Divine Messages - 36 : The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta - Some Parables

Extracts from the book “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta (conversations between Sri Ramakrishna, the Master, and his disciples / devotees)

Parable of the wood-cutter

"Go forward.  A wood-cutter once entered a forest to gather wood.  A brahmachari said to him, 'Go forward.' He obeyed the injunction and discovered some sandal-wood trees.  After a few days he reflected, 'The holy man asked me to go forward.  He didn't tell me to stop here.' So he went forward and found a silver-mine.  After a few days he went still farther and discovered a gold-mine, and next, mines of diamonds and precious stones.  With these he became immensely rich.

"Through selfless work, love of God grows in the heart.  Then, through His grace one realizes Him in course of time.  God can be seen.  One can talk to him as I am talking to you."

Parable of the snake

"Listen to a story.  Some cowherd boys used to tend their cows in a meadow where a terrible poisonous snake lived.  Everyone was on the alert for fear of it.  One day a brahmachari was going along the meadow.  The boys ran to him and said: 'Revered sir, please don't go that way.  A venomous snake lives over there.' 'What of it, my good children?' said the brahmachari.  'I am not afraid of the snake.  I know some mantras.' So saying, he continued on his way along the meadow.  But the cowherd boys, being afraid, did not accompany him.  In the mean time the snake moved swiftly toward him with upraised hood.  As soon as it came near, he recited a mantra, and the snake lay at his feet like an earthworm.  The brahmachari said: 'Look here.  Why do you go about doing harm? Come, I will give you a holy word.  By repeating it you will learn to love God.  Ultimately you will realize Him and so get rid of your violent nature.' Saying this, he taught the snake a holy word and initiated him into spiritual life.  The snake bowed before the teacher and said, 'Revered sir, how shall I practise spiritual discipline?' 'Repeat that sacred word', said the teacher, 'and do no harm to anybody'.  As he was about to depart, the brahmachari said, 'I shall see you again.'

"Some days passed and the cowherd boys noticed that the snake would not bite.  They threw stones at it.  Still it showed no anger; it behaved as if it were an earthworm.  One day one of the boys came close to it, caught it by the tail, and, whirling it round and round, dashed it again and again on the ground and threw it away.  The snake vomited blood and became unconscious.  It was stunned.  It could not move.  So, thinking it dead, the boys went their way. 

"Late at night the snake regained consciousness.  Slowly and with great difficulty it dragged itself into its hole; its bones were broken and it could scarcely move.  Many days passed.  The snake became a mere skeleton covered with a skin.  Now and then, at night, it would come out in search of food.  For fear of the boys it would not leave its hole during the day-time.  Since receiving the sacred word from the teacher, it had given up doing harm to others.  It maintained its life on dirt, leaves, or the fruit that dropped from the trees. 

"About a year later the brahmachari came that way again and asked after the snake.  The cowherd boys told him that it was dead.  But he couldn't believe them.  He knew that the snake would not die before attaining the fruit of the holy word with which it had been initiated.  He found his way to the place and, searching here and there, called it by the name he had given it.  Hearing the teacher's voice, it came out of its hole and bowed before him with great reverence.  'How are you?' asked the brahmachari.  'I am well, sir', replied the snake.  'But', the teacher asked, 'why are you so thin?' The snake replied: 'Revered sir, you ordered me not to harm any body.  So I have been living only on leaves and fruit.  Perhaps that has made me thinner.'

"The snake had developed the quality of sattva; it could not be angry with anyone.  It had totally forgotten that the cowherd boys had almost killed it. 

"The brahmachari said: 'It can't be mere want of food that has reduced you to this state.  There must be some other reason.  Think a little.' Then the snake remembered that the boys had dashed it against the ground.  It said: 'Yes, revered sir, now I remember.  The boys one day dashed me violently against the ground.  They are ignorant, after all.  They didn't realize what a great change had come over my mind.  How could they know I wouldn't bite or harm anyone?' The brahmachari exclaimed: 'What a shame! You are such a fool! You don't know how to protect yourself.  I asked you not to bite, but I didn't forbid you to hiss.  Why didn't you scare them by hissing?'

"So you must hiss at wicked people.  You must frighten them lest they should do you harm.  But never inject your venom into them.  One must not injure others. 

