SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
599
[Pictured: The Ramakrishna Centre of Southern Africa temple at Avoca, on the north coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa]
[Continued from yesterday]
The Ramakrishna Centre [of Southern Africa] in no form whatsoever preaches conversion . . .
Whilst we accept all as human beings we also accept all as religious people. But above all we definitely stick to our principles like tenacious bulldogs. We must not give up our religious principles. They are our birthright.
At the Ramakrishna Centre we preach introversion not conversion. Mankind has gone out too much seeking pleasures in this world. While our dharma allows us to enjoy certain pleasures, we will enjoy them - like having a wife, having children, owning a building, owning a motor car and so on. Our dharma allows us to have these things but to have them in such a way that we do not get attached to them. Ultimately we must leave these too.
We want to be attached only to God but we take aid from these various things. If I have to climb a tree I may take the aid of a ladder but I do not get stuck to that ladder. So these things are different 'ladders' to help us. They are not there to break our inner spirit but rather to assist us. Whilst going up we take the aid of 'this' and let go of 'that'.
Sri Ramakrishna is the most Universal Being so far. Maybe there are others who will come one day when we are lacking, but he is the most Universal so far.
Sri Ramakrishna said that all the scriptures have contained truth but by following one scripture you yourself must try to improve your life and progress towards the spiritual goal - God-realisation. He himself did this.
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