Guest guest Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 This excerpt from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna ( Kathamrita ) seems very relevant to our study with Swamiji in relation to the discussion between Shuk Dev and Veda Vyasa. I’ll pass it on ! Jai Maa ! usha Conversations With Sri Ramakrishna- An exact translation of the Kathamrita SRI RAMAKRISHNA: The alligator may catch you when you take a dive, but it does not touch you if you are smeared with turmeric. There are six alligators beginning with lust in the fathomless waters of the heart. But if you smear yourself with the turmeric of discrimination and dispassion they won't touch you. What will it avail to have scholarship and to give lectures if you do not have discrimination and dispassion. God is truth and all else is unreal. He alone is the substance and all else is nothing. This is discrimination. First of all enshrine God in the temple of the heart. And afterwards lecture or preach if you so wish. What is the use of merely repeating Brahma, Brahma if discrimination and dispassion are lacking. That is no more than the hollow sound of a conch shell. There lived in a village a boy named Padmalochan. The people used to call him Podo. There was a dilapidated temple in the village. There was no image of God inside. Many trees and shrubs including a peepal tree grew on its site. Bats had made their residence there. On the floor were dust and droppings of bats. And people stopped visiting the temple. One day shortly after dusk the villagers heard the sound of a conch shell. The sound of the conch shell was coming loud intermittently from the direction of the temple. The villagers thought that someone might have installed an image inside and that the evening service was being performed. Young and old, men and women all went running and stood in front of the temple in order to observe the deity and the light waving ceremony. One among them gingerly opened the door of the temple and saw that Padmalochan was standing in a corner and blowing the conch furiously. No image had been installed, the temple had not been swept and cleaned and there were the droppings of bats. Then he addressed Podo shouting, There is no deity in your temple. O Podo! you just created a confusion by blowing the conch. There are, moreover, eleven bats which are mounting guard day and night. If you want to establish the deity in the shrine of your heart, if you want to realize God, what will it avail if you just blow a conch frantically? First of all purify the mind. When the heart is purified God will come and take his seat there. If there are droppings of the bats around one cannot bring the icon there. The eleven bats are the eleven organs of sense: five organs of knowledge, five organs of action and the mind. First install the deity and then give speeches, lectures if you so wish. First dive deep. After diving bring up the gems and then do other work. No one wants to take a dive. There is no spiritual effort, no worship of God, no discrimination, no dispassion. And just after learning a few words, one starts lecturing. It is very difficult to teach people. If after realizing God one receives a command from him, one can then teach people. (Unspiritual wife -- If one has true devotion all come under one's control.) As he was speaking the Master moved to the western corner of the northern veranda. M. was standing near. The Master was saying repeatedly, God cannot be realized without discrimination and dispassion. Mani had married so he felt worried and thought what would happen? He was twenty-eight years old and had some amount of English education in a college. He wondered if discrimination and dispassion meant renunciation of `kamini kanchana'. MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): If the wife says, You are neglecting me, I will kill myself, what could one do then? SRI RAMAKRISHNA (in a serious tone): Give up such a wife, a wife who becomes an obstacle in the path of God, even if she kills herself or does something else. She who creates an obstacle in the path to God is a bewitching wife. Buried in deep thought, Mani leaned on the wall and stood in a corner. Narendra and the other devotees too stood speechless for a few moments. The Master was having some talk with them when suddenly he went to Mani and spoke to him aside and slowly, But if a man has sincere love of God all come under his control -- king, rogue and wife. If a man has sincere love of God the wife also may turn to the path to God. If he becomes good, she too can become so by the will of God. Water was poured on the fire of Mani's worries. He had been thinking all this time, Let her kill herself. What can I do? MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): The world is very frightful! SRI RAMAKRISHNA (to Mani and to Narendra and the others): That is the reason Chaitanya said, Listen, O Brother Nityananda! there is no help ever for the worldly people. (To Mani aside): There is no help at all without pure love of God. If someone lives in the world after realizing God he has no fear. If someone can acquire pure love of God after following spiritual disciplines living in solitude now and then, he has no fear if he is in the world. Chaitanyadeva also had householders among his devotees. They were householders in name only. They lived without attachment. The midday ceremony of offering food to the deities was just over. Musicians in the nahabat immediately started playing music. The deities would have rest now. Master Ramakrishna sat down for his meal. Narendra and the other devotees would also partake of the food offering in the Master's presence. 