"In this creation of God there is a variety of things: men, animals, trees, plants.  Among the animals some are good, some bad.  There are ferocious animals like the tiger.  Some trees bear fruit sweet as nectar, and others bear fruit that is poisonous.  Likewise, among human beings, there are the good and the wicked, the holy and the unholy.  There are some who are devoted to God, and others who are attached to the world. "

Sri Ramakrishna Web Site – belurmath.org

Divine Messages - 35 : The Inevitable Journey

The Inevitable Journey ! – Dada J P Vaswani - Appeared in Speaking Tree post on May 09, 2011

Each year, each birthday, which we love to ‘celebrate’ with as much fanfare as possible, should remind us that it brings us closer to the day when, bidding adieu to everything that we hold dear, we shall have to move on. The current of the alluring world is strong, and its attractions powerful, pulling us downstream, leaving us neither time nor inclination, to think about our onward journey, the journey which begins after we have left this mortal body.

There was a rich industrialist who was inclined towards spirituality. Often, his yearning for the Pure One was so strong, that he would weep in silence. When the heart is full, it needs to be purged of its impurities. It needs cleansing, and the prayer goes out in anguish, “Oh Lord, heal me and bless me.” The same was the case with this rich man. Often he wept tears of yearning in silence, but continued to live a luxurious life.

One day, when he was meditating in his garden, reflecting upon the beauty of flowers, and the bounty of nature, he had a vision. The vision profiled his onward journey. He saw in the vision that after the end of this earthly journey, he had embarked on another journey.

The journey was long, arduous and exhausting. It continued endlessly. And there were many obstacles he had to face on the way. The heat was sizzling and unbearable; but there was no one to give him an umbrella to protect him from the harsh sun. He was thirsty, but there was no river, no well, to give him water to quench his thirst. He was hungry, but there was no food to eat.

This super rich man, lapping up luxuries of earthly life, safely ensconced in his comfort zone, suddenly finds himself alone and deprived of comforts on this new journey. He awoke from his dream with a cold sweat on his brow. It was only then that he realised that all worldly pleasures that he was master of, would last only till the end of this earthly journey – the onward journey to another sphere would be an all together different trip. At that moment, his eyes opened to the truth. He realised that the vision was an indication, to quit this life of extravagance, and prepare for the onward journey.

He decided then and there that he would give up everything and start a new life. But for that new life, the new path or new passage that he had chosen, he needed a Guru, who would guide him. He moved out in search of a Guru.

Each one of us has to embark on that unknown, seemingly endless, onward journey. But are we prepared for it? Have we reflected on it? Have we acquired means to equip ourselves well for that journey? All our time is consumed by the mundane affairs of this life on earth.

Awake my dear ones, awake! And start your quest for a Guru, who will guide you towards the door of Truth, which opens to the ‘Realm of Light.’ 

Sadhu Vaswani Mission Web Site - sadhuvaswani.org

Divine Messages - 34 : Glimpses of the Divine Vision by Swami Ramdas - Sorrow and Pain

An extract from the book “Glimpses of the Divine Vision” by Swami Ramdas – Section “Sorrow and Pain”

·         In the play of external nature, the so-called changes, losses and failures are inevitable. If it were not so, the universal divine game would not be there before you. Therefore, view all things as a dispassionate witness and find your union and oneness with the all-inclusive swarup of God. Play the part which God has set for you in the spirit of perfect submission to His will through all the vicissitudes of life. The object of human life is to liberate it from its self-imposed limitation and bondage, by mingling it with the eternal and ever free Reality, taking all your activities as a spontaneous and playful movement of the Divine shakti that works within you and everywhere. To attain this freedom means to behold the same Truth revealed in all beings, creatures and things in the world, which is at once manifest and unmanifest. Sorrow and pain having been completely conquered, your life now becomes the very expression and movement of immortal bliss.

·         Do not forget that you live and move in a world which is really a passing show. Do not be attached to it, nor be in any way identified with it. Take the whole world-game for what it is worth. God is the only Reality, the only Truth-and to reach Him is the one principal aim of existence. When you have sincerely struggled for and have ultimately attained Him, you will have fulfilled the mission of your life. Keep up a constant and unbroken remembrance of God, and dispel from your mind the darkening influence of doubt and sorrow.

·         Do not go over the past. The voracious time has swallowed it up. Let the future not worry you, since what is ordained is sure to take place. In the present, take heart, having perfect trust in the Almighty. Your faith in God be the healing balm for the sharp pains of life. Faith is no faith if it cannot grant you endurance, resignation and peace.

