body.

These two bhaktas, these two great Beings, [Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Hanuman] have a unique position in this world.

May we all be blessed.

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 Puri, Swami Shivapadananda

Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read online...

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 what to really seek

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

610

   

[Swamiji continues speaking on Hanuman]

Hanuman broke the diamond necklace given him by Mother Sita . . . .

Then when the question was asked: 'If Sri Rama is in everything do you mean to say he is in you too?' Hanumanji replied, 'Yes. My Sri Rama, the Paramatma [one supreme soul], is in everything,' and he tore open his chest. 'Sri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram. Sri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram.' And whilst the blood was flowing Sitaram [the conjoined RamaSita] was seen to be resting in his glowing heart. (While Mother Sita and Sri Rama were inside, do not forget that they were outside too. God is within and without.)

You may ask: 'If Sri Rama is Omnipresent then how is it that Hanumanji did not find him in that [japa] mala?' There is an example in the scriptures that clarifies this: Yajnavalkaya said to his two wives, 'I have this land and I want to give you each half.' Gargi, one of the wives, asked, 'Will this wealth give me God-realisation?' Yagnavalkaya replied, 'No, it can't give you God-realisation, money won't give you God-realisation.' So she said, 'Then I don't want it. I want [only] that which will give me God-realisation.'

Sri Ramakrishna said the same thing. He said, 'What am I to do with a bread-winning education? I want that kind of knowledge knowing which I know everything.' Similarly, the diamond heart-shaped necklace given to Hanuman only had worldly value; you cannot buy God with it; it cannot help you to think about God; it may even make you think about Ravana [the demon king]. So therefore Hanumanji, the bhakta [devotee], put no value on diamonds and jewels. And that is why he broke it and threw it away. He showed that Sitaram [the inseparable Lord Rama and Mother Sita duo] was inside him and by inference, everyone knew that God was Omnipresent and that God was inside them too.

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 Puri, Swami Shivapadananda

Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read online...

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 glory of Hanuman

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

609

   

[Swamiji continues on the birth of Hanuman]

The gods then said to Pavandev [Hanuman's father], 'We will bring your child back to life. Your child is not dead. Each one of us will give him a blessing.'

It is said that then thirty three million gods got together to bless Hanumanji. (There are not thirty three million gods. It is thirty three million manifestations of God. Just as electricity is one power which manifests itself as light, as coolness in the fridge, as heat on the stove, it is just One.) Some of the gods said to Hanumanji, 'I shall not devour you. I cannot bind you in any way'; Indra [the chief of the gods] said, 'My thunderbolt will never affect you again; Lord Vishnu said, 'You will be my greatest bhakta [devotee] on Earth'; Lord Brahma said, 'My brahmastra will never affect you'; Yama said, 'Death will never overtake you.' And so all the gods and goddesses gave him boons [blessings, gifts]. Then came the sages Vishwamitra and Vasishta who gave him a beautiful lotus garland.

Every one of them gave Hanuman a boon; therefore every one of the deities and their powers are inside that god called Hanumanji. (Hanumanji, like Sri Ramakrishna, became the embodiment of all the gods and goddesses.)

In the Hanuman Chalisa it is said you do not have to worship another deity if you worship Hanumanji; because by keeping Hanumanji in your heart all the other deities become happy - though this does not mean you must ignore the other deities.

After all the boons were given, Hanumanji became so happy that he started kicking the mountains and pulling the yogis' beards and disturbing them from their sadhana. At this they became very angry and cursed him. They said to him, 'You're disturbing us, you don't want us to have bhakti (love to God's lotus feet) so we curse you that you will forget all your strength.' He forgot it immediately and surrendered.

All the gods came together again and said to the sages, 'What have you done? He has come here to accomplish something for God Himself, why did you curse him?' Then the sages relented and said, 'All right, if anyone reminds Hanumanji of his strength it will become manifest in him. He will again become all-powerful.'

Thus Hanumanji is the embodiment of all the deities. And in Rama avatar he went to Lanka. But before going to Lanka he had no strength and that is why Jambhavan, king of the bears, reminded him: 'O Hanuman you have forgotten that you were going to swallow the Sun, you have forgotten that you were fighting Indra himself, you have forgotten that all the gods and goddesses prostrated to you and gave you boons.' And suddenly Hanumanji became bigger, golden coloured, and he looked around. And as he looked around, the Sun, his guru, looked at him and he sparkled.

