Swami Shivapadananda

Five elements and God’s omnipresence

[Pictured: His Holiness Sri Swami Nischalananda Puri Maharaj (1925-1965) first President & Spiritual Head, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. 

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

[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 943

Swamiji speaking on Lord Shiva

The five functions, the five elements [earth, air, fire, water, and ether], are the murti [image, representation] of Shiva himself. Nowhere will you find all the elements not present. Just so is God omnipresent [everywhere].

A saint always thinks of God or of himself as a servant of God. Shiva is a servant of God yet he never thinks he is God - though he swallowed all the poison that the others [the gods] failed to.

Surya, the sun, is a mobile lingam. Shiva lingas are immobile lingas. That is why after Shiva puja [ritual worship] we do Surya [the sun god] puja. We offer Surya water.

*

The fact that so many people worship Sri Ramakrishna makes his divinity self-evident.

Gurudev [His Holiness Sri Swami Nischalananda Puri Maharaj – Swamiji's beloved guru, pictured above] used to say, 'Inder [Swamiji's pre-monastic name], if you don't ask any questions of the guru you must be God-realised.' It stung me like a bee. He meant I was not serious about my sadhana [spiritual practice].

In Hindu religion it is said that there are three states [or gunas]: sattva [balance and harmony], rajas [excessive activity], tamas [inertia, sloth]. Sri Ramakrishna now says there is a fourth state, the Ishta Devata [Chosen ideal or deity] state.

Hinduism is the mother of all religions and must have all kinds of devotees [i.e. great diversity]. Sri Ramakrishna said, 'A Hindu family may worship different deities, but each must give up the rajasic and tamasic part of the worship.'

Sri Ramakrishna said, 'Take a man from where he is. If he is tamasic, make him rajasic. If he is rajasic, make him sattvic.' It is Sanatana Dharma [Eternal Religion, Hinduism] to become sattvic.

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:

Sri Ramakrishna    Sri Sarada Devi     Swami Vivekananda  

Swami Nischalananda  Swami Shivapadananda 

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

Santana Dharma

 
  

SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA

[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 893

   

God's grace is always working, but is hidden by the ego [ahamkara]. Only a hero can take a hero's part. No weak man can betray Christ, only a strong man can do it.

Take refuge with saints and sages [through satsang and darshan]. And read the scriptures to learn His will. For you and me the world is full of birth and therefore death. For Sri Ramakrishna it is a "place of mirth". Because he saw the [Divine] Mother's will in everything. Otherwise it is birth and misery. So let me win His grace.

In Hindu scriptures it is said there are three states: sattva [balance], rajas [excessive or hyperactivity], tamas [sloth]. Now Sri Ramakrishna says, 'There is a fourth state - the Ishta Deva [Personal Deity or Chosen Ideal] state.

Hinduism is the mother of all religions and must have all kinds of devotees. If I am a Hindu, but I worship Christ, I must only give up the tamasic [lazier, lower-level] aspects of the Christ worship.

Sri Ramakrishna said, 'A Hindu family may worship different deities.'

Sri Ramakrishna also said, 'Take a man from where he is. If he is tamasic, make him rajasic. If he is rajasic, make him sattvic.' This is Sanatana Dharma [the 'Eternal Religion', known as Hinduism].

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:

Sri Ramakrishna    Sri Sarada Devi     Swami Vivekananda  

Swami Nischalananda  Swami Shivapadananda 

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