·         God is ever busy in freeing you from the tangle of worldly friendship and attachments which are in their very nature unstable and unreliable, and, therefore, bring you nothing but sorrows and anxieties. Let this experience teach you that if there is one whom you can entirely trust and for whom you should offer the love of an undivided heart, it should be the supreme Lord Himself who has His eternal seat in your heart.

·         God is all merciful. Pray to Him. “O God, lead me from the unreal to the Real; from darkness to Light; from death to Immortality.” When He makes you pass through many a painful ordeal of life, it is only to awaken you to the ultimate Reality. World is a great school of experience; but it is impermanent, it is unreal. Kunti Devi, mother of the Pandavas, prayed for pain and trouble, so that she may ever remember the Lord. Pain and sorrow purify your heart and free you from illusions. Then it is that you are eager and earnest in your quest for an existence beyond the tribulations of this world. Merciful and loving God is, when He sets you on this quest; but the path leading to it is fraught with severe trials, a necessary condition for the attainment of the divine goal. Behind all this turmoil-acute pangs of misery, anxiety and suffering-there is a spotless state of absolute peace. That is your goal. All pass away, but He who is that absolute peace is eternal.

·         Suffering is the very spice of life. Suffering is the glorious dawn that heralds the coming of the blazing sun and a brilliant day of absolute freedom and joy. Verily, blessed is he for whom suffering is no suffering. Surely he is now enjoying the very nectar of immortal bliss and peace.

·         Body is a queer instrument. It is subject to all sorts of disorders. This is true in the case of everybody. Be conscious always that you have a body and not that you are the body. This practice of dissociation from the body will set the physical machine right.

Swami Ramdas Web Site - anandashram.org

Divine Messages - 33 : It’s A Beautiful Life

It’s A Beautiful Life ! – Neelam Mehta - Appeared in Speaking Tree supplement of Times Of India on July 10, 2011

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is avoidable, says Neelam Mehta 

I am driving back after a night of revelry at a family wedding. I savour the feel of my hands on the steering wheel — (wo)man and machine in complete sync — deftly negotiating the chaotic suburban Mumbai traffic. Just then, a golden oldie begins to play on the stereo and my spirit soars like a helium balloon. I pitch in and start karaoke-ing the number with full gusto — belting it out on top of my voice from the pit of my stomach. Life is good! 
Suddenly, the numerous questions I have about the purpose of life seem so 
irrelevant. 

The song is over and I start reflecting on the magical moment. It was indeed a sublime experience —even though the number I had been crooning was anything but. If there was a machine to measure spiritual well-being and if I was hooked on to it at that time — I am certain the electrograph would have shown it as a sudden spike touching the peak.

Then I go right back to what I do in life — theorise. I am a left-brained, gyan yogi type who needs to wrap her head around the whys and wherefores of life. I have this tremendous need to understand life like a neat plan, so that I can then live it from that knowledge. Beset by existential and spiritual questions, I have been in quest of answers from a plethora of wisdom writings, self-growth programmes and spiritual traditions. And then along comes a moment like this one telling me that maybe, just maybe, life is its own purpose — to be lived a moment at a time, with full presence. 

But then, you might argue that it’s easy to talk about living in the present moment after an experience of euphoria, or at the very least when things are ‘fine’. What about when things go wrong? Well, my own experience of dealing mindfully with thrice-relapsed cancer is this: We undergo anxiety, fear or a sense of calamity only when we connect with a past experience or anticipate a future event. For instance, I might feel anxious about my diagnosis when I recall what my mother went through when she was battling cancer. Or, I might worry about having to go through all those chemotherapies all over again, if I relapse. In each case, I am either in the past (memory of mother’s episode) or in the future (anticipating pain). I then vicariously ‘suffer’ in my head, even though there is no pain or discomfort in the body at that moment. 

This is the kind of suffering that practising the power of now has helped me overcome. Whenever the mind veers towards fear of what might befall me, I bring myself back to the present moment knowing that I can deal with whatever comes up only when it comes up. 

When I am in the moment of actual physical pain or discomfort, I find two practices very useful. One is based on the principle: ‘Whatever you resist, persists’. I notice my resistance to whatever pain or discomfort I am feeling and try to stay with it instead of wishing it away. The other is based on the principle: ‘Pain is inevitable, but suffering is an option’. The distinction that pain is in the body while suffering is in the mind is a very profound one. I try to experience the pain or discomfort as dispassionately as I can, thereby limiting it to physical pain without adding mental suffering to it. Knowing that I can choose not to suffer is liberation! 

