O' Cosmic Birther

The Christ as Viewed by Swami Vivekananda

Lecture by Swami Prapannananda

O cosmic birther of all radiance and vibration!

Soften the ground of our being and create a space within us 

where your Presence can abide. Fill us with your creativity 
so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of your mission.

Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with our desire.

Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what 
each being needs to grow and flourish.

Untie the tangled threads of destiny that binds us, 
as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes. 
Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true 
purpose, but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.
For you are the ground and the fruitful vision, the birth-power 
and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.

- Neil Douglas-Klotz from Original Prayer: 
Teachings and Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus

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