5 The coiled serpent is the dormant energy at the base of the spine which rises through spiritual practice to unite with Shiva, the place of illumination on top of the head, the thousand petalled lotus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 Yes, this is very appropriate to the classes. Thank you for sharing it with us. Sadhu Maa , " usha " <jayrambt wrote: > > This excerpt from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna ( Kathamrita ) seems very > relevant to our study with Swamiji in relation to the discussion between > Shuk Dev and Veda Vyasa. I'll pass it on ! Jai Maa ! usha > > > > > > Conversations With Sri Ramakrishna- An exact translation of the Kathamrita > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA: The alligator may catch you when you take a dive, but it > does not touch > > you if you are smeared with turmeric. There are six alligators beginning > with lust in the > > fathomless waters of the heart. But if you smear yourself with the turmeric > of discrimination and > > dispassion they won't touch you. > > What will it avail to have scholarship and to give lectures if you do not > have > > discrimination and dispassion. God is truth and all else is unreal. He alone > is the substance and > > all else is nothing. This is discrimination. > > First of all enshrine God in the temple of the heart. And afterwards lecture > or preach if > > you so wish. What is the use of merely repeating Brahma, Brahma if > discrimination and > > dispassion are lacking. That is no more than the hollow sound of a conch > shell. > > There lived in a village a boy named Padmalochan. The people used to call > him Podo. > > There was a dilapidated temple in the village. There was no image of God > inside. Many trees > > and shrubs including a peepal tree grew on its site. Bats had made their > residence there. On the > > floor were dust and droppings of bats. And people stopped visiting the > temple. > > One day shortly after dusk the villagers heard the sound of a conch shell. > The sound of > > the conch shell was coming loud intermittently from the direction of the > temple. The villagers > > thought that someone might have installed an image inside and that the > evening service was being > > performed. Young and old, men and women all went running and stood in front > of the temple in > > order to observe the deity and the light waving ceremony. One among them > gingerly opened the > > door of the temple and saw that Padmalochan was standing in a corner and > blowing the conch > > furiously. No image had been installed, the temple had not been swept and > cleaned and there > > were the droppings of bats. Then he addressed Podo shouting, There is no > deity in your temple. > > O Podo! you just created a confusion by blowing the conch. There are, > moreover, eleven bats > > which are mounting guard day and night. > > If you want to establish the deity in the shrine of your heart, if you want > to realize God, > > what will it avail if you just blow a conch frantically? First of all purify > the mind. When the > > heart is purified God will come and take his seat there. If there are > droppings of the bats around > > one cannot bring the icon there. The eleven bats are the eleven organs of > sense: five organs of > > knowledge, five organs of action and the mind. First install the deity and > then give speeches, > > lectures if you so wish. > > First dive deep. After diving bring up the gems and then do other work. > > No one wants to take a dive. There is no spiritual effort, no worship of > God, no > > discrimination, no dispassion. And just after learning a few words, one > starts lecturing. > > It is very difficult to teach people. If after realizing God one receives a > command from > > him, one can then teach people. > > (Unspiritual wife -- If one has true devotion all come under one's control.) > > As he was speaking the Master moved to the western corner of the northern > veranda. M. was > > standing near. The Master was saying repeatedly, God cannot be realized > without discrimination > > and dispassion. Mani had married so he felt worried and thought what would > happen? He was > > twenty-eight years old and had some amount of English education in a > college. He wondered if > > discrimination