Disciple: “How to control the senses ?”
Swami Turiyananda: “What do I know? (After a pause) ‘My only refuge is Thy name, O Mother Shyâmâ,…’ ‘Never forget the name of Shri Durga…. Why dost thou forget Her, O my mind! Just utter the name of Shri Durgå….’
“Can you for once stop all talk and vigorously repeat only the name of God? Well, you see, you cannot expect to accumulate unless there is something already in the store. The man who lives from hand to mouth cannot store up anything. But if anyhow by hard labour he can once lay by something, his store goes on increasing rapidly. Similar is the case even in the field of religion. For a period work hard, and try to store up something. Always repeat the name of God – while taking meals, while at bed, or when you are at your seat. Just close your lips and be busy only with the repetition of the name of God. The Master would cite the example of the compass. The needle of a compass always points to the north. You may turn the needle away, but as soon as you let go the hold, it again points to the north. Your mind also should be so mould-ed. If somebody comes and diverts your mind to any other topic, as soon as he leaves you, the mind should be again repeating His name. Just see so long I was talking with you; as soon as I have stopped speaking, the song is going on within, ‘Why dost thou, my mind, become forgetful? Just repeat the name of Shri Durga exactly what the mind was doing before the conversation began. And you must do everything quite secretly, so that nobody comes to know of it.
“People say, ‘What He wishes, will come to pass. Well, will the wish arise in Him, without any struggle on your part? Only when the wings are tired does a bird sit on the mast of a ship for rest. Only when you have struggled your utmost will real resignation come.”
Disciple: “What method should I follow as regards repeating His name ?”
Swami: “There is nothing to be bothered about methods. Just think, ‘I am Thy child, Thou art my Mother.’ Talk with Her in the same way as you are talking with me. She knows your heart. She is indeed within all.”
Disciple: “Should one pray also ?”
Swami: “Yes, you should be praying too.”
Disciple: “My only prayer is that my mind may always remain fixed on Him-that I may never forget Him.”
Swami: “Surely you should have that kind of prayer. You must say, ‘Why should I forget Thee? I have given up everything only with the object of praying to Thee. May Thou in compassion see that I do not forget Thee.'”
Disciple: “Should I take to devotional songs also ?”
Swami: “Yes, you should have devotional songs also. Else spiritual practices become monotonous. But then in the beginning special stress should be given on Japa (repetition of God’s name). You should practise one thing at a time.
“Be up and doing. Once the mind is brought under control, there is no more fear. It is the mind which creates all troubles. You may be working with hands, but the mind should always be repeating His name. Mere mechanical repetition of His name, while the mind is wandering this kind of thing will not do. Both mind and lips should repeat His name. Mental Japa is the best.”
Disciple: “If we mix with people, everything becomes upset.”
Swami: “Avoid company so long as the mind is not under control. And when the habit has once been formed, there is no harm in mixing with people.
“To pray to Him also is a form of work. You should do that with all your heart and soul. Rob Him of His peace, as it were, by your constant and incessant prayers. When the child weeps only a little, the mother does not think of coming. But when the child cries itself hoarse and knows no stopping, then the mother comes and takes it in her arms.
“Everything is due to His will. ‘Praise or dispraise, honour or dishonour everything comes from Thee.’
“Regarding my illness, R. said, ‘It is all due to Karma. At once I replied, ‘It is said in the Chandi, “Thou art Karma, Thou art Dharma, Thou art non-Dharma.” Karma etc. all come from Her. She alone is without beginning and without end. Is there anything else without beginning? It is only to give an explanation to the people that one has to say, Karma is without beginning, etc. Health or disease, good or evil-everything comes and goes according to Her will. This is the final truth. He only can understand this, to whom She Herself reveals this truth. If you are determined not to understand, I have no power to make you convinced.
“That everything happens at Her will, one must actually realize in life: else a mere intellectual belief is of no avail. That is our resting place, as it were: when we receive blows from the world, we get peace from this thought.
“What is meant by spiritual practice ? It is nothing but an attempt to identify oneself with the one ultimate Reality, which alone exists. There is only One without a second. Perception of unity is knowledge, perception of variety is ignorance. Because we have separated ourselves from That, all troubles ensue. If one can surrender oneself wholly to Him, there is real peace. You cannot find peace in anything else. The more you go towards Him, the greater is the peace. Ultimately you will have to rest in Him. Are you in fact separate from Him? You find yourself separate, because you think so; else you are nothing but He.
“Success or failure, everything rests with Him.
“Satan was greatly vaunting of his power. So God sent him to tempt Job. Satan went to Job and said, ‘Just worship me, and I will give you greater wealth and prosperity.’ Job replied, ‘Get thee hence, Satan.’ Enraged at this Satan destroyed his all; one by one he lost his children and finally he himself fell a victim to leprosy. Even then Satan did not cease tempting him. At this Job said, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'” (Source: Spiritual Talks by the First Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna)