[Pictured: Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa ashram complex]
[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 960
If the mind is very restless then you start off with five minutes of meditation. If it's very restless. But as the mind becomes more calm, a person who is working, should reach at least an hour a day. You must reach an hour a day. Then some definite result will come about. Some people think, after five minutes of meditating, 'Why am I not realising God?' They are mad! Yogis gave up their whole life – and they still didn't realise God. You think God is at our beck and call? That he's a ladu [an Indian sweetmeat] in someone's hand?
If your mind is very restless, start with five - even one minute will do - it depends on the restlessness of your mind. But slowly, slowly advance it. Increase it, increase it. For one week, so much - for the second week so much. Many people seated here will know what I'm talking about because you just stick to five minutes, five minutes. The next day you know you can do it for ten minutes but you still stick to five minutes. You should slowly increase it. But don't force it, you will dislike it.
*
Many sadhakas [spiritual aspirants] come here and say to me, 'Swamiji, I want to renounce [i.e. take up religious orders or sannyasa and leave the world].' I look at them. I say, 'What do you want to renounce?' They answer, 'I want to leave home.' I ask, 'Is the home causing you any obstacle?' 'Oh, yes. A lot of trouble at home. The parents say this and I can't meditate and do that.' I say, 'My friend, you don't know about the ashram [monastery, hermitage, spiritual retreat centre] life. Ashram is worse. The ashram is one hundred times worse.'
You come in the ashram, the other brahmachari [novice monk or noun – brahmacharini] will look at you, 'Hmm'. That's a favouritism thing there. [Swamiji makes a long, 'whoooo' sound]. Only heroic people go to ashrams. Not weak fellows. And if weak fellows go to the ashram and stay there that means there is something wrong with that guru's [spiritual preceptor's] head. Only heroes go to stay in ashrams. I can tell you this very openly. No silly people go and stay in the ashram. You may be seeing that the sadhakas [spiritual aspirants or practitioners] fighting and doing this and that and you'll criticise them. Go away, you can't do one patch of it, I can tell you this. Forget the ashramites. You can't do one patch of it. You know why? Because you're weak. Let's face it. It takes guts to come and stay in an ashram. There's no play in an ashram. You give up your dignity, you give up your freedom, you give up everything. Some people say something and you can't retaliate. You'll go tell the guru, 'That fellow is saying so and so,' and the guru will tell you, 'MYOB [mind your own business]. Carry on – you do your work. Leave him alone.' [Swamiji chuckling]
Now what do you do? First you see the guru as God, then you come and he's not taking your part, then he's the devil now. So you find fault with the guru. So don't worry. Only heroes live in ashrams. Only heroes. It may be a shock but it's the truth.
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
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