Divine Messages - 32 : The Quest for the Guru by Dada J P Vaswani

The Quest for the Guru by Dada J P Vaswani - Appeared in Speaking Tree post on July 13, 2011

Some years ago, I read the real-life story of an old man, who was lost in the mammoth crowd of pilgrims in the Haridwar Kumbha Mela. He belonged to a set of pilgrims who had travelled together to the Kumbha Mela from an ashram in New Delhi. When they were on their way to take a sacred dip in the river, he got separated from the rest of his party, and was pushed around in the thronging crowd and lost his way. The policemen on duty found him sobbing by the wayside. "What can we do for you?" they asked him solicitously. "How can we help you?" The man had no answer to give them. All he could say again and again was the repeated sob, "I am lost, I am lost."

Was he really 'lost'? He — the ‘I’ — was physically there, and he himself was aware of it. Haridwar was there too, with its teeming crowds; the Ganga was there — his sacred destination. What was lost? Who was lost? What was to be 'found'?

Our consciousness constantly clings to passing perishable things: my house, my wife, my office, my children, my money. We cling to the world, to the body, which is mortal. The Guru enables us to break the illusion and realise our own immortality.

Every night we fall asleep; every morning we wake up and rise — some of us, with great difficulty it is true - and resume our daily routine. Have you ever heard of anyone who is afraid to fall asleep because he is worried that he may not wake up the next morning? Though we are aware that death can come to us at any time of the day or night, we shut that out of our consciousness, and live as if we were immortal, considering death as remote and distant possibility. And yet, many of us are worried about old age, disease, disability and illness.

We are quite content to go to sleep and awake; we are quite happy to move from teenage to youth, and youth to maturity; then why should we be afraid of other physical transformations like old age and illness? The Guru is the enlightener who can teach us that we are not the bodies we wear, but the deathless, immortal atman whom weapons cannot cleave, fires cannot burn and winds cannot dry....

This knowledge of the atman within is the ultimate Light — Self-Realisation.

Maatru devo bhava... as little children, we discover the protecting, tender love of our mother, who nourishes and sustains us when we are too helpless to survive on our own. Pitru devo bhava…. We come under the benign protection of the father, whose love is of a different kind. We see God in these beautiful relationships.

As we evolve, we become aware of our deeper spiritual needs — a hunger which cannot be satiated by worldly pleasures; a thirst that cannot be quenched by other relationships. Thus begins our quest for the Guru... thus begins our spiritual unfolding....

TO THE GURU

Gurudeva! Beloved of this aspiring heart,

Again and again, have I exclaimed:

"Without thee,

Where would I be?"

The debt I owe to thee,

Can never be repaid.

Even If I stood as a slave

At thy door, birth after birth,

I would not be able to make recompense!

Again and again, have I exclaimed:

"Without thee,

Where would I be?"

When I thought I could see all,

I was blind!

Thou didst come

And open the Inner Eye

And all appearance faded!

A new realm of radiance and beauty

Burst into view,

And I realised

I am nothing:

Thou art the All!

Again and again, have I exclaimed:

"Without thee,

Where would I be?"

Sadhu Vaswani Mission Web Site - sadhuvaswani.org 

Divine Messages - 31 : The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta - Divine Incarnations

Extracts from the book “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta (conversations between Sri Ramakrishna, the Master, and his disciples / devotees)

 

Divine Incarnations

"God sports in the world as man.  He incarnates Himself as man, as in the case of Krishna, Rāma, and Chaitanya.  Once I said to Keshab: 'The greatest manifestation of God is in man.  There are small holes in the balk of a field, where crabs and fish accumulate in the rainy season.  If you want to find them you must seek them in the holes.  If you seek God, you must seek Him in the Incarnations.'

"The Divine Mother of the Universe manifests Herself through this three-and-a-half cubit man.  There is a song that says:

O Mother, what a machine is this that Thou hast made!
What pranks Thou playest with this toy
Three and a half cubits high!

"One needs spiritual practice in order to know God and recognize Divine Incarnations.   Big fish live in the large lake, but to see them one must throw spiced bait in the water.   There is butter in milk, but one must churn the milk to get it.   There is oil in mustard-seed, but one must press the seed to extract the oil."