and dispassion meant renunciation of `kamini kanchana'. > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): If the wife says, You are neglecting me, I will > kill myself, what > > could one do then? > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (in a serious tone): Give up such a wife, a wife who becomes > an obstacle > > in the path of God, even if she kills herself or does something else. She > who creates an obstacle > > in the path to God is a bewitching wife. > > Buried in deep thought, Mani leaned on the wall and stood in a corner. > Narendra and the other > > devotees too stood speechless for a few moments. > > The Master was having some talk with them when suddenly he went to Mani and > spoke > > to him aside and slowly, But if a man has sincere love of God all come under > his control -- king, > > rogue and wife. If a man has sincere love of God the wife also may turn to > the path to God. If he > > becomes good, she too can become so by the will of God. > > Water was poured on the fire of Mani's worries. He had been thinking all > this time, Let > > her kill herself. What can I do? > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): The world is very frightful! > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (to Mani and to Narendra and the others): That is the reason > Chaitanya > > said, Listen, O Brother Nityananda! there is no help ever for the worldly > people. > > (To Mani aside): There is no help at all without pure love of God. If > someone lives in the world > > after realizing God he has no fear. If someone can acquire pure love of God > after following > > spiritual disciplines living in solitude now and then, he has no fear if he > is in the world. > > Chaitanyadeva also had householders among his devotees. They were > householders in name > > only. They lived without attachment. > > The midday ceremony of offering food to the deities was just over. Musicians > in the nahabat > > immediately started playing music. The deities would have rest now. Master > Ramakrishna sat > > down for his meal. Narendra and the other devotees would also partake of the > food offering in > > the Master's presence. > > 5 The coiled serpent is the dormant energy at the base of the spine which > rises through spiritual practice to unite > > with Shiva, the place of illumination on top of the head, the thousand > petalled lotus. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 Namaste: In each evening class with Swami, the same lesson is presented: even the Gods forget themselves and fall under the spell of Maya. The perform " human action, make mistakes, get cursed or curse each other, but, ultimately, they are blessed. We are the Gods, come to Earth, we have forgotten who we are. We have to try to remember that in the Temple of Divine Love, God is always enshrined, is always in our hearts. Every day we have to use our discrimination and think before we act, and act from that divine temple in our hearts. And if we fall, get up, visit the divine temple, ask Maa for forgiveness, and try again. We are so blessed to have this virtual satsunga. Here, we can support and help each other remember our divine nature. Thanks Maa and Swami for giving us this great gift. Thanks to all my family, may you be blessed with pure devotion Jai Maa Jai Swami vishweshwar , " Sadhu Maa " <sadumaa wrote: > > Yes, this is very appropriate to the classes. Thank you for sharing it > with us. Sadhu Maa > > , " usha " <jayrambt@> wrote: > > > > This excerpt from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna ( Kathamrita ) seems > very > > relevant to our study with Swamiji in relation to the discussion between > > Shuk Dev and Veda Vyasa. I'll pass it on ! Jai Maa ! usha > > > > > > > > > > > > Conversations With Sri Ramakrishna- An exact translation of the > Kathamrita > > > > > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA: The alligator may catch you when you take a dive, > but it > > does not touch > > > > you if you are smeared with turmeric. There are six alligators beginning > > with lust in the > > > > fathomless waters of the heart. But if you smear yourself with the > turmeric > > of discrimination and > > > > dispassion they won't touch you. > > > > What will it avail to have scholarship and to give lectures if you > do not > > have > > > > discrimination and dispassion. God is truth and all else is unreal. > He alone > > is the substance and > > > > all else is nothing. This is discrimination. > > > > First of all enshrine God in the temple of the heart. And afterwards > lecture > > or preach if > > > > you so wish. What is the use of merely repeating Brahma, Brahma if > > discrimination and > > > > dispassion are lacking. That is no more than the hollow sound of a conch > > shell. > > > > There lived in a village a boy named Padmalochan. The people used to > call > > him Podo. > > > > There was a dilapidated temple in the village. There was no image of God > > inside. Many trees > > > > and shrubs including a peepal tree grew on its site. Bats had made their > > residence there. On the > > > > floor were dust and droppings of bats. And people stopped visiting the > > temple. > > > > One day shortly after dusk the villagers heard the sound of a conch > shell. > > The sound of > > > > the conch shell was coming loud intermittently from the direction of the > > temple. The villagers > > > > thought that someone might have installed an image inside and that the > > evening service was being > > > > performed. Young and old, men and women all went running and stood > in front > > of the temple in > > > > order to observe the deity and the light waving ceremony. One among them > > gingerly opened the > > > > door of the temple and saw that Padmalochan was standing in a corner and > > blowing the conch > > > > furiously. No image had been installed, the temple had not been > swept and > > cleaned and there > > > > were the droppings of bats. Then he addressed Podo shouting, There is no > > deity in your temple. > > > > O Podo! you just created a confusion by blowing the conch. There are, > > moreover, eleven bats > > > > which are mounting guard day and night. > > > > If you want to establish the deity in the shrine of your heart, if > you want > > to realize God, > > > > what will it avail if you just blow a conch frantically? First of > all purify > > the mind. When the > > > > heart is purified God will come and take his seat there. If there are > > droppings of the bats around > > > > one cannot bring the icon there. The eleven bats are the eleven > organs of > > sense: five organs of > > > > knowledge, five organs of action and the mind. First install the > deity and > > then give speeches, > > > > lectures if you so wish. > > > > First dive deep. After diving bring up the gems and then do other work. > > > > No one wants to take a dive. There is no spiritual effort, no worship of > > God, no > > > > discrimination, no dispassion. And just after learning a few words, one > > starts lecturing. > > > > It is very difficult to teach people. If after realizing God one > receives a > > command from > > > > him, one can then teach people. > > > > (Unspiritual wife -- If one has true devotion all come under one's > control.) > > > > As he was speaking the Master moved to the western corner of the > northern > > veranda. M. was > > > > standing near. The Master was saying repeatedly, God cannot be realized > > without discrimination > > > > and dispassion. Mani had married so he felt worried and thought what > would > > happen? He was > > > > twenty-eight years old and had some amount of English education in a > > college. He wondered if > > > > discrimination and dispassion meant renunciation of `kamini kanchana'. > > > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): If the wife says, You are neglecting me, > I will > > kill myself, what > > > > could one do then? > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (in a serious tone): Give up such a wife, a wife who > becomes > > an obstacle > > > > in the path of God, even if she kills herself or does something > else. She > > who creates an obstacle > > > > in the path to God is a bewitching wife. > > > > Buried in deep thought, Mani leaned on the wall and stood in a corner. > > Narendra and the other > > > > devotees too stood speechless for a few moments. > > > > The Master was having some talk with them when suddenly he went to > Mani and > > spoke > > > > to him aside and slowly, But if a man has sincere love of God all > come under > > his control -- king, > > > > rogue and wife. If a man has sincere love of God the wife also may > turn to > > the path to God. If he > > > > becomes good, she too can become so by the will of God. > > > > Water was poured on the fire of Mani's worries. He had been thinking all > > this time, Let > > > > her kill herself. What can I do? > > > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): The world is very frightful! > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (to Mani and to Narendra and the others): That is > the reason > > Chaitanya > > > > said, Listen, O Brother Nityananda! there is no help ever for the > worldly > > people. > > > > (To Mani aside): There is no help at all without pure love of God. If > > someone lives in the world > > > > after realizing God he has no fear. If someone can acquire pure love > of God > > after following > > > > spiritual disciplines living in solitude now and then, he has no > fear if he > > is in the world. > > > > Chaitanyadeva also had householders among his devotees. They were > > householders in name > > > > only. They lived without attachment. > > > > The midday ceremony of offering food to the deities was just over. > Musicians > > in the nahabat > > > > immediately started playing music. The deities would have rest now. > Master > > Ramakrishna sat > > > > down for his meal. Narendra and the other devotees would also > partake of the > > food offering in > > > > the Master's presence. > > > > 5 The coiled serpent is the dormant energy at the base of the spine > which > > rises through spiritual practice to unite > > > > with Shiva, the place of illumination on top of the head, the thousand > > petalled lotus. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2007 Report Share Posted July 22, 2007 Namaste Vish,After class last evening, i was thinking on Swamiji's response to the question raised on the many curses spoken of in the scriptures, when i came across this verse by Kabir:I had to seek the physician because of The pain this world caused me.I could not believe what happened when I got there,I found my Teacher.Before I left, he said,"Up for a little homework yet?""Okay", I replied"Well then, try thanking all the peopleWho has caused you pain.They helped you come to me."Jai Jai Maa Jai Jai SwamijiKalia , "inspectionconnection108" <inspectionconnection108 wrote:>> Namaste: In each evening class with Swami, the same lesson is> presented: even the Gods forget themselves and fall under the spell> of Maya. The perform "human action, make mistakes, get cursed or> curse each other, but, ultimately, they are blessed.> We are the Gods, come to Earth, we have forgotten who we are. We have> to try to remember that in the Temple of Divine Love, God is always> enshrined, is always in our hearts. > Every day we have to use our discrimination and think before we act,> and act from that divine temple in our hearts. And if we fall, get> up, visit the divine temple, ask Maa for forgiveness, and try again. > We are so blessed to have this virtual satsunga. Here, we can support> and help each other remember our divine nature. > Thanks Maa and Swami for giving us this great gift. Thanks to all my> family, may you be blessed with pure devotion> > Jai Maa Jai Swami> > vishweshwar> > > > > , "Sadhu Maa" sadumaa@ wrote:> >> > Yes, this is very appropriate to the classes. Thank you for sharing it> > with us. Sadhu Maa> > > > , "usha" <jayrambt@> wrote:> > >> > > This excerpt from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna ( Kathamrita ) seems> > very> > > relevant to our study with Swamiji in relation to the discussion> between> > > Shuk Dev and Veda Vyasa. I'll pass it on ! Jai Maa ! usha> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Conversations With Sri Ramakrishna- An exact translation of the> > Kathamrita> > > > > > > > > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA: The alligator may catch you when you take a dive,> > but it> > > does not touch> > > > > > you if you are smeared with turmeric. There are six alligators> beginning> > > with lust in the> > > > > > fathomless waters of the heart. But if you smear yourself with the> > turmeric> > > of discrimination and> > > > > > dispassion they won't touch you.> > > > > > What will it avail to have scholarship and to give lectures if you> > do not> > > have> > > > > > discrimination and dispassion. God is truth and all else is unreal.> > He alone> > > is the substance and> > > > > > all else is nothing. This is discrimination.> > > > > > First of all enshrine God in the temple of the heart. And afterwards> > lecture> > > or preach if> > > > > > you so wish. What is the use of merely repeating Brahma, Brahma if> > > discrimination and> > > > > > dispassion are lacking. That is no more than the hollow sound of a> conch> > > shell.> > > > > > There lived in a village a boy named Padmalochan. The people used to> > call> > > him Podo.> > > > > > There was a dilapidated temple in the village. There was no image> of God> > > inside. Many trees> > > > > > and shrubs including a peepal tree grew on its site. Bats had made> their> > > residence there. On the> > > > > > floor were dust and droppings of bats. And people stopped visiting the> > > temple.> > > > > > One day shortly after dusk the villagers heard the sound of a conch> > shell.> > > The sound of> > > > > > the conch shell was coming loud intermittently from the direction> of the> > > temple. The villagers> > > > > > thought that someone might have installed an image inside and that the> > > evening service was being> > > > > > performed. Young and old, men and women all went running and stood> > in front> > > of the temple in> > > > > > order to observe the deity and the light waving ceremony. One> among them> > > gingerly opened the> > > > > > door of the temple and saw that Padmalochan was standing in a> corner and> > > blowing the conch> > > > > > furiously. No image had been installed, the temple had not been> > swept and> > > cleaned and there> > > > > > were the droppings of bats. Then he addressed Podo shouting, There> is no> > > deity in your temple.> > > > > > O Podo! you just created a confusion by blowing the conch. There are,> > > moreover, eleven bats> > > > > > which are mounting guard day and night.