Swami Brahmananda (1863-1922), born to an aristocratic family near Calcutta, was recognised by Sri Ramakrishna as his ‘spiritual son,’ and went on to be the first president of the Ramakrishna Order after the guru’s death. The text refers to ‘japa,’ which means the repetition of a sacred word or phrase.
Can anything be achieved without spiritual discipline? Do you not see what severe disciplines even Avataras had to perform?
Be self-reliant. Effort is indispensable to succes in spiritual life. Follow some discipline for at least four years. Then, if you don’t make any tangible progress come back and slap my face.
Resign yourself utterly to the Lord. He is everything. There is nothing besides. Never be calculating. Is self-surrender possible in a day?
Work and worship must go hand in hand. It is very good if one can devote oneself solely to spiritual practices. But how many can do that? Two types of men can sit without work. One is the idiot, who is too dull to be active. The other is the saint who has gone beyond all activity. Work is a mean to the state of meditation. Instead of working for yourself, work for the Lord. Know that you are worshipping the Lord through your work.
I will declare again and again and emphasize this truth-that however busy you may be in carrying out your duties, you must practise Japa and meditation. If you work and forget God, egotism and pride will overpower you. Therefore I tell you, never forget God, no matter whether you are working or sitting idle. To maintain this attitude you must keep your spiritual practices as well, whatever happens.
Thank you, Murshid, for speaking of Swami Brahmananda. It reminded me of an incident his disciple, who he had sent to Hollywood to begin a center and who later became Swami Prabhavananda, shared: After Sri Ramakrishna had passed on, his disciples, after many months of austerities, meditation and japa, returned to pass on the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, and created a monastery. At one point, the monks were acting up, and the disciple of Sri Ramakrishna who was in charge as director for the monastery, sent for Swami Bra(mananda. All the monks excitedly got to work cleaning up the monastery, setting out large vats of water and flowers to line the path where ‘Maharaj’ would walk. (Swami Vivekananda had playfully named his brother disciple ‘Maharaj’). The monks were so busy preparing for the great event of his arrival that all quarrels were forgotten. Swami Prabhavananda, who was a young monk there at the time, went on to tell how when ‘Maharaj’ arrived, his presence transformed the atmosphere. He was a radiant source of spiritual strength and gentle compassion.
It is a beautiful story. Thank you, Jelila.