Eat to Live, Not Live to Eat

Swami Sarvapriyananda enjoying Jalebi dessert 

at the Santa Barbara Vedanta Society Temple.
He's just been reassigned to head the New York West Side Vedanta Society. 
We will miss you Swami !!!

The Light Within 

Video Talk by Swami Sarvapriyananda

Sri Ramakrishna used to say: 

“Eat as much as you like during the day, 

but eat sparingly at night.” 

Swami Brahmananda, the eminent disciple of the Master, explains the meaning of these words: The idea is that the full meal taken at noon will be easily digested, and if you eat lightly at night, your body will remain light and you can easily concentrate the mind. A heavy meal at night produces laziness and sleep. How do you want to spend the night - in sleep or in meditation? People are generally busy during the day, so it is difficult to still the restless mind at that time. But at night nature becomes calm and all creatures go to sleep. This, therefore, is the best time for meditation. Concentration becomes easily intensified in the quiet hours of the night.

The glutton who has no restraint over his palate injures his body and mind. Whenever he gets some choice food, he overeats and then suffers from breathing difficulty. His whole energy is spent in digesting that food, and if he cannot digest it, he falls ill. Foods like onion, garlic, and chili excite the body and mind so much that later one finds it extremely difficult to bring the system under control. I think that those who want to lead a spiritual life should pay special attention to what they eat and drink. Don’t overeat. Eat that food which is nutritious, easily digested and not exciting. Avoid stimulating food because it is injurious, and also avoid that food which increases lethargy (tamas). What is the purpose of food? To maintain good health and one needs good health for God-realization. Discrimination with regard to food and moderation in eating are very much connected with mastery over the senses. 

“A man who has controlled all other senses except the palate is not to be considered a master of his senses. When the desires of the palate are controlled, everything else is controlled” 
(Bhagavata, 11.8.21).   From the book ‘Meditation & Its Practices’ by Swami Adiswarananda

The Eternal Witness

Lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda

Jalebi

Ramakrishna's Favorite Dessert

Watch How to Make Sweet Dessert on YouTube

God in Every Experience
Lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda

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

Fear Not!

Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) & Rakhal (Swami Brahmananda)

Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.

- Swami Vivekananda

A Reflection on Swami Brahmananda 

Lecture by Charles Miller

Banish all fear and weakness. Never weaken your mind by thinking of past mistakes. Sin? Sin exists only in man's eye. In God's eye there is no sin. One glance of the divine and the sins of many, many births are wiped away.

The greatest strength of character is to live in harmony with all. Never utter one word that would hurt another. Tell the truth, but never a harsh truth.

Life is like a stream, fast ebbing away. The day that is once gone can never be recalled. Make the best use of your time. If you leave it till the last moment, it will be too late to cry, "Alas, alas!"
- Swami Brahmananda

- - - - - -  

Swami Vivekananda's letter to Swami Brahmananda

(Translated from Bengali)

U.S.A., 20th November, 1899

MY DEAR RAKHAL,

Got some news from Sharat's letter. . . . Get experience while still there is a chance; I am not concerned whether you win or lose. . . . I have no disease now. Again. . . . I am going to tour from place to place. There is no reason for anxiety, be fearless. Everything will fly away before you; only don't be disobedient, and all success will be yours. . . . Victory to Kali! Victory to the Mother! Victory to Kali! Wah Guru, Wah Guru ki Fateh (Victory unto the Guru)!

. . . Really, there is no greater sin than cowardice; cowards are never saved — that is sure. I can stand everything else but not that. Can I have any dealings with one who will not give that up? . . . If one gets one blow, one must return ten with redoubled fury. . . . Then only one is a man. . . . The coward is an object to be pitied.

I bless you all; today, on this day sacred to the Divine Mother, on this night, may the Mother dance in your hearts, and bring infinite strength to your arms. Victory to Kali! Victory to Kali! Mother will certainly come down — and with great strength will bring all victory, world victory. Mother is coming, what dear? Whom to fear? Victory to Kali! At the tread of each one of you the earth will tremble. . . . Victory to Kali! Again onward, forward! Wah Guru! Victory to the Mother! Kali! Kali! Kali! Disease, sorrow, danger, weakness — all these have departed from you all. All victory, all good fortune, all prosperity yours. Fear not! Fear not! The threat of calamity is vanishing, fear not! Victory to Kali! Victory to Kali!

VIVEKANANDA

PS: I am the servant of the Mother, you are all servants of the Mother — what destruction, what fear is there for us? Don't allow egoism to enter your minds, and let love never depart from your hearts. What destruction can touch you? Fear not. Victory to Kali! Victory to Kali!

- - - - - - 

Read all Swami Vivekananda's Letters Online

Swami Brahmananda His Life and Teachings YouTube

Swami Brahmananda Spiritual Dynamo

Swami Brahmananda 
January 21, 1863 - April 10, 1922


"Religion is a most practical thing. 
It doesn’t matter whether one believes or not. 
It is like science. 
If one performs spiritual disciplines, 
the result is bound to come. 
Although one may be practicing mechanically—
if one persists one will get everything in time. 
And if you go one step towards God, 
God will come a hundred steps towards you. 
Why did God create us? 
So that we may love him."
-by Swami Brahmananda

Swami Brahmananda A Spiritual Dynamo 

Article by Swami Sarvadevananda

Swami Brahmananda His Legacy 

Lecture by Swami Tyagananda

Swami Brahmananda

Swami Brahmananda 
1863-1922

Considered the spiritual son of Sri Ramakrishna 

Swami Brahmananda was the first president of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

Spiritual Precepts of Swami Brahmananda

The Eternal Companion
Lecture by Swami Sarvadevananda

Ramakrishna and His Disciples

Swami Vivekananda     --     Sri Ramakrishna      --      Swami Brahmananda

Pray constantly with a pure sincere heart:

"O Lord I don't know what is good and what is bad for me.

I am entirely dependent on you.

Grant me everything I need for spiritual life.

Take me along the path that will bring me the greatest good.

Give me the faith and strength to remember you

and meditate on you constantly."

- Swami Brahmananda -

The Teachings of Swami Brahmananda lecture by Swami Tyagananda