> > > > > > If you want to establish the deity in the shrine of your heart, if> > you want> > > to realize God,> > > > > > what will it avail if you just blow a conch frantically? First of> > all purify> > > the mind. When the> > > > > > heart is purified God will come and take his seat there. If there are> > > droppings of the bats around> > > > > > one cannot bring the icon there. The eleven bats are the eleven> > organs of> > > sense: five organs of> > > > > > knowledge, five organs of action and the mind. First install the> > deity and> > > then give speeches,> > > > > > lectures if you so wish.> > > > > > First dive deep. After diving bring up the gems and then do other> work.> > > > > > No one wants to take a dive. There is no spiritual effort, no> worship of> > > God, no> > > > > > discrimination, no dispassion. And just after learning a few> words, one> > > starts lecturing.> > > > > > It is very difficult to teach people. If after realizing God one> > receives a> > > command from> > > > > > him, one can then teach people.> > > > > > (Unspiritual wife -- If one has true devotion all come under one's> > control.)> > > > > > As he was speaking the Master moved to the western corner of the> > northern> > > veranda. M. was> > > > > > standing near. The Master was saying repeatedly, God cannot be> realized> > > without discrimination> > > > > > and dispassion. Mani had married so he felt worried and thought what> > would> > > happen? He was> > > > > > twenty-eight years old and had some amount of English education in a> > > college. He wondered if> > > > > > discrimination and dispassion meant renunciation of `kamini kanchana'.> > > > > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): If the wife says, You are neglecting me,> > I will> > > kill myself, what> > > > > > could one do then?> > > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (in a serious tone): Give up such a wife, a wife who> > becomes> > > an obstacle> > > > > > in the path of God, even if she kills herself or does something> > else. She> > > who creates an obstacle> > > > > > in the path to God is a bewitching wife.> > > > > > Buried in deep thought, Mani leaned on the wall and stood in a corner.> > > Narendra and the other> > > > > > devotees too stood speechless for a few moments.> > > > > > The Master was having some talk with them when suddenly he went to> > Mani and> > > spoke> > > > > > to him aside and slowly, But if a man has sincere love of God all> > come under> > > his control -- king,> > > > > > rogue and wife. If a man has sincere love of God the wife also may> > turn to> > > the path to God. If he> > > > > > becomes good, she too can become so by the will of God.> > > > > > Water was poured on the fire of Mani's worries. He had been> thinking all> > > this time, Let> > > > > > her kill herself. What can I do?> > > > > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): The world is very frightful!> > > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (to Mani and to Narendra and the others): That is> > the reason> > > Chaitanya> > > > > > said, Listen, O Brother Nityananda! there is no help ever for the> > worldly> > > people.> > > > > > (To Mani aside): There is no help at all without pure love of God. If> > > someone lives in the world> > > > > > after realizing God he has no fear. If someone can acquire pure love> > of God> > > after following> > > > > > spiritual disciplines living in solitude now and then, he has no> > fear if he> > > is in the world.> > > > > > Chaitanyadeva also had householders among his devotees. They were> > > householders in name> > > > > > only. They lived without attachment.> > > > > > The midday ceremony of offering food to the deities was just over.> > Musicians> > > in the nahabat> > > > > > immediately started playing music. The deities would have rest now.> > Master> > > Ramakrishna sat> > > > > > down for his meal. Narendra and the other devotees would also> > partake of the> > > food offering in> > > > > > the Master's presence.> > > > > > 5 The coiled serpent is the dormant energy at the base of the spine> > which> > > rises through spiritual practice to unite> > > > > > with Shiva, the place of illumination on top of the head, the thousand> > > petalled lotus.> > >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2007 Report Share Posted July 22, 2007 Namaste Kali: Your post is great, it really made this notion of curses clear to me. I too found a great story. A saint was in the hospital with a broken hip. He was in great pain, but smiling and happy and blessing all those around him, but his disciple was upset and worried and thought: " why did this great soul break his hip? What did he do wrong? He helps everyone and sings God's name constantly. " In the next moment, the saint read his disciples' mind and replied: Isn't it great that this has happened to me, I get to sing God's name here in the hospital, and help all these folks, Isn't God great to give me this blessing? " Just then the surgeon came in to prepare for surgery and he stated his name, Ram. When the saint heard the name Ram, the name of his chosen deity, he went into samadhi. May we all be blessed with the faith that God is truly always giving us experiences which will bring us closer to Him. