Spiritual Talks

Swami Omkarananda

Swami Omkarananda (1894-1973) was one of the Vice-presidents of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission and the Head of the Ramakrishna Math, Kankurgacchi. These talks have been culled and translated from a Bengali collection of his writings and conversations Sri Ramakrishna Swami Vivekananda O Dharma Prasanga. They are being published here with the kind permission of the publishers, Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashrama, Howrah.

Sri Ramakrishna has said that the considerations of purity and impurity are for a bhakta and not for a jnani. This is because the devotee accepts the duality of God and the devotee. The devotee always tries to serve God. Service must be done very carefully. This is the path to God realization.

Jnani negates everything by reasoning. He does not have the sense of purity or impurity. Even God is negated. Only Atman remains. However, this cannot be attained as long as there is body-consciousness. Body, mind, senses--everything is transcended or negated. Even my 'I' will go away. What remains when 'I' is destroyed? Only that Satchidananda Brahman. But this knowledge is not dry knowledge. After negating everything should one sit idle? No, not at all. One may think that everything has been negated, but if body-consciousness remains, everything would reappear. This is as Sri Ramakrishna has explained: However much one may say, 'There is no thorn, it has not pricked', as soon as the thorn pricks, one exclaims, 'Oh, it is painful.'

Besides, whether one is a bhakta or a jnani, there is one common precondition--intensity, yearning. There must be yearning for God-realisation or Self-realisation. However much one may reason or observe rules or discriminate, nothing can be attained without intense yearning. One will not have the vision of God. If it were so easy that one could attain by merely offering bel leaves or by the ritual movements of utensils (kosha-koshi) then there was no problem. In the blacksmith's shop there is so much movement of these utensils. But nothing is attained. Where is the yearning for God? If there is yearning, nothing else is required. One can reach God by the pull of that yearning. Together with yearning one must do spiritual practice--upasana. By upasana alone both bhakta and the jnani can get realisation.

There are sixtyfour types of activities or interests which are considered hindrances in the path of devotion. One of them is astrology. Talks or discussions related to it are considered detrimental to devotion.

Q: Why Maharaj? Do the stars and planets not have an influence on us?

A: Why not? Circumstances and surroundings do affect our mind always. For example, intense heat in the afternoon affects our body and mind; we lose interest in everything and become high strung. Again, when the heat subsides and the southern wind starts blowing, the body cools down and mind too becomes joyful. Similarly, various planets affect the body and mind in a subtle way.

These stars and planets have their presiding deities. For example, a planet's controlling deity is goddess Chinnamasta. Some other is governed by Tara, yet another by Kali. Now, if these deities are ritualistically propitiated, then these gods and goddesses can ask their subordinate planets not to trouble the individual. For example, goddess Chinnamasta is the deity governing the planet Rahu. By pacifying the goddess, a fatal blow might get reduced to a small injury and the impact of that constellation might get nullified. But these considerations are not relevant for a devotee. He is solely dependent upon God. 'His will be done. He is ever auspicious. Whatever He does is good. If the body were to die, let it, if He so wills.' This is the attitude of a devotee.

What is required is self-surrender. Surrender yourself to the Lord. He will definitely show you the path. He will surely protect and support you. This lamp in front might be false, but what has just been told, cannot be false.

One must be emotional. Without being emotional, it is not possible to progress in spiritual life. How far can philosophical texts take you? Intellect serves one purpose--it tries to prevent emotions from leading in the wrong direction. It helps only this much. Feeling is the real thing. What is required is surrender. One must humble oneself. What will you understand by intellect or by much studies? Sri Ramakrishna has infinite moods. He can be perceived only through 'bhava' or feelings. Is it so easy to understand him? Sri Ramakrishna once asked Master Mahashaya 'M', 'Have you understood?' 'M' answered, 'Yes, I have understood!' Sri Ramakrishna said, 'No, it cannot be understood with this (impure) intellect.' Hari Maharaj (Swami Turiyananda) used to say, 'It is not possible to understand Sri Ramakrishna without having body and mind like those of Swami Vivekananda.' Hari Maharaj once asked Mahapurush Maharaj the meaning of the phrase 'karma kathora' (austere in his deeds) in the Hymn to Sri Ramakrishna. Mahapurush Maharaj replied, 'Didn't you see, how efficient and inclined towards work was he?' Besides, Sri Ramakrishna was infinitely compassionate...

The mind does not dwell on high spiritual mood always. Hence one must remain engaged in a specific work. But then, the difficulty with work is that often it becomes more important. Therefore one must take refuge in the Lord while doing work. Do introspection in solitude and find out what mistakes one has committed. It is essential to detect one's defects. Love all. Mix with everyone. See how Sri Ramakrishna used to mix with all.

