"First of all invoke the Deity, and then give lectures to your heart's content. First of all dive deep. Plunge to the bottom and gather up the gems. Then you may do other things. But nobody wants to plunge. People are without spiritual discipline and prayer, without renunciation and dispassion. They learn a few words and immediately start to deliver lectures. It is difficult to teach others. Only if a man gets a command from God, after realizing Him, is he entitled to teach."
"There is no use in merely making a
noise if you want to establish the Deity in the shrine of your heart, if you
want to realize God. First of all purify the mind. In the pure heart God takes
His seat. One cannot bring the holy image into the temple if the droppings of
bats are all around. The eleven bats are our eleven organs: five of action,
five of perception, and the mind.
"First of all invoke the Deity, and
then give lectures to your heart's content. First of all dive deep. Plunge to
the bottom and gather up the gems. Then you may do other things. But nobody
wants to plunge. People are without spiritual discipline and prayer, without
renunciation and dispassion. They learn a few words and immediately start to
deliver lectures. It is difficult to teach others. Only if a man gets a command
from God, after realizing Him, is he entitled to teach."
Sri Ramakrishna: "With the
realization of Satchidānanda one goes into samādhi. Then duties drop away.
Suppose I have been talking about the ostad and he arrives. What need is there
of talking about him then? How long does the bee buzz around? So long as it
isn't sitting on a flower. But it will not do for the sadhaka to renounce
duties. He should perform his duties, such as worship,japa, meditation,
prayer, and pilgrimage."
Sri Ramakrishna:"You may say that there are many
errors and superstitions in another religion. I should reply: Suppose there
are. Every religion has errors. Everyone thinks that his watch alone gives the
correct time. It is enough to have yearning for God. It is enough to love Him
and feel attracted to Him: Don't you know that God is the Inner Guide? He sees
the longing of our heart and the yearning of our soul. Suppose a man has
several sons. The older boys address him distinctly as 'Baba' or 'Papa', but
the babies can at best call him 'Ba' or 'Pa'. Now, will the father be angry
with those who address him in this indistinct way? The father knows that they
too are calling him, only they cannot pronounce his name well. All children are
the same to the father. Likewise, the devotees call on God alone, though by
different names. They call on one Person only. God is one, but His names are
many."
Sri Ramakrishna: "The blossom drops off when
the fruit appears. One doesn't have to do one's duty after the attainment of
God, nor does one feel like doing it then. "If a drunkard takes too much
liquor he cannot retain consciousness. If he takes only two or three glasses,
he can goon with his work. As you advance nearer and nearer to God, He will
reduce your activities little by little. Have no fear.
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