Only a few months back, I got a chance to come in the contact with the great sage Sri Rama Krishna Paramhansa, through his books. I do not find words to describe the greatness of this saint; though illiterate he had a unique quality of going into the depth of spirituality by very simple day to day activities. I firmly believe that he was a God reincarnation. His deep love, earnestness to awaken the dormant spirituality in one and all has touched a deep chord in my heart. I am deeply influenced by his teachings which are extremely simple, but powerful.
The parables are as following:
1. We must consider God as our most intimate relative. As parents take care of their children, God takes care of us. There is nothing great in it. Children do not say thank you to their parents. If our child leaves food for 1 or 2 days and pesters us for his demand, we have to give in. Similarly we should blackmail God eg. By saying “if you don’t give me darshan, I will commit suicide”. Though it is a tamasic bhakti, but God listens to it.
2. For householders he said if before cutting jack fruit, oil is smeared in the hands, they do not become sticky, similarly before entering the worldly life, if one applies the oil of spirituality, it would not stick to him.
3. A maid servant living in a rich man’s house calls his children as ‘Mera beta or Raja beta’ but inside she knows that they are not her own children. She knows that her home is not this, it is somewhere in the remote village.
4. There are four types of fishes in the sea. When a fisherman throws his net – first type do not come near it i.e. ever free eg. Saints like Narda, second type come near the bait, understand that it is a trap, so go away eg. Rishis, sages, third type come near the bait and take it and get trapped, but they by God’s grace come to know about their mistake and try hard to get free and through hard struggle some of them are able to break free themselves, these are householders with awakened spirituality and the fourth one is they take the bait, get trapped and do not even try to come out of it. They are happy in the grass and moss of the net & hide them deep inside it thinking that they will enjoy this only, these are worldly people. The fourth type are happy and think that they will be free some how, but alas! They do not know that the fishermen will take them out and kill them & sell them.
5. The young one of the monkey holds on the mother tightly when the mother is jumping from one branch to the other. If sometimes his grip is loose, he falls and gets hurt badly. The kitten of a cat mews from a place wherever the mother keeps it. Then the cat comes & picks it up from the neck and takes it to another safe place that may be bed floor or a warm place. Why can’t we all become kitten and rely on the mother safely.
6. Man is heir to God’s abundant wealth. Three gunas Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas are like robbers, who rob the man of this knowledge eg. In a forest a rich man is captured by three robbers. They take away his wealth, one of them says, let us kill him i.e. Tamas, the other says no we should tie him to a tree and leave him here i.e. Rajas as it binds one to the world. After a while the third robber comes and asks him, “Oh are you hurt? Come I will open your bindings” he takes him to his destination. The rich man requests him to come along by saying that his people will be really happy to meet him. But he says he can’t come as he will be arrested by the police. The third robber is the Sattwa.
7. When a child is satisfied with candies, toys and keeps on playing with them, the mother is busy in her work. But when the child yells for the mother and throws away his toys, the mother comes and picks the child and loves him.
8. There are 7 doors to reach the God’s abode. Each and every door is guarded by powerful and glorious guard. When a person starts his journey, a person asks is it the king! The guard says not this. He keeps his journey. When the seventh door is opened, one becomes speechless with the glory of God. He does not have to ask, he knows that, this is the king. After God realization a person become speechless.
9. Even a slight touch of worldliness is an obstacle in the path of God realization. E.g. in villages people tie a brick to the tail of a mongoose. When mongoose want to go and rest inside his hole, the brick pulls it down and he can’t get rest in its hole. The brick of worldliness pulls a person down whenever he wants to go into meditation.
10. Every thing is possible by the grace of God. But it is not that easy to get it e.g. As a beggar gets only a penny. Even if he asks for gold, no one gives it to him.
11. A Tamasic bhakta offers goat to the mother. A Rajasic offers food of 3, 4 types of rice, vegetables and curd & kheer where as a Sattwic bhakta occasionally offers only rice pudding. His worship is not for others, many people do not even come to know about it.
12. A bhakta should become like Sita, who forgot her hands, feet and her body which is so dear to everyone and only asked one question, “Where is Rama?”
13. I am like a cast off leaf, goes where the mind takes it. By asserting the attitude of “Thy are the operator, I am the instrument” or “God is the master, I am the servant”. I – consiousness does no harm as it is not easy to get rid of the big great ego.
14. When a house is on fire, a few things burn at first. Then comes the fire of knowledge & burns the enemies of spirituality. In life first goes the passions, desires, anger and then comes the big turning of ego. Ego can only be handled by “Thy are the operator and I am the instrument.” When one recognizes the lion of ego who is actually a heir but wearing the mask of lion, then ego can’t frighten the person for long, it has to go. Then lastly commutation can be seen in the physical frame.
15. God realization is possible only when there is intense yearning for him and a child like innocence and faith in him. Even if a slight trace of worldliness is there. God realization is not possible.
16. There are four types of lights – light of a lamp, light of raging fire, moon light which is like bhakti and the sunlight – which is like Jnana. Only in the case of reincarnation like Chaitanaya the combination of moon and sun light can be seen.
