SWAMIJI'S TIME

SWAMIJI'S TIME --- J K SIVAN

RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA

MY MASTER

This rigorous, unsullied purity came into the life of that man; all the struggles which we have in our lives were past for him. His hard

earned jewels of spirituality, for which he dedicated his life, were

now ready to be given to humanity, began his mission. His teaching and preaching were peculiar, he never took the position of a teacher. As you know, a teacher is a most highly venerated

person and regarded as God Himself. We have not even the same respect for our father and mother. Father and mother give us our body, but the teacher shows us the way to salvation. We are his children, we are born in the spiritual line of the teacher. All Hindus come to pay respect to an extraordinary teacher, they crowd around him. And here was such a teacher, but the teacher had no thought whether he was to be respected or not, he had not the least idea that he was a great teacher, he thought that it was Mother who was doing everything and not he. He always said: " If any good comes from my lips, it is the Mother who speaks; what have I to do with it?"

That was his idea about his work, and to the day of his death he never gave it up.This man sought no one. His principle was, first form character, first earn spirituality, and results will come of themselves. His favorite illustration was, " When the lotus opens, the bees come of their own accord to seek the honey, so let the lotus of your character be full-blown and the results will follow." This is a great lesson to learn.

My Master taught me this lesson hundreds of times, yet I often forget it. Few understand the power of thought. If a man goes

into a cave, shuts 'himself in, and thinks one really great thought and dies, that thought will penetrate the adamantine walls of that

cave, vibrate through space, and at last penetrate the whole human race. Such is the power of thought; be in no hurry therefore

to give your thoughts to others. First have something to give. He alone teaches who has something to give, for teaching is not talking, teaching is not imparting doctrines, it is communicating. Spirituality can be communicated just as really as I can give you a flower. This is true in the most literal sense. This idea is very old in India and finds illustration in the West in the belief,in the theory, of apostolic succession. Therefore, first make character—^that is the

highest duty you can perform. Know Truth for yourself, and there will be many to whom you can teach it afterwards; they will all come. This was the attitude of my Master—he criticised no one.