[Pictured: Lord Shiva, representing the aspect of God that destroys ignorance]
[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 888
Swamiji speaking at the end of a Maha Shivaratri night
You worshipped Shiva all night, and repeated his name - with devotion and without devotion. It does not matter which, so long as you did your best. The first step is that you did not fall asleep.
Discrimination is the sword to cut down the tree of worldliness. In your household life there is knowledge of God too. You can use discrimination as the sword to cut down the tree in such a way that no tree will grow again.
An example of this is given: 'The hunter hunts after pleasures and desires. He sits in the tree, but one moment's sleep and he falls to his death and becomes another root.' This means he had more desires. This lead to birth and death.
The Vedas also give you birth and death and you go to heaven or hell. Even death is in the same tree. You should not fall asleep. God, out of His grace, has created this divine lila [divine play of God].
Sri Ramakrishna said, 'This is a mansion of mirth,' but only if you regard it as a divine lila. Do good and rise above the tree itself.
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