SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
Taken from Mother Radha’s
notes, written at Swamiji’s feet.
Day 77
The birth of Sri Ramakrishna has ushered in a new age. The satya yuga
[golden age or age of truth] began with Master’s advent. In this yuga people
must practise the sattvic quality of truthfulness. From the day that Sri
Ramakrishna was born the people of the world began becoming conscious of God.
Truth is a sattvic quality, so man will make Sri Ramakrishna a model and will
practise spiritual sadhana [practice]. Then their life becomes a blessing.
Vedic [of the Vedas – ancient Hindu scriptures] religion is eternal. Not
just the books but the knowledge, the principles in the books. That is the
eternal religion. It is God’s knowledge. God is eternal and His knowledge is
eternal. Sanatana Dharma - the Eternal Religion - encompasses the teachings
which are desire-fulfilling; how to realize God and sustain devotion to God;
daily prayers etc. What is the highest desire? To realise God. Give up objects
and live only for God.
Swami Vivekananda [Sri Ramakrishna's lead disciple - pictured] took science and showed us how the ‘demon’, science,
can lead to God. Logical religion is preached. To go beyond logic, to go above
secular religion, is knowledge. Swami Vivekananda asked Master, “Have you seen
God?” This is not a dull question. But Swami Vivekananda was desperate to find
the Truth, and so was Sri Ramakrishna.
Everyone thought Sri Ramakrishna was a madman. But when Swami Vivekananda asked the question, “Have you seen God?” Sri Ramakrishna answered, “Yes. And I see God more intensely than I see you.” Later Swami Vivekananda’s heart opened and he realized God. He was a first-class student and he had a first-class teacher in Master. A Master who had found that all religions had Truth in them.
Posted by Clive Simpkins
