[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
777
If you are that strong you are not clinging on [to being re-born on this plane] you are going step by step to become say an angel, from angel you become a [demi] god and from god you become [realise] supreme Godhead [God-realisation]. Then you go upwards. That's why they say if you go to Satyaloka [lit: abode or realm of truth] - from Satyaloka there is no return - then you go direct. So that's gradual liberation.
Instant, or in this birth, one-birth theory, is moksha [release from the cycle of birth and re-birth] - here, you are a Jivanmukta. The other one – why you go back and go up is because you are still earth-bound – you still want to enjoy it [the pleasures of the body]. Supposing [to Chris Hoare, son of the recorder of these talks] you want to see Radha [the recorder of these teachings] as your mother in the next birth, so what are you going to do about that. [Laughter]
You know, our Hindu way of life is beautiful - please don't think I'm criticising any other way of life – but I'm just saying it is very beautiful. They say that one man, one wife it was, huh? Why? Because one man one wife, birth after birth you'll still be born as that [same] pair. The other thing that I must say, there's no proof [to the contrary] that if I am your wife and you are my husband, and I'm so attached to the man [focus energies on that gender], next birth you'll be a woman and I'll be a man. Because you're liking a woman and this fellow is liking a man. So next time you'll be my wife and I'll be your husband [i.e. gender roles may be reversed]. [Chuckling and then much laughter from devotees]
Doesn't sound very nice, huh? Truly, think about a dog, you'll become a dog, but if you think about a woman what are you going to become? And if that one is thinking about a man, what are they going to become? [More laughter]. So anyway, I'm not making you scared, you carry on. [Gender is a human concept - the soul is genderless]
[Devotee]: From a karmic point of view, it's terrifying. [More laughter from devotees]
Swamiji: That's why you don't understand it. Anyway, let's forget that. Now, religion says the wife is supposed to be the goddess and the husband is supposed to be the god. Serve her as a goddess and she must serve you as a god. That is spirits now. But supposing now, on the quiet, the husband loves somebody else, and she [the wife] loves somebody else, that's where the complication comes in. Now in this birth that fellow loves another girl. Why does he love another girl? Because in the last birth he started it wrong [started a relationship of some sort]. Now this birth this thing is all tangled and affecting them. So from now you must avoid all this. [Laughter from devotees] You understand what I'm trying to say?
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:
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
