DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
662
[Swamiji continues reading from: A Primer of Hinduism by Prof. D.S. Sharma]
Morality is like the horizon which ever recedes as we approach it. It always teaches us what we have not yet acquired, it keeps us at arm's length and perpetually reminds us of our weaknesses. We are thus rendered helpless and in our helplessness we crave for something which takes us out of ourselves, gives us the assurance of hope and makes us partake of a larger, purer and nobler life. This is religion.
Swamiji: Keep striving for the highest - that is religion itself. But religion's first step is conduct or character; which is yama and niyama. Yama are the observances and niyama are the abstinences; you must abstain from certain actions and observe certain things. The scriptures tell us about these.
Daughter: Should morality then always give place to religion?
Father: Morality always leads to true religion . . .
Swamiji: You do not have to give way to it but if you become a man of character automatically that itself will take you to true religion.
. . . and true religion always strengthens morality.
Swamiji: Morality will take you to true religion; and when you reach true religion you will strengthen your moral life. Sri Ramakrishna said: 'The professional dancer never takes a wrong step.' The behaviour of a paramahamsa is never immoral, it is always of the highest moral standard. Sri Ramakrishna never took a wrong step. And though he was God Himself he always abided by the dharmic [righteous] law.
If a religion results in or countenances [tolerates] an immoral practice there is something wrong with it.
When a religious man practises immoral things there is something wrong with that religion; it is not a religion as it is.
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...