God and His devotee

"So the greatest manifestation of God is through His Incarnations.  The devotee should worship and serve an Incarnation of God as long as He lives in a human body.  'At the break of day He disappears into the secret chamber of His House.'

God manifesting Himself as living beings

"Not all, by any means, can recognize an Incarnation of God.  Assuming a human body, the Incarnation falls victim to disease, grief, hunger, thirst, and all such things, like ordinary mortals.  Rāma wept for Sita.  'Brahman weeps, entrapped in the snare of the five elements.'

"It is said in the Purana that God, in His Incarnation as the Sow, lived happily with His young ones even after the destruction of Hiranyāksha.  As the Sow, He nursed them and forgot all about His abode in heaven.  At last Śiva killed the sow body with his trident, and God, laughing aloud, went to His own abode."

God, incarnated as man, acts like a man

"God, incarnating Himself as man, behave exactly like a man.  That is why it is difficult to recognize an Incarnation.  When God becomes man, He is exactly like man.  He has the same hunger, thirst, disease, grief, and sometimes even fear.  Rāma was stricken with grief for Sita.  Krishna carried on His head the shoes and wooden stool of His father Nanda.

"In the theatre, when an actor comes on the stage in the role of a holy man, he behaves like one, and not like the actor who is taking the part of the king.  He plays his own role.”

"Once an impersonator dressed himself as a world-renouncing monk.  Pleased with the correctness of his disguise, some rich people offered him a rupee.  He did not accept the money but went away shaking his head.  Afterwards he removed his disguise and appeared in his usual dress.  Then he said to the rich people, 'Please give me the rupee.' They replied: 'Why, you went away refusing our present.  Why do you ask for it now?' The man said: 'But then I was in the role of a holy man.  I could not accept money.' Likewise, when God becomes man He behaves exactly like a man.”

Sri Ramakrishna Web Site – belurmath.org

Divine Messages - 30 : The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta - Manifestations of Kali, Beginning of Cycle and Divine Mother's Sport

Extracts from the book “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta (conversations between Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples / devotees)

Different manifestations of Kāli

KESHAB (with a smile): "Describe to us, sir, in how many ways Kāli, the Divine Mother, sports in this world."

MASTER (with a smile): "Oh, She plays in different ways.  It is She alone who is known as Maha-Kāli, Nitya-Kāli, Smasana-Kāli, Raksha-Kāli, and Syama-Kāli.  Maha-Kāli and Nitya-Kāli are mentioned in the Tantra philosophy.  When there were neither the creation, nor the sun, the moon, the planets, and the earth  and when darkness was enveloped in darkness, then the Mother, the Formless One, Maha-Kāli, the Great Power, was one with Maha-Kala, the Absolute. 

"Syama-Kāli has a somewhat tender aspect and is worshipped in the Hindu  households.  She is the Dispenser of boons and the Dispeller of fear.  People worship Raksha-Kāli, the Protectress, in times of epidemic, famine, earthquake, drought, and flood.  Smasana-Kāli is the embodiment of the power of destruction.  She resides in the cremation ground, surrounded by corpses, jackals, and terrible female spirits.  From Her mouth flows a stream of blood, from Her neck hangs a garland of human heads, and around Her waist is a girdle made of human hands. 

Beginning of a cycle

"After the destruction of the universe, at the end of a great cycle, the Divine Mother garners the seeds for the next creation.  She is like the elderly mistress of the house, who has a hotchpotch-pot in which she keeps different articles for household use.  (All laugh.)

"Oh, yes! Housewives have pots like that, where they keep 'sea-foam', blue pills, small bundles of seeds of cucumber, pumpkin, and gourd, and so on.  They  take them out when they want them.  In the same way, after the destruction of the universe, my Divine Mother, the Embodiment of Brahman, gathers together the seeds for the next creation.  After the creation the Primal Power dwells in the universe itself.  She brings forth this phenomenal world and then pervades it.  In the Vedas creation is likened to the spider and its web.  The spider brings the web out of itself and then remains in it.  God is the container of the universe and also what is contained in it. 

"Is Kāli, my Divine Mother, of a black complexion? She appears black because She is viewed from a distance; but when intimately known She is no longer so.  The sky appears blue at a distance; but look at it close by and you will find that it has no colour.  The water of the ocean looks blue at a distance, but when you go near and take it in your hand, you find that it is colourless."