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar , " kaliananda_saraswati " <kaliananda_saraswati wrote: > > Namaste Vish, > > After class last evening, i was thinking on Swamiji's response to the > question raised on the many curses spoken of in the scriptures, when i > came across this verse by Kabir: > > I had to seek the physician because of > The pain this world caused me. > I could not believe what happened when I got there, > I found my Teacher. > Before I left, he said, > " Up for a little homework yet? " > " Okay " , I replied > " Well then, try thanking all the people > Who has caused you pain. > They helped you come to me. " > > Jai Jai Maa Jai Jai Swamiji > > Kalia > > > , " inspectionconnection108 " > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > Namaste: In each evening class with Swami, the same lesson is > > presented: even the Gods forget themselves and fall under the spell > > of Maya. The perform " human action, make mistakes, get cursed or > > curse each other, but, ultimately, they are blessed. > > We are the Gods, come to Earth, we have forgotten who we are. We have > > to try to remember that in the Temple of Divine Love, God is always > > enshrined, is always in our hearts. > > Every day we have to use our discrimination and think before we act, > > and act from that divine temple in our hearts. And if we fall, get > > up, visit the divine temple, ask Maa for forgiveness, and try again. > > We are so blessed to have this virtual satsunga. Here, we can support > > and help each other remember our divine nature. > > Thanks Maa and Swami for giving us this great gift. Thanks to all my > > family, may you be blessed with pure devotion > > > > Jai Maa Jai Swami > > > > vishweshwar > > > > > > > > > > , " Sadhu Maa " sadumaa@ wrote: > > > > > > Yes, this is very appropriate to the classes. Thank you for sharing > it > > > with us. Sadhu Maa > > > > > > , " usha " <jayrambt@> wrote: > > > > > > > > This excerpt from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna ( Kathamrita ) > seems > > > very > > > > relevant to our study with Swamiji in relation to the discussion > > between > > > > Shuk Dev and Veda Vyasa. I'll pass it on ! Jai Maa ! usha > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Conversations With Sri Ramakrishna- An exact translation of the > > > Kathamrita > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA: The alligator may catch you when you take a dive, > > > but it > > > > does not touch > > > > > > > > you if you are smeared with turmeric. There are six alligators > > beginning > > > > with lust in the > > > > > > > > fathomless waters of the heart. But if you smear yourself with the > > > turmeric > > > > of discrimination and > > > > > > > > dispassion they won't touch you. > > > > > > > > What will it avail to have scholarship and to give lectures if you > > > do not > > > > have > > > > > > > > discrimination and dispassion. God is truth and all else is > unreal. > > > He alone > > > > is the substance and > > > > > > > > all else is nothing. This is discrimination. > > > > > > > > First of all enshrine God in the temple of the heart. And > afterwards > > > lecture > > > > or preach if > > > > > > > > you so wish. What is the use of merely repeating Brahma, Brahma if > > > > discrimination and > > > > > > > > dispassion are lacking. That is no more than the hollow sound of a > > conch > > > > shell. > > > > > > > > There lived in a village a boy named Padmalochan. The people used > to > > > call > > > > him Podo. > > > > > > > > There was a dilapidated temple in the village. There was no image > > of God > > > > inside. Many trees > > > > > > > > and shrubs including a peepal tree grew on its site. Bats had made > > their > > > > residence there. On the > > > > > > > > floor were dust and droppings of bats. And people stopped visiting > the > > > > temple. > > > > > > > > One day shortly after dusk the villagers heard the sound of a > conch > > > shell. > > > > The sound of > > > > > > > > the conch shell was coming loud intermittently from the direction > > of the > > > > temple. The villagers > > > > > > > > thought that someone might have installed an image inside and that > the > > > > evening service was being > > > > > > > > performed. Young and old, men and women all went running and stood > > > in front > > > > of the temple in > > > > > > > > order to observe the deity and the light waving ceremony. One > > among them > > > > gingerly opened the > > > > > > > > door of the temple and saw that Padmalochan was standing in a > > corner and > > > > blowing the conch > > > > > > > > furiously. No image had been installed, the temple had not been > > > swept and > > > > cleaned and there > > > > > > > > were the droppings of