Reincarnation

Pottery Class 1976 

Karma and Rebirth

Lecture by Swami Prapannananda

PRANKRISHNA: "Sir, what is the nature of the life after death?"

MASTER: "As long as a man remains ignorant, that is to say, as long as he has not realized God, so long will, he be born. But after attaining Knowledge he will not have to come back to this earth or to any other plane of existence. The potter puts his pots in the sun to dry. Haven't you noticed that among them there are both baked and unbaked ones? When a cow happens to walk over them, some of the pots get broken to pieces. The broken pots that are already baked, the potter throws away, since they are of no more use to him. But the soft ones, though broken, he gathers up. He makes them into a lump and out of this forms new pots. In the same way, so long as a man has not realized God, he will have to come back to the Potter's hand, that is, he will have to be born again and again."

FROM:

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

by Mahendranath Gupta (M)
THE RECORDER OF THE GOSPEL

This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 

“Jeremiah, go down to the potter’s house. 

I will give you my message there.”

So I went down to the potter’s house 

And saw him working with clay at the wheel. 

He was making a pot from clay. 

But there was something wrong with the pot. 

So the potter used that clay to make another pot. 

With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be.

- Jeremiah: 18 (ERV Bible)

Death and Reincarnation

Lecture by Swami Atmavidyananda

Human life is unpredictable. It may end after twenty years or today. Nobody knows when it will end, so it is better to acquire something soon for the journey. Who knows when the call will come? If you go to an unknown land empty-handed you will suffer. Because you were born, you must die. It is true, after death you will have to go to a different place. At any cost, collect all provisions for that journey and keep yourself ready. When the call comes, start your journey with a smiling face. There will be no fear or anxiety if you know definitely that you have what you need for the way.

When you have the noble desire to realize God and an opportunity to lead a good life, please use it wholeheartedly and attain the Truth. Hold tight to God firmly. Let the body go, but don’t give up. Have faith in yourself. “I am a human being, and I can do everything”−have this kind of faith and move forward. You will reach the goal. Your life will be meaningful. Coming and going are painful. Stop this dreadful cycle of reincarnation. Be the Lord’s eternal companion.

- Swami Brahmananda 

The mind has to be made malleable like clay.

Just as clay sticks wherever you throw it, 

So the mind must be made to dwell upon 

Whatever object you concentrate it.

- Swami Vivekananda 

There was never a time when I was not,

Nor you, nor these others.

Nor will there ever be a time to come

When we shall cease.

As one passes in this body

Through childhood, youth and old age 

Even so is the taking on of other bodies. 

This does not trouble the wise. 

Of the non-existent 

There is no coming to be. 

Of the existent 

There is no ceasing to be.

That by which all this is pervaded

Cannot be destroyed.

As one casts off worn out clothes

And puts on others that are new

Even so the Self casts off worn out bodies

And assumes others that are new.

Weapons cannot cut this Self

Fire cannot burn it.

Water does not make it wet

Nor the wind, dry.

It is eternal

All-pervading

Changeless and

Unmoved.

It is the same forever

It is said to be unmanifest

Inconceivable, and

Without change.

Knowing it thus

You should not breathe.

- Alan Watts

There is None Except the Divine

Swami Vivekananda 
Ramakrishna Monastery Trabuco Canyon

The soul has neither pain nor pleasure. It is the witness of everything. The eternal witness of all work, but it takes no fruits from any work. To work properly you first must give up the idea of attachment. Hold yourself as the witness and go on working. Everything is evanescent and changeful. Knowing this the sage gives up both pleasure and pain and becomes a witness of the panorama of the universe without attachment for anything. He sees the world as a picture knowing that nothing affects him. Then he enjoys its beauty. Whenever there is any bliss, there is a spark of the eternal bliss, The bliss that is the Lord himself. The essence of our own soul. He's the light and life of the whole universe. He's the eternal witness of the universe. O Lord and Mother of the Universe, Thou flowing stream of nectar, How many forms and aspects does thou play in manifestation. The soul has neither pain nor pleasure. Hold yourself as the witness, then behold nature's beauty.

Believe that you are the children of God, the heirs of infinite strength and bliss. Believe that your body and mind are sacred temples. Believe that God pervades every man, and every woman. He pervades every tree and creeper, every sentient and insentient being. The presence of God must be realized everywhere. He is the personal and impersonal, with and without form. He dwells in all beings. He pervades land and waters. He pervades hills and valleys. He pervades the sky and stars. He pervades all things. There is none except the Divine in the entire universe. See God in the blue of the sky, the waves of the sea. See God in the face of a friend, in the simplicity of a child. See God in the horrors of death, in the steadfastness of the saint. There is none except the Divine in the entire universe.

-- Except from "Vivekananda Oratorio 150 : His Ministry" a classical oratorio by Swami Atmavidyananda, composer and lyricist, of the Vedanta Society of Southern California and a monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India. The lyrics he derived from "Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda."

Listen to Vivekananda Oratorio 150 Recording

Vivekananda Oratorio 150

Created in honor of Swami Vivekananda's 150th Birth Anniversary, composer and choir director, Swami Atmavidyananda will lead a live performance of his “Vivekananda Oratorio 150″ on July 4th, 2013 at the Vedanta Society Trabuco Canyon Monastery during their Annual Open House. In an effort to spread the essence of Swami Vivekananda’s timeless teachings this original musical work will appeal to a new level of sophisticated spiritual seekers. Credited with being the first to introduce Hinduism to the West during the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893, Swami Vivekananda's most uplifting writings and speeches will be sung as lyrics during this masterful 90min operatic tribute in classical oratorio style. If you cannot attend the live performance you may listen to the recording at the link below.

Listen to Vivekananda Oratorio 150 Recording

Article on Premiere of Vivekananda Oratorio 150

Information on the July 4th Event