The Master continued: "Bondage and liberation are both of Her making.  By Her Maya worldly people become entangled in 'woman and gold’ (to be read as lust and greed; reference to ‘woman’ is meant to be read as ‘man for woman’ and ‘woman for man’), and again, through Her grace they attain their liberation.  She is called Saviour, and the remover of the bondage that binds one to the world."

Divine Mother's Sport

The Master said: "The Divine Mother is always playful and sportive.  This universe is Her play.  She is self-willed and must always have Her own way.  She is full of bliss.  She gives freedom to one out of a hundred thousand."

A BRAHMO DEVOTEE: "But, sir, if She likes, She can give freedom to all.  Why, then, has She kept us bound to the world?"

MASTER: "That is Her will.  She wants to continue playing with Her created beings.  In a game of hide-and-seek the running about soon stops if in the beginning all the players touch the 'granny'.  If all touch her, then how can the game go on? That displeases her.  Her pleasure is in continuing the game.”

  

Sri Ramakrishna Web Site – belurmath.org

Divine Messages - 29 : The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta - Concept of Kali (Divine Mother) and Attitude Towards Different Religions

An extract from the book “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” by ‘M’ahendranath Gupta

Kāli

The main temple at Dakshineśwar is dedicated to Kāli, the Divine Mother, here worshipped as Bhavatārini, the Saviour of the Universe. The floor of this temple also is paved with marble. The basalt image of the Mother, dressed in gorgeous gold brocade, stands on a white marble image of the prostrate body of Her Divine Consort, Śiva, the symbol of the Absolute. On the feet of the Goddess are, among other ornaments, anklets of gold. Her arms are decked with jeweled ornaments of gold. She wears necklaces of gold and pearls, a golden garland of human heads, and a girdle of human arms. She wears a golden crown, golden ear-rings, and a golden nose-ring with a pearl-drop. She has four arms. The lower left hand holds a severed human head and the upper grips a blood-stained sabre. One right hand offers boons to Her children; the other allays their fear. The majesty of Her posture can hardly be described. It combines the terror of destruction with the reassurance of motherly tenderness. For She is the Cosmic Power, the totality of the universe, a glorious harmony of the pairs of opposites. She deals out death, as She creates and preserves. She has three eyes, the third being the symbol of Divine Wisdom; they strike dismay into the wicked, yet pour out affection for Her devotees.

The whole symbolic world is represented in the temple garden - the Trinity of the Nature Mother (Kāli), the Absolute (Śiva), and Love (Radhākānta), the Arch spanning heaven and earth. The terrific Goddess of the Tantra, the soul-enthralling Flute-Player of the Bhāgavata, and the Self-absorbed Absolute of the Vedas live together, creating the greatest synthesis of religions. All aspects of Reality are represented there. But of this divine household, Kāli is the pivot, the sovereign Mistress. She is Prakriti, the Procreatrix, Nature, the Destroyer, the Creator. Nay, She is something greater and deeper still for those who have eyes to see. She is the Universal Mother, "my Mother" as Ramakrishna would say, the All-powerful, who reveals Herself to Her children under different aspects and Divine Incarnations, the Visible God, who leads the elect to the Invisible Reality; and if it so pleases Her, She takes away the last trace of ego from created beings and merges it in the consciousness of the Absolute, the undifferentiated God. Through Her grace "the finite ego loses itself in the illimitable Ego-Ātman-Brahman".

Attitude toward Different Religions

Sri Ramakrishna accepted the divinity of Buddha and used to point out the similarity of his teachings to those of the Upanishads. He also showed great respect for the Tirthankarās, who founded Jainism, and for the ten Gurus of Sikhism. But he did not speak of them as Divine Incarnations. He was heard to say that the Gurus of Sikhism were the reincarnations of King Janaka of ancient India. He kept in his room at Dakshineśwar a small statue of Tirthankara Mahāvira and a picture of Christ, before which incense was burnt morning and evening.