bats. Then he addressed Podo shouting, There > > is no > > > > deity in your temple. > > > > > > > > O Podo! you just created a confusion by blowing the conch. There > are, > > > > moreover, eleven bats > > > > > > > > which are mounting guard day and night. > > > > > > > > If you want to establish the deity in the shrine of your heart, if > > > you want > > > > to realize God, > > > > > > > > what will it avail if you just blow a conch frantically? First of > > > all purify > > > > the mind. When the > > > > > > > > heart is purified God will come and take his seat there. If there > are > > > > droppings of the bats around > > > > > > > > one cannot bring the icon there. The eleven bats are the eleven > > > organs of > > > > sense: five organs of > > > > > > > > knowledge, five organs of action and the mind. First install the > > > deity and > > > > then give speeches, > > > > > > > > lectures if you so wish. > > > > > > > > First dive deep. After diving bring up the gems and then do other > > work. > > > > > > > > No one wants to take a dive. There is no spiritual effort, no > > worship of > > > > God, no > > > > > > > > discrimination, no dispassion. And just after learning a few > > words, one > > > > starts lecturing. > > > > > > > > It is very difficult to teach people. If after realizing God one > > > receives a > > > > command from > > > > > > > > him, one can then teach people. > > > > > > > > (Unspiritual wife -- If one has true devotion all come under one's > > > control.) > > > > > > > > As he was speaking the Master moved to the western corner of the > > > northern > > > > veranda. M. was > > > > > > > > standing near. The Master was saying repeatedly, God cannot be > > realized > > > > without discrimination > > > > > > > > and dispassion. Mani had married so he felt worried and thought > what > > > would > > > > happen? He was > > > > > > > > twenty-eight years old and had some amount of English education in > a > > > > college. He wondered if > > > > > > > > discrimination and dispassion meant renunciation of `kamini > kanchana'. > > > > > > > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): If the wife says, You are neglecting > me, > > > I will > > > > kill myself, what > > > > > > > > could one do then? > > > > > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (in a serious tone): Give up such a wife, a wife > who > > > becomes > > > > an obstacle > > > > > > > > in the path of God, even if she kills herself or does something > > > else. She > > > > who creates an obstacle > > > > > > > > in the path to God is a bewitching wife. > > > > > > > > Buried in deep thought, Mani leaned on the wall and stood in a > corner. > > > > Narendra and the other > > > > > > > > devotees too stood speechless for a few moments. > > > > > > > > The Master was having some talk with them when suddenly he went to > > > Mani and > > > > spoke > > > > > > > > to him aside and slowly, But if a man has sincere love of God all > > > come under > > > > his control -- king, > > > > > > > > rogue and wife. If a man has sincere love of God the wife also may > > > turn to > > > > the path to God. If he > > > > > > > > becomes good, she too can become so by the will of God. > > > > > > > > Water was poured on the fire of Mani's worries. He had been > > thinking all > > > > this time, Let > > > > > > > > her kill herself. What can I do? > > > > > > > > MANI (to Sri Ramakrishna): The world is very frightful! > > > > > > > > SRI RAMAKRISHNA (to Mani and to Narendra and the others): That is > > > the reason > > > > Chaitanya > > > > > > > > said, Listen, O Brother Nityananda! there is no help ever for the > > > worldly > > > > people. > > > > > > > > (To Mani aside): There is no help at all without pure love of God. > If > > > > someone lives in the world > > > > > > > > after realizing God he has no fear. If someone can acquire pure > love > > > of God > > > > after following > > > > > > > > spiritual disciplines living in solitude now and then, he has no > > > fear if he > > > > is in the world. > > > > > > > > Chaitanyadeva also had householders among his devotees. They were > > > > householders in name > > > > > > > > only. They lived without attachment. > > > > > > > > The midday ceremony of offering food to the deities was just over. > > > Musicians > > > > in the nahabat > > > > > > > > immediately started playing music. The deities would have rest > now. > > > Master > > > > Ramakrishna sat > > > > > > > > down for his meal. Narendra and the other devotees would also > > > partake of the > > > > food offering in > > > > > > > > the Master's presence. > > > > > > > > 5 The coiled serpent is the dormant energy at the base of the > spine > > > which > > > > rises through spiritual practice to unite > > > > > > > > with Shiva, the place of illumination on top of the head, the > thousand > > > > petalled lotus. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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