17. Who can know God’s ways? As one liter pot can’t hold 5 liters of milk, how can we fathom the grace of God and know His ways?
18. O’ Mother, “here is thy knowledge, here is thy ignorance, take both and give me only pure love. Here is thy good, here are thy bad, take both give me only pure love. Here is thy righteousness, here is thy unrighteousness, take both and give me only pure love.”
19. The encounter of Sri Ramakrishna and Ram lala inspires a lot of devotion. When idol of Ram lala was brought with a Sadhu who considered Ram lala as his own child, bathed him, fed him and even put to sleep in the bed. Gradually Ramlala started liking the company of SriRama Krishna. He played with him and many times troubled him also e.g. He says “When one day Ramlala did not want to come out of Ganges water and wanted to take bath for a long time, I got very much annoyed and punished him by keeping under water for few minutes and his eyes were full of tears and he cried, I felt very bad later on for this act of mine. Also when he was given some parched rice to eat one day, his mouth bled on account of husk in that. I was filled with too much remorse. Oh God! What have I done? Ma Yasoda only used to feed you with soft butter and I have given this! I was miserable for my thoughtless act. Then Ramlala wanted to stay here only with me. When that Sadhu left Dakshinaeshwar he left him with me fully satisfied that if Ramlala was happier here, he was also very happy.”
Ramakrishna paramhansa was an incarnation of God who came on earth to guide millions of devotees in their spiritual path. Through sheer examples of his own simplicity, renunciation, devotion he inspired many householders also into the simple and easy path of attaining God realization. His teachings since related to simple day to day living activities instantly & deeply affect the listener, reader. He illustrates that deep faith in God is the only requirement for calling him. An intense yearning for the God realization and his name on lips ensures that he will come! He will purify! He has to come! He cannot resist his devotees! He is our most intimate relation, ever ready to help us, guide us and bless us with eternal bliss. He is our most sincere friend who never betrays our trust. I am quoting one of his poems.
O Mother, how can you stay away
From deliverance, with your name
On my lips, I can cross the ocean
Of sin, however wretched may I be!
O Mother, I have on one else to blame:
Alas! I sink in the well these very
Hands have dug
With six passions for my spade,
I dug a pit in the scared land of earth;
And now the dark water of death gushes forth!
How can I save myself, O my Reedemer?
Surely I have been my own enemy;
How can I now ward off this dark water of death?
Behold, the waters rise to my chest!
How can I save myself? O Mother, save me!
Thou art my only refuge; with Thy protecting glance.
Take me across to the other shore of the world
What a delirious fever is that I suffer from!
O Mother, Thy grace is my only cure.
False pride is the fever that racks my wasted form;
‘I’ and “mine” are my cry. Oh what a wicked delusion!
My quenchless thirst for wealth and friends is never ceasing;
How then shall I sustain my life?
Talk about things unread, this is my wretched delirium
And I indulge in it always, O Giver of all good fortune!
My eyes in seeming sleep are closed, my stomach is filled
With the vile worms of cruelty
Alas! I wander about absorbed in unmeaning deeds;
Even for Thy holy name I have no taste, O Mother!
I doubt that I shall ever be cured of this Malady.
The parables are as following:
1. We must consider God as our most intimate relative. As parents take care of their children, God takes care of us. There is nothing great in it. Children do not say thank you to their parents. If our child leaves food for 1 or 2 days and pesters us for his demand, we have to give in. Similarly we should blackmail God eg. By saying “if you don’t give me darshan, I will commit suicide”. Though it is a tamasic bhakti, but God listens to it.
2. For householders he said if before cutting jack fruit, oil is smeared in the hands, they do not become sticky, similarly before entering the worldly life, if one applies the oil of spirituality, it would not stick to him.
3. A maid servant living in a rich man’s house calls his children as ‘Mera beta or Raja beta’ but inside she knows that they are not her own children. She knows that her home is not this, it is somewhere in the remote village.
4. There are four types of fishes in the sea. When a fisherman throws his net – first type do not come near it i.e. ever free eg. Saints like Narda, second type come near the bait, understand that it is a trap, so go away eg. Rishis, sages, third type come near the bait and take it and get trapped, but they by God’s grace come to know about their mistake and try hard to get free and through hard struggle some of them are able to break free themselves, these are householders with awakened spirituality and the fourth one is they take the bait, get trapped and do not even try to come out of it. They are happy in the grass and moss of the net & hide them deep inside it thinking that they will enjoy this only, these are worldly people. The fourth type are happy and think that they will be free some how, but alas! They do not know that the fishermen will take them out and kill them & sell them.
5. The young one of the monkey holds on the mother tightly when the mother is jumping from one branch to the other. If sometimes his grip is loose, he falls and gets hurt badly. The kitten of a cat mews from a place wherever the mother keeps it. Then the cat comes & picks it up from the neck and takes it to another safe place that may be bed floor or a warm place. Why can’t we all become kitten and rely on the mother safely.