Without being formally initiated into their doctrines, Sri Ramakrishna thus realized the ideals of religions other than Hinduism. He did not need to follow any doctrine. All barriers were removed by his overwhelming love of God. So he became a Master who could speak with authority regarding the ideas and ideals of the various religions of the world. "I have practised", said he, "all religions - Hinduism, Islam, Christianity - and I have also followed the paths of the different Hindu sects. I have found that it is the same God toward whom all are directing their steps, though along different paths. You must try all beliefs and traverse all the different ways once. Wherever I look, I see men quarrelling in the name of religion - Hindus, Mohammedans, Brahmos, Vaishnavās, and the rest. But they never reflect that He who is called Krishna is also called Śiva, and bears the name of the Primal Energy, Jesus, and Allah as well - the same Rāmā with a thousand names. A lake has several Ghāts. At one, the Hindus take water in pitchers and call it 'Jal'; at another the Mussalmans take water in leather bags and call it 'pāni'. At a third the Christians call it 'water'. Can we imagine that it is not 'jal', but only 'pāni' or 'water'? How ridiculous! The substance is One under different names, and everyone is seeking the same substance; only climate, temperament, and name create differences. Let each man follow his own path. If he sincerely and ardently wishes to know God, peace be unto him! He will surely realize Him”.

Sri Ramakrishna Web Site – belurmath.org

Divine Messages - 28 : Extracts from "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna"

Dear Fellow Divine Soul,

Commencing this week, selected extracts from the book “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” will be posted.

This book is primarily in the form of recorded (memorised) conversations between Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples / devotees. It has been authored by Mahendranath Gupta (also referred to as “M”), who had memorised these conversations and subsequently (after the passing on of Sri Ramakrishna) re-produced these in a Bengali book called “Sri Sri Ramakrisha Kathamrita”. The book was subsequently translated into English language by Swāmi Nikhilānanda in 1942 and is called “The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna”.

The book is extremely unique in its spiritual firmament. In the words of Dada J P Vaswani, “Among other books which I have found very helpful in my struggles and strivings, I would like to recommend to you ‘The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’ by ‘M’. It is not a book, it is a storehouse of spiritual treasures. You should always have it by your side”.

Following is the Foreword written by Aldous Huxley for the book.

“IN THE HISTORY of the arts, genius is a thing of very rare occurrence. Rarer still, however, are the competent reporters and recorders of that genius. The world has had many hundreds of admirable poets and philosophers; but of these hundreds only a very few have had the fortune to attract a Boswell or an Eckermann.

When we leave the field of art for that of spiritual religion, the scarcity of competent reporters becomes even more strongly marked. Of the day-to-day life of the great theocentric saints and contemplatives we know, in the great majority of cases, nothing whatever. Many, it is true, have recorded their doctrines in writing, and a few, such as St. Augustine, Suso and St. Teresa, have left us autobiographies of the greatest value. But, all doctrinal writing is in some measure formal and impersonal, while the autobiographer tends to omit what he regards as trifling matters and suffers from the further disadvantage of being unable to say how he strikes other people and in what way he affects their lives. Moreover, most saints have left neither writings nor self-portraits, and for knowledge of their lives, their characters and their teachings, we are forced to rely upon the records made by their disciples who, in most cases, have proved themselves singularly incompetent as reporters and biographers. Hence the special interest attaching to this enormously detailed account of the daily life and conversations of Sri Ramakrishna.

"M", as the author modestly styles himself, was peculiarly qualified for his task. To a reverent love for his master, to a deep and experiential knowledge of that master's teaching, he added a prodigious memory for the small happenings of each day and a happy gift for recording them in an interesting and realistic way. Making good use of his natural gifts and of the circumstances in which he found himself, "M" produced a book unique, so far as my knowledge goes, in the literature of hagiography. No other saint has had so able and indefatigable a Boswell. Never have the small events of a contemplative's daily life been described with such a wealth of intimate detail. Never have the casual and unstudied utterances of a great religious teacher been set down with so minute a fidelity. To Western readers, it is true, this fidelity and this wealth of detail are sometimes a trifle disconcerting; for the social, religious and intellectual frames of reference within which Sri Ramakrishna did his thinking and expressed his feelings were entirely Indian. But after the first few surprises and bewilderments, we begin to find something peculiarly stimulating and instructive about the very strangeness and, to our eyes, the eccentricity of the man revealed to us in "M's" narrative. What a scholastic philosopher would call the "accidents" of Ramakrishna's life were intensely Hindu and therefore, so far as we in the West are concerned, unfamiliar and hard to understand; its "essence", however, was intensely mystical and therefore universal. To read through these conversations in which mystical doctrine alternates with an unfamiliar kind of humour, and where discussions of the oddest aspects of Hindu mythology give place to the most profound and subtle utterances about the nature of Ultimate Reality, is in itself a liberal, education in humility, tolerance and suspense of judgment. We must be grateful to the translator for his excellent version of a book so curious and delightful as a biographical document, so precious, at the same time, for what it teaches us of the life of the spirit.”

