Swami Shivapadananda

The role of karma

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

635

   

Spoken by Swamiji at a satsang – religious or prayer service:

In the song we have just heard, Sri Rama is trying to explain something to Lakshman. He is saying: 'Do not get worried, my brother, all this is only karma; the greatest thing is to recognise that whatever is appearing in front of you is karma and from that point of view just do your dharma [righteous duty]. No man who came to the world in a body (which is made out of the five elements) only enjoyed happiness. Happiness and sadness, pain and comfort, are two good friends. One may be the subject; the other is the shadow of that subject. So these pairs will be everywhere. All these things are according to a person's own karma; and because of this, O Lakshman, let us just do our dharma. That is all.'

Everything, whatever you do, is through hard work. You are a fool if you think that you are going to pray to God and that God will come down and say, 'Yes my son, what do you want? You are the most beloved one. Don't worry, let all this trouble leave you and go to another man's house, you will be saved.' It will never ever happen. And even if God does come and bless you, then it is a grace which cannot be explained. It is your own karma because the very action of calling on God becomes karma.

The guest speaker gave us a meeting point between worldliness and godliness when he used the word karma. There is a bridge and you cannot just stand on a bridge. You still have to perform some sort of karma, some sort of action; you have to walk from one end to the other. The effort has to be manifested by us. The speaker gave us a lovely explanation about Sri Rama being the bridge, the dharmic bridge. One can climb on the bridge called Rama and go to the other side.

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 karma

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji

585

   

The Divine Mother and Sri Krishna are not two different things. It is One called by various names. Here She is known as male, there She is known as female.

Devotee: All this depends on the attitude of the mind?

Swamiji: Yes, it is definitely the attitude of the mind. Nothing else. If you see good things, you are happy. If you see bad things you are depressed.

Devotee: Swamiji was talking about God coming in different forms . . .

Swamiji: I am not saying this. The Lord is saying it Himself in the Bhagavad Gita. [laughter]

Devotee: When we look at the situation in this country today . . .

Swamiji: There is individual karma, there is group karma, there is national karma and there is international karma. We are caught in one of these karmas.

Devotee: Somebody came to our house the other day and begged for water. My wife's response, due to a recent incident in the neighbourhood, was to tell that person, 'No. If you do not go away I'll call the police.' How do you respond to a situation where . . . ?

Swamiji: She responded from where she was. They responded from where they were. You must respond from where you are. There is not one straight-forward pattern of response. Each one will respond from where he or she is. Given the same incident each one will respond differently. It may have been dharmic to say to him, 'Go away.'

Devotee: That poor fellow may have only wanted water for his car.

Swamiji: It is all right. She acted from where she was. Do not worry about her. M.Y.O.B. Mind your own business. [laughter]

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 working out your karma

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

Day 106

Sri Ramakrishna's mind always went towards God. It was never negative or fault-finding or gossipy. When he had visitors at the Dakshineswar Temple, with one glance he knew their intentions and motives. He gave the people what they deserved.  If they wanted gossip he sent them to see the flower garden. For those who wanted God, he would weep and cry for God. If Master chose his company, how much more must we choose our company?

He would liken us to houseflies who often sit on dirt, or on a flower. Wherever it goes it leaves a vibration on the object it has left. Then there is the bee. No matter where it finds itself, it always sits on flowers. It discriminates and sits on that which gives nectar, then goes and deposits it in the hive. Master [Sri Ramakrishna] discriminated between the worldly housefly and the bee. When the bees deposit nectar, they always go where there is the queen bee. The nectar goes on to nurture further bees or honey. So when we join people we must do so with a purpose - to serve the Queen Bee, the Divine Mother Herself.

At the time of conception the soul which is destined to manifest in an area where it will fulfil its further destiny, pushes towards that family which will further its destiny, or terminate its destiny. If you are born with worldly people that may fulfil your further destiny. Or you may be born with people who will terminate your destiny.

A holy man is born with holy people. His mind will always gravitate towards God and God alone. Remember, his past made him worthy of this in the present. Practise dharma [righteousness] now, then next life you will be born with holy people.

The Gospel leads you to God Himself. But gossip, (which almost sounds the same), leads you away from God.

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 that were with Swamiji, at the time he spoke them.

2) Mouse-over the highlighted red words in the posting for further explanation or links.

Posted by Clive Simpkins

Swami Shivapadananda on the 'karmic contract'

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

Day 92

Rishis were seers of thought (but not of their own thought). The Rishis never thought they created the scriptures from their own minds. Rishis are the seers of Truth which exists eternally.

Their creative energy is never at rest, it still goes on. It is God’s eternal creation which works throughout the universe. Take the body, it is creating new cells all the time but we do not know about it.

