[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 829
Devotee: Why do they throw rice into the ceremonial fire [hawan]?
Swamiji: Rice is a symbol of prosperity for the world and for yourself. You must remember this: never worship God with broken rice - always use the grain which is whole. Never worship the gods and goddesses with flowers that are offered upside down. (You only worship Lord Shiva with upside down flowers - because it is involution. For other gods you have to put the flowers straight - so it is evolution.)
They say [that according to Hindu tradition] on Sundays you must not pluck the Tulsi [Basil] leaf - on Mondays Vilwa leaf you must not pick. But I tell you the fact: Whenever I feel like offering I take it. [laughter] Yes, that's all right - God understands even if you do not.
Devotee: If a man performs worship are future karmas [spiritual debts, mandatory life-scripts] taken away?
Swamiji: If he is continuously performing it, then yes, it will be taken away. But not if he performs it for one day only. Because if he performs worship for one day only then he'll still be performing other karmas. He must continuously perform worship, every day, so then they will be taken away or minimised. By doing that, we are actually planting dharma [righteousness]. Instead of saying, 'take away our bad karmas,' you are planting dharma. So when the tree of dharma grows big, the tree of sin perishes automatically.
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