Taken from Mother Radha's notes, written at Swamiji's feet.

Virtues must be expressed in the world, in thought, word and deed. By expressing them you make sure they are residing in you. Like you say, 'Do good'. But you must be good before expressing it outside. Strength only in the mind is not good. Truthfulness and strength must be expressed without.

What you think, you must do. And what you do, you must think. This helps you to manifest virtues. You say, be good but your actions may not be so good. Walls are good but they do not express it. The hearer hears something else and the utterer utters something else.

Jesus Christ said, Love thy neighbour as thyself. If we are following this there is no trouble. But we do not do. Love seeks no return. Christ loved the world, he gave up his life for you. Your neighbour may not be good but you must be good and do good. Sri Ramakrishna said, "Hiss, but do not bite." [see footnote] Hissing how? By leaving no impression of anger in the mind.

People say, 'Forgive and forget' but that is very, very difficult. But you can forgive without forgetting. That's when it's a lesson to you. Then you do not have to do wrong. Then out of that negative you have got positive. You can forgive on a human level, but not forget. The scar remains for some time. But that should not make you a hater, a revenger. Who are we to forgive? Only God can forgive. This is the subtlest thing.

If something wrong happens to you, and you think it's evil, it's you sinning. So you should not think evil about anybody, but seek to be forgiven by God for thinking that it was evil.

If it is not within, it cannot be without. Only those seeds within can be expressed without. He who thinks evil becomes evil. What you think you become. So think the highest, the proper, the good.

If you think anything is separate from Brahman [the undifferentiated reality], there is birth and death.

Footnote The story is told about a snake who lived in a field and terrorised the local villagers. One day a holy man came upon him and forbad him ever to bite one of the villagers again. The holy man promised to visit the snake to check on his new, good, behaviour. Some time later, he did just that. He called for the snake and got no answer. Eventually, he found the battered snake in a corner of the field. "What happened to you?" he asked. "Well," said the snake, "You told me never to bite again, so the villagers now throw stones at me and hit me with sticks. My life is a total misery!" In a compassionate tone the holy man said, "Oh you poor fellow. I told you not to bite, but I didn't tell you to stop hissing!"

About the Author

Clive Simpkins is a Change Architect, Strategist, speaker, author and a chela [disciple] of Swami Shivapadananda (1938-1994), second President and Spiritual Head of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. http://swamishivapadananda.typepad.com http://www.imbizo.com