Thus with one bound he cleared the ocean and took the message from Sri Rama to Mother Sita, who was being held prisoner in Lanka. Then, by building a bridge from India with the help of Nala and Neela, he took Sri Rama and all the Vanaras [Aboriginal people] there, and brought back Mother Sita and Vibhishana.

This is how great Hanumanji is: When the battle was over, Mother Sita saw that Sri Rama was giving gifts to everybody except Hanumanji. She wanted to show her appreciation, so she said to Sri Rama, 'What can we give Hanumanji?' He said, 'You give him something.' Now Vibhishana had given Mother Sita a heart shaped necklace of diamonds. She took it and gave it to Hanumanji. He took it like a monkey, looked at it, and then he plucked off the diamonds and cracked them one by one. Then he threw them down. Of course all the Rishis became alarmed. 'What is this?' they said, 'You are insulting the Mother of the universe, Devi Sita.' 'No, Maharaj,' said Hanumanji, 'I am not insulting anyone. I am looking for Sri Rama.' 'Is Sri Rama in everything?' they asked. 'Yes, Sri Rama is in everything,' came the reply. That was the first time that most of the Rishis (besides the select few) came to know this truth. Hanumanji declared in front of everyone that Sri Rama was no ordinary being, he was Paramatma himself.

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 Puri, Swami Shivapadananda

Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read online...

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 Hanuman’s birth

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

608

 

[Swamiji continues on Hanuman's birth]

The kite [bird] had been told that its curse would be destroyed if it could snatch a little bit of this sweet rice from Dasaratha's queen and if it could put it in the rightful place. So just when the queen was looking the other way, the kite flew down, snatched some sweet rice and flew away.

At this very moment, not far from there, Lord Shiva said to Anjani [Hanuman's mother], 'Do you want a son? All right, you will have a son. He will be full of wrath but he will be self-effulgent. Bind your eyes, put your hands out and do tapasya [sacrifice or austerity]. Something will be put into your hands and you must eat it.' So Anjani did this and started saying the Shiva mantra. At that moment the kite that had snatched the sweet rice [payasam or kheer] was flying above her and there was a great storm. The rice fell from its mouth and into Anjani's palms.

She then ate it knowing that the gods were happy. After nine months, as nature would have it, Anjani gave birth to a handsome looking son according to their standards. (You may laugh but every mother knows that her child is the most beautiful child.) Hanumanji, the most handsome child, was born. But wonder of wonders this child was wearing golden ear-rings. It is said that when Vali, Sugriva's brother, heard that Anjani would give birth he tried to abort the child. To do this in the olden days they used to give the five metals: gold, zinc, iron, copper and silver in liquid form, as a medicine. But as Sri Rama's grace would have it, these metals made beautiful ear-rings and so Hanumanji was born with ear-rings. (I do not see why miracles are not possible.) He was also born with a beautiful sacred thread.

But this child, Hanumanji, because he was Lord Shiva's gift, the eleventh avatar, Ekadashrudra, was able to speak at birth. The first thing he said was, 'Ma, ma, I am hungry knowing that I have taken birth.' (Conscious birth, not unconscious birth.) Every child wants to suckle the breast but this one wanted to know, 'What can I eat? What will my future be?' So Anjani said, 'We only live on roots and fruits; we live on everything that is sattvic. Any nice red fruit you find on top of the trees, eat that.'

Anjani went inside to get something to give him. Now the full moon had just set and the baby Hanumanji saw something gold and red coming up; so with one leap he cleared the space between the Earth and the sun. But whilst he was going there he looked to the side and found another big red light which was Ketu. He decided to leave the sun and as he was going to Ketu somebody ran to Indra Bhagavan, the king of the gods, and told him the whole story.

Indra Bhagavan became very excited; he was the king and, though it was not his fault, he had to protect his subjects. So he got on his aircraft, indrajit, and dashed there to see what was wrong. He met Hanumanji on the way and instead of asking him, 'What is the matter? What do you want?' Indra started getting his thunderbolt ready. At this point Hanumanji kicked Indra's vehicle away and this made Indra Bhagavan very angry. He let go his thunderbolt and it hit Hanumanji on the jaw and broke his chin (Hanu means jaw). Hanuman came whirling down to Earth and someone ran to Pavandev [the wind god] to tell him that his son was hurt. (It was Pavandev [the wind god] who gave the kite the power to fly. It was Pavandev again who directed that payasam into the hand of Mother Anjani and by virtue of this he became Hanumanji's father.)

Pavandev then withdrew all the prana [vital universal or life force] from the three worlds and all the gods, goddesses, mankind and creatures started suffocating. As they were about to die Indra Bhagavan, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva all started pleading with Pavandev. They said, 'Why are you doing this? Why are you withdrawing the prana? Do you see what is happening?' He replied, 'You people nearly killed my son. I want to show you who is the most powerful being. I will teach you all a lesson.'

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 Puri, Swami Shivapadananda

Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read online...

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 nature of Hanumanji

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

Day 606

When Lord Vishnu gave a boon to Kausalya and Dasaratha in a previous birth, as Manu and Shatarupa, he promised that he would take a birth in this world as their son. But before Lord Vishnu left his heavenly abode he instructed all the devis  [godesses] and devas [gods], all the divine powers (which are none other than his own manifestations; just as a policeman is a manifestation of the government of the country): 'Go to the world, go to mrityu bhavan where death takes place and take birth in bodies, not only of animals but in those of men too, for I shall take birth there and you, according to your strength and power, will assist me to re-establish dharma [righteousness] and to destroy adharma [unrighteousness].'

I feel strongly that God took the form of the devatas [demi-gods], guardian spirits in the form of animals and men for various people, for those who worshipped God in the forms of different deities, and for those who wished to see and have boons from those deities. He thus satisfied this type of devotee - the devotee that did not worship God as Satchidananda [Existence Knowledge Bliss, Absolute].

There are many different sources to show how Sri Hanumanji took birth. In different Yugas [epochs, eras, ages] the Lord takes birth in different ways. I suggest you dwell on a few of these and choose one.

When [king] Dasaratha was performing the sacrifice to the fire god, in order to have a son, the fire god manifested itself and handed a container of payasam, sweet rice, to Dasaratha, who took it and gave it to his wives Kausalya, Sumantra and Kaikeyi.

Hanumanji is not a monkey because though Narabandar means man-monkey it is not referring to Sri Rama and Hanumanji; it refers to Hanumanji alone. Hanumanji was born man and monkey in one [it is said he was an Aboriginal person - i.e. indigenous to that opart of the world]. The Ramayana says that the Vanara tribe lived in certain parts of India. Another point is that monkeys do not walk upright so this shows us that Hanumanji was not a monkey.

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 Puri, Swami Shivapadananda

Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read online...

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 speaking on Hanuman Jayanti

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

605

Swami Vivekananda said about Hanumanji that the Lord who brought happiness to Sri Rama, who brought happiness to Mother Sita, who brought happiness to the whole of Bharatdesh [India], should be worshipped and adored by all people regardless of their caste, colour or creed. He said that if India worships the ideal of Hanumanji, India will be blessed, India will be uplifted - for he said that Hanumanji is the embodiment of all the sadhanas [spiritual practices] that are found in the scriptures.

These sadhanas are divided into four popular headings: raja yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga and jnana yoga. Hanumanji is the embodiment of all these yogas and more. It is difficult for us mortals to fully understand and appreciate this bhakta [great devotee,] Sri Hanuman.

Today we celebrate Hanumanji's birthday [Hanuman Jayanti] but in reality the [Bhagavad] Gita says the Lord never takes birth; and because He does not take birth, He never dies. Man, who takes birth, dies. Let us analyse this. Ninety nine point nine percent of the people in this world are helplessly given birth. They take birth unknowingly, ignorantly. Their past actions force them into this world. And because they ignorantly take birth they are mortals. Then when they die they die unconsciously, thus going into spheres or stages unknown to them.

But the great Incarnations [Avatars] of God take no birth. They consciously come to the world and they consciously leave the world. From that point of view there is no birth for the Lord and no death. As Hindus this is one fact that we must remember - especially because we believe in reincarnation.

Sri Krishna says in the Gita, 'With my yogamaya [power of illusion/delusion] I embody myself. I apparently take birth and after accomplishing my work I do not die but I leave the body consciously.' He is saying: 'Consciously I took the body, consciously I leave the body; therefore I have no birth and I have no death. The body, I know, will die; the body takes birth like some kind of envelope, some kind of a casing; I get into this casing called the body consciously, and I consciously leave this body, therefore I (the real I) have no birth, no death.'

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 Puri, Swami Shivapadananda

Click Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to read online...

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