[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 833
If you say the word and understand the meaning [of a mantra or scriptural sloka or verse] there and then something will happen. And when it happens then [spiritual] evolution will come quickly. Will come earlier. So if we look at the words AUM bhur bwah swaha, let's see what it means. AUM is the [universal] sound symbol [shabd].
There are two symbols; concrete symbol and sound symbol. Every word is a symbol. What you talk is a symbol. It keeps in mind certain ideas. And every word,[like] 'come', is a symbol, 'go', is a symbol. Similarly AUM is a symbol, but it is the highest symbol. It is the symbol of Satchidanand. Sat-chid-anand.
I agree when the Upanishad [Hindu philosophical treatises] says that the 'A' [in AUM] is for waking state, 'U' is for dream state and 'M' is for….not deep sleep….deep sleep there does not mean this ordinary sleep, it means sleep for good. [laughter] When it is withdrawn…when it is?......withdrawn. That's where we have a little bit off difference between duality ['dvaita'-where we perceive ourselves as one thing and God another] and monism ['advaita' - where everything is regarded as one consciousness] – where you say the whole world is one.
For instance, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu advocated 'duality' [or dualism] which is right for a certain stage of people [and spiritual development]. But what is the highest? They say [Adi] Shankaracharya was a fool. But Shankaracharya was not a fool.
You say that you do japa [the meditative repetition of a mantra or one of the many names attributed to God] or meditation. You sit with Krishna Bhagawan [Lord], Krishna Bhagawan will love you, Krishna Bhagawan will give you everything, huh? But the Advaitist [non-dualist or monist i.e. proponent of the One universal consciousness] asks you one simple question, that is: It's good what you say – that is right, if you have the desire to meet Krishna Bhagwan, Krishna Bhagwan must meet you because says in the Bhagavad Gita, 'Whatsoever you desire I shall fulfill.' But He [God] is perfect and positive everywhere. So the Advaitist asks you this [one] question: 'Where is Bhagwan [the Lord]?' He's in heaven' [you answer].
But then the Advaitist [monist - advaitin] says, 'Please tell me – who made heaven? Who made it?' You reply 'God made heaven.' 'Oh [says the Advaitist] , where was He before making heaven? Give me that answer.'
Swamiji: Where was He? If He made heaven and that is where He is 'living' – like [maybe] I built this house and I'm living in this house but before building this house, where was I? So they ask you a simple question. You can stay with Krishna Bhagwan alright, but where was He before making that heaven? He was One without a second - that is what we call Brahman [the One, indivisible consciousness]. We don't know what He is – He Himself knows what He is. [continues in post 834]
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