Do you know what was Swami Vivekananda's ideal? To be a 'complete man'. There shouldn't be the slightest unmanliness in such a man. Do work quickly. On seeing you, one must feel that you are full of life. Our seniors never liked lukewarm or easy-going attitude while doing work. We had to complete the assigned work quickly. It is difficult to understand Swami Vivekananda if the body and mind are not like his. Have self-control, be a man of character. Be methodical. With this, there must be obedience towards the Order. Memorize the Gita and the Upanishads. The main fault of the Bengalis is that they are weak. Nothing can be achieved without being strong. Look at Sri Ramakrishna's photo. How thick was his collar bone? Without such a strong body he couldn't have been able to do so much spiritual practices. Carefully and seriously read books about Sri Ramakrishna as also Swami Vivekananda's works. To begin with read for ten minutes and then close the book and think about what you have read. You will find that you don't remember anything. Then again read, you will notice that you are now able to recollect what you have read. Then read again. Thus bring the mind under control.

No work is inferior or unimportant. Look at the story of Booker Washington. He worked as a poor servant. Observing the way he cleaned the table, the lady of the house predicted that this boy would be a great man. And he did become great. The famous Taskan University was built by the bricks made by the Greek boys. Look at Napolean. How this Corsican boy, who used to massage and take care of the horses became great in spite of bearing the insults of others! But, genius is born--geniuses are not made. Look at Akbar, Shivaji, Ranjit Singh.

Have self-control. Be a man of character. Have self-confidence. Swami Vivekananda wanted manhood. Never keep the picture of RadhaKrishna with the thrice-bent Krishna in your house. That is the highest Truth. That is not for you. Keep the pictures of Sri Krishna in the Kurukshetra, Shiva and Parvati, Rama having bow and arrows, and Swami Vivekananda. Keep away pictures which are contrary to your ideal, or those which make you weak.

Is it easy to acquire devotion? Before that mind must be purified. The bottle must be cleaned well if you want to keep good clarified butter in it. Similarly, to acquire love and devotion for God, the mind must be thoroughly cleansed. For this one must do with dedication whatever work is assigned. If that is there, as you do work, devotion will grow by itself, automatically. Nothing can be achieved by force.

The zeal of the rishis is worth seeing. Many of them had falls, yet, when they again started striving for Truth, what great dedication and determination they had! Look at the zeal of the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. 'I must know the truth, and for that I am prepared to do anything, face any difficulty'--this was their attitude. In spiritual life there cannot be any compromise. Harmony of religions does not mean compromise. Sri Ramakrishna never compromised.

If you want to lead a spiritual life, hold on to the Mother. Mother has a heart, hasn't she? If you weep, she will definitely listen.

Take the name of God and do spiritual practice while the body is strong. When the body would fall ill, then you won't be able to take the name of God or remember Him. Master Mahashaya was an experienced person. He has said, 'If you don't repeat the name of God from the very beginning, at the time of death you will chant something else, something worldly.'

One must meditate at least ten minutes every day in the morning and evening. Of all activities this is the most important. If you don't do this, in old age your condition will be like that of the stem of a plantain tree. When it is burnt, various hissing sounds are produced and the fire gets extinguished.

You are young. Be up and about and do japa and meditation. Swami Vivekananda has taught Karma Yoga. Is Karma Yoga so easy? Remember, it is one the Yogas. On doing work in the right way, devotion, broadmindedness, humility, etc. would grow. Tell me, what is there in large buildings? With work, one must do japa and meditation with great intensity and thus keep oneself on the right track. True self-surrender is required. Is it so easy to get it? When you get completely exhausted, physically and mentally, then only real self-surrender will come, not before that. Keep alive a sense of dissatisfaction in spiritual life. Keep spiritual discontent alive. It is required always, at every stage. If you feel, 'I am quite well', then you won't be able to progress much. This sense of lack of fulfilment is the important thing.

(To a woman devotee) Try to find some time for spiritual practice yourself. And if you are really not able to find time, wouldn't Lord know this? There was a person at Dakshineswar who used to do a lot of japa and meditation. Sri Ramakrishna told his attendant, 'Let us go and meet him.' He was so compassionate that he himself went and gave darshan to him because he was doing spiritual practice. Has Sri Ramakrishna now shut his eyes that he won't look at your difficulties? Then why do you worry? Besides, now the hindrance caused by the physical body is no more. Pray earnestly, 'Lord, you can see our condition--have mercy on us. Shower your grace on us.' If you can't insist upon Sri Ramakrishna to bless, then call on the Holy Mother. She is the Divine Mother of the universe Herself. She has incarnated this time only for solving your problems. You have great support in her. In Rama-incarnation or Krishna-incarnation, the shakti had also incarnated, but did not do much work. This time Mother came and lived for such a long time specially for you (women-folk).