SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
557
[Pictured: The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi's slippers in her room on the first floor of the Udbodhan House, where the Mother lived following the mahasamadhi (leaving of the body) of Sri Ramakrishna]
Do your sadhana [spiritual practice] and at the same time follow ethical and moral rules to keep the mind and senses under control.
On birthdays [of the saints and sages] you should fast and give charity to the poor. If you do not, it means that your heart is small and you will find that you do not progress. And because you always think that the money is short there will never be a lot. Always give charity on feast days and birthdays. You must do this.
Never talk ill of anyone. God shows us that we have evil in us when we pick on the evil of others. A clean mirror reflects perfectly, an unclean mirror gives an imperfect reflection. A mind that is clean reflects purity, not otherwise. It is a habit to pick on the shortcomings of others. Just a habit. By force praise them. Say something positive about them. This saves heartache later and leads to happiness and peace. Know that your [Ishta deva] Deity is seated in all you meet.
At meal times, when people bring me a lot of food, my mind straight away thinks about the poor people living in Kwa Mashu [an African township in Durban, South Africa] and that many people in Chatsworth [a predominantly Indian suburb of Durban] and Phoenix [also a predominantly Indian suburb of Durban] may not be looking at this quantity of food. Then I pray: 'God, I am blessed that You are sending it to me but give them some too.'
I am sure when you go from this Yoga Camp you will influence quite a few people to live a spiritual life. I am sure when you are with them you will not become like them, rather you will make them like yourself.
Mothers, encourage your purushas [husbands] to do more of the Lord's work and purushas encourage your shaktis [wives] to do more and more work for the sake of our gurus, Rishis [sages] and munis [holy men].
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.