Who makes creation? It is really a projection, without beginning or end. It is similar to the creation of a dream, and who makes the dream.

 Why don’t we want to read another man’s mind? Because I know what is in my mind, why must I discover what rubbish is in his mind?

Some are born happy, some unhappy, some are born wealthy, some un-wealthy. We ourselves make it so - not God. It is due to our previous life or lives. We are responsible for what we suffer. We are the effects and the causes.

Spirituality comes through human hearts. The soul is immortal; it is in every man and every woman; the same omnipresent [everywhere], omniscient [all-knowing] Soul. There is a difference. Not in the Soul, but in the manifestation.

The body is here and the mind is beyond.

Behind the mind is the Atman. The Soul of man is called the Self or Atman; which is separated from the mind and the body; and which goes through death, accompanying the mind. The goal of the Soul is freedom Absolute. Heaven and hell are not infinite nor Absolute.

As long as time and space work on you, you are a slave.

Nature must fall at your feet and you must trample on it and be free. The goal is Eternal bliss.

Posted by Clive Simpkins

 

Swami Shivapadananda on pre-destination

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

Day 81

 Spoken during Shivaratri night – [see previous posting for explanation]

The scriptures say the column of light disappeared and Shiva appeared and shone like the sun. The sun is Shiva. Because of my [our] consciousness the whole world becomes consciousness.

This consciousness is Parvati [the female, 'nature' aspect of Shiva (God)], without it there is nothing. And that column of light later took form as Shiva and Parvati. We are their manifestations - different names and forms. Without the light of consciousness nothing is lit, there is no consciousness. May that Shiva reveal his true form to us. May you never slip off the spiritual path. Brahman [the undifferentiated reality] is the power of sadhana [spiritual practice].

Question from a devotee: Is man’s death pre-ordained at birth? Swami: Yes and no. It is pre-ordained but by doing good deeds men live longer, and by doing bad deeds men live shorter. Question: Why, Swamiji? Swamiji: Because it gives you longer to do more spiritual practice etc. Question: Is that where grace comes in? Swamiji: Yes.

Question: Where does surrender fit in with grace?

Swamiji: Surrender is when you give everything to God, not only the good but the bad too. Then you realize that God does everything, and you become a mouni [silent one]. You are the silent witness; not only outside but inside too. Sattva [balance] pulls you inside. You have probably felt it but you do not have the patience to hold it. This is because you have not done enough tapasya [austerity/self-denial].

Only God can do selfless service. As long as the “I” [ego] is there you cannot do selfless service. While doing good deeds you must think: “I am doing this to become perfect. But I am not perfect.” You have to do it for yourself and it is your secret.

Posted by Clive Simpkins

 

Swami Shivapadananda on breaking the cycle of Karma

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

DAILY READINGS

Taken from Mother Radha’s notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.

Day 62

Hanuman [the great devotee of Hindu Incarnation Lord Rama. Hanuman took the form of a monkey, or Sri Lankan Aboriginal] exists now. He’ll exist after this and he existed before this. Man exists eternally. Swami Vivekananda stated: Apparent man is body, mind, soul and internal organs. Real man is the Atman which lives forever. The Bhagavad Gita [a major Hindu scripture] chapter twelve says: There is never a time I did not exist, nor you; and never a time we cease to be.

Get out of karma [the cycle of birth and rebirth]. Think: Sri Ramakrishna is everywhere, doing everything. Act like a saint. Think: What would Sri Ramakrishna do in this situation? Or: What would Swamiji do in this situation? Think like this and surrender completely. 

Pray for freedom from desires - because desire is the father of karma [also cause and effect]. Swami Vivekananda prayed: O Lord, cast Thy compassionate glance on me.

[To sannyasi (monastic) disciples] [Please note the specific audience] Laughing is fickle-mindedness. Watch how it creeps in. Always laugh with controlled laughter - then you are aware of your body. If you laugh with uncontrolled laughter then you are unaware of your body. In front of a sadhu [holy man] do not cross your legs [it’s a sign of arrogance] and do not stand above him unless he says so [this signals an appropriate humility].

In the morning I salute Surya [God in the Sun] and say Master’s prayer: Staapakaaya etc. [the invocation to Sri Ramakrishna]. And I concentrate on the Lord on the third eye [the position between and above the eyebrows on the forehead]. If you meditate on light, let it spread through the whole universe.

Meditating on the feeling of love or joy is formless - but it is still with form - like the ocean or the sky. No meditation is greater than another. Just meditate on that which the mind rests best.

Even after God-realization Shankaracharya [the great Hindu philosopher] fulfilled scriptural ordinances. [he continued doing his prescribed duties].

Posted by Clive Simpkins