Sri Ramakrishna Web Site – belurmath.org

Divine Messages - 27 : Words of Wisdom

Some words of wisdom by Dada J P Vaswani.

·         Bless me, Lord, that I may hurt no one by my thoughtless words or selfish deeds. And may I never be indifferent to those that are around me and their needs.

·         So many of us worry about the past and are afraid about the future. Alas! We miss the joy of the present moment. Live, knowing that God’s in charge.

·         Be not merely resigned to the Will Divine, but welcome God’s will with open arms and outstretched hands, as though it were a birthday gift. Accept, Accept, Accept, Joyously.

·         Like a boat on water that doesn’t sink, live in the world but do not sink in worldly matters.

·         God provides food for the birds but they have to search for it.

·         If you are right, you do not need to lose your temper. If you are wrong you cannot afford to lose your temper.

·         If you let a man make you angry, you only permit him to control you! Resolve never to get angry. Burn anger before anger burns you!

Sadhu Vaswani Mission Web Site - sadhuvaswani.org

Divine Messages - 26 : God Spoke To Me by Elieen Caddy - Life - 2/2

An extract from the book “God Spoke To Me” by Elieen Caddy – Section “Life”

·         THE CROSSROADS - All souls come to the crossroads in their lives and there they stand and choose. There is the way into the New, into the unknown, which has to be taken in faith, or there is the familiar road where material comforts and possessions are of supreme importance, where a 'position' is so necessary. My child, I say to you, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven." Put Me first in everything, and everything will fit into its rightful place. You will see everything in its right perspective. It is not really a difficult choice; it is only resistance and possessiveness which makes it difficult. Love Me beyond all and all is made simple. I tell you that it is a life filled with sheer joy and happiness when accepted fully and without reservation Let your heart be light, for life is very good.

·         LIVE A LIFE - Live a life. Don't talk about it or write about it but simply live from day to day. Be constantly on the lookout so that you do not stumble and fall over obstacles which present themselves. They may be small obstacles but if you trip over even the smallest, you can have a fall. If this happens pick yourself up and continue on your way. Never allow such falls to throw you off balance in any way. The most unlikely things can throw you, so be ever watchful. Dwell on Me. Fill your heart with love and praise and rise like a balloon up and away from all that would pull you down. Remember, My child, love is very patient, so love, love, love. Be patient and persistent, and persevere. Give thanks and praise and glory. The Way is open. Walk in it.

·         IN ME IS PERFECT PEACE - You seek peace? You will find it, but never be dependant for that peace on any man or any outward condition. Only in Me can be found that peace that passeth all understanding. How often have you thought you would find that peace when conditions were right? Or when you were in the right place? Or when your relationship was right with a certain person? Or if only such and such a thing would happen, then all would be well and you would find that wonderful peace? What foolishness, My child. You need never be dependent on any outward condition. Go deep within, where no one can enter, and you will find it. As long as you remain in that centre you will be at peace, everlasting, unshakable peace, for I AM in the midst of you, and in Me is perfect peace. You work alongside your fellowman, but never be dependent on him for anything that really matters in your life. Never use him as a scapegoat. Blame no man for your condition or your state of heart and mind. Your life, your future, your whole outlook on life rests in your hands. Life is indeed what you make it. My gift to you is Life, Life in abundance.

·         LIFE IS SO SIMPLE - Life is so simple. Keep it so. Let nothing weigh you down or depress you. All is very well. Live fully in the now. Take no thought for the morrow. Enjoy to the full what is happening now. Keep your consciousness raised, your mind stayed on Me. See My perfection working in you and through you. All your needs have been met, for all I have is yours. Let the words and the thoughts you have heard so many times become a part of your whole being, so that they are vibrating words which manifest in form and become reality.

·         MY LIMITLESS LOVE - My limitless Love, My limitless Truth, My limitless Wisdom have no beginning and no ending but are from everlasting to everlasting. Man has to awaken to this fact, accept it and absorb it until it becomes part of him. It is life... life more abundant. Glory, glory, glory! The very heavens are yours, for all I have is yours and you are Mine forever and ever. My Peace and Love are all around you and within you. Blessed are they who love Me, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

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·       Eileen Caddy’s Web Site – findhorn.org