SWAMI SHIVAPADANANDA
DAILY READINGS
Taken from Mother Radha's notes.
First there must be self-effort; and then God will help you.
Do not sleep; then you can help others.
If you think you are the body, you treat others as the body. If you think that you are God, you will treat others as God.
Christ had mercy on the whole of humanity, not only on Christians. He said: Come to me ye heavy laden. He was like a tap - but he was fully conscious. Christ was crucified for others. Are you prepared to be crucified like that, or are you selfish? If I cannot be like Christ, then let me be like his disciples, who are compared to sheep or children.
When you look at God's qualities, know that they can be yours. 'I love you, Lord.' Say it in English, in Sanskrit. It does not matter. It is what you feel when you say it. Enjoy it.
Practise. Practise. Practise. You are the master of the situation. If the child comes and throws the ball, what will you do? You will play. That is what we want.
It is not so much what you say but what you think that is important.
Brahmacharya [at its most rudimentary: celibacy, but Swamiji always gave it a much higher value] is control of all the senses. You should not see what should not be seen!
Swamiji reads from a book by Swami Yatishwarananda [a disciple of Swami Brahmananda, who was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, the Indian sage/saint, regarded by Hindus as an Incarnation of God].
Cognising, feeling, willing and action are constantly at war within us and this leads to conflict. Ego is individual consciousness in tune with cosmic consciousness. How to live in harmony with all? That is the highest ideal. Go step by step with infinite patience and perseverance. The body must be fit and healthy, a temple of the divine spirit.
DAILY READINGS
Taken from Mother Radha's notes.
First there must be self-effort; and then God will help you.
Do not sleep; then you can help others.
If you think you are the body, you treat others as the body. If you think that you are God, you will treat others as God.
Christ had mercy on the whole of humanity, not only on Christians. He said: Come to me ye heavy laden. He was like a tap - but he was fully conscious. Christ was crucified for others. Are you prepared to be crucified like that, or are you selfish? If I cannot be like Christ, then let me be like his disciples, who are compared to sheep or children.
When you look at God's qualities, know that they can be yours. 'I love you, Lord.' Say it in English, in Sanskrit. It does not matter. It is what you feel when you say it. Enjoy it.
Practise. Practise. Practise. You are the master of the situation. If the child comes and throws the ball, what will you do? You will play. That is what we want.
It is not so much what you say but what you think that is important.
Brahmacharya [at its most rudimentary: celibacy, but Swamiji always gave it a much higher value] is control of all the senses. You should not see what should not be seen!
Swamiji reads from a book by Swami Yatishwarananda [a disciple of Swami Brahmananda, who was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, the Indian sage/saint, regarded by Hindus as an Incarnation of God].
Cognising, feeling, willing and action are constantly at war within us and this leads to conflict. Ego is individual consciousness in tune with cosmic consciousness. How to live in harmony with all? That is the highest ideal. Go step by step with infinite patience and perseverance. The body must be fit and healthy, a temple of the divine spirit.
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