6. Man is heir to God’s abundant wealth. Three gunas Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas are like robbers, who rob the man of this knowledge eg. In a forest a rich man is captured by three robbers. They take away his wealth, one of them says, let us kill him i.e. Tamas, the other says no we should tie him to a tree and leave him here i.e. Rajas as it binds one to the world. After a while the third robber comes and asks him, “Oh are you hurt? Come I will open your bindings” he takes him to his destination. The rich man requests him to come along by saying that his people will be really happy to meet him. But he says he can’t come as he will be arrested by the police. The third robber is the Sattwa.
7. When a child is satisfied with candies, toys and keeps on playing with them, the mother is busy in her work. But when the child yells for the mother and throws away his toys, the mother comes and picks the child and loves him.
8. There are 7 doors to reach the God’s abode. Each and every door is guarded by powerful and glorious guard. When a person starts his journey, a person asks is it the king! The guard says not this. He keeps his journey. When the seventh door is opened, one becomes speechless with the glory of God. He does not have to ask, he knows that, this is the king. After God realization a person become speechless.
9. Even a slight touch of worldliness is an obstacle in the path of God realization. E.g. in villages people tie a brick to the tail of a mongoose. When mongoose want to go and rest inside his hole, the brick pulls it down and he can’t get rest in its hole. The brick of worldliness pulls a person down whenever he wants to go into meditation.
10. Every thing is possible by the grace of God. But it is not that easy to get it e.g. As a beggar gets only a penny. Even if he asks for gold, no one gives it to him.
11. A Tamasic bhakta offers goat to the mother. A Rajasic offers food of 3, 4 types of rice, vegetables and curd & kheer where as a Sattwic bhakta occasionally offers only rice pudding. His worship is not for others, many people do not even come to know about it.
12. A bhakta should become like Sita, who forgot her hands, feet and her body which is so dear to everyone and only asked one question, “Where is Rama?”
13. I am like a cast off leaf, goes where the mind takes it. By asserting the attitude of “Thy are the operator, I am the instrument” or “God is the master, I am the servant”. I – consiousness does no harm as it is not easy to get rid of the big great ego.
14. When a house is on fire, a few things burn at first. Then comes the fire of knowledge & burns the enemies of spirituality. In life first goes the passions, desires, anger and then comes the big turning of ego. Ego can only be handled by “Thy are the operator and I am the instrument.” When one recognizes the lion of ego who is actually a heir but wearing the mask of lion, then ego can’t frighten the person for long, it has to go. Then lastly commutation can be seen in the physical frame.
15. God realization is possible only when there is intense yearning for him and a child like innocence and faith in him. Even if a slight trace of worldliness is there. God realization is not possible.
16. There are four types of lights – light of a lamp, light of raging fire, moon light which is like bhakti and the sunlight – which is like Jnana. Only in the case of reincarnation like Chaitanaya the combination of moon and sun light can be seen.
17. Who can know God’s ways? As one liter pot can’t hold 5 liters of milk, how can we fathom the grace of God and know His ways?
18. O’ Mother, “here is thy knowledge, here is thy ignorance, take both and give me only pure love. Here is thy good, here are thy bad, take both give me only pure love. Here is thy righteousness, here is thy unrighteousness, take both and give me only pure love.”
19. The encounter of Sri Ramakrishna and Ram lala inspires a lot of devotion. When idol of Ram lala was brought with a Sadhu who considered Ram lala as his own child, bathed him, fed him and even put to sleep in the bed. Gradually Ramlala started liking the company of SriRama Krishna. He played with him and many times troubled him also e.g. He says “When one day Ramlala did not want to come out of Ganges water and wanted to take bath for a long time, I got very much annoyed and punished him by keeping under water for few minutes and his eyes were full of tears and he cried, I felt very bad later on for this act of mine. Also when he was given some parched rice to eat one day, his mouth bled on account of husk in that. I was filled with too much remorse. Oh God! What have I done? Ma Yasoda only used to feed you with soft butter and I have given this! I was miserable for my thoughtless act. Then Ramlala wanted to stay here only with me. When that Sadhu left Dakshinaeshwar he left him with me fully satisfied that if Ramlala was happier here, he was also very happy.”
Ramakrishna paramhansa was an incarnation of God who came on earth to guide millions of devotees in their spiritual path. Through sheer examples of his own simplicity, renunciation, devotion he inspired many householders also into the simple and easy path of attaining God realization. His teachings since related to simple day to day living activities instantly & deeply affect the listener, reader. He illustrates that deep faith in God is the only requirement for calling him. An intense yearning for the God realization and his name on lips ensures that he will come! He will purify! He has to come! He cannot resist his devotees! He is our most intimate relation, ever ready to help us, guide us and bless us with eternal bliss. He is our most sincere friend who never betrays our trust. I am quoting one of his poems.
O Mother, how can you stay away
From deliverance, with your name
On my lips, I can cross the ocean
Of sin, however wretched may I be!
O Mother, I have on one else to blame:
Alas! I sink in the well these very
Hands have dug
With six passions for my spade,
I dug a pit in the scared land of earth;
And now the dark water of death gushes forth!
How can I save myself, O my Reedemer?
Surely I have been my own enemy;
How can I now ward off this dark water of death?
Behold, the waters rise to my chest!
How can I save myself? O Mother, save me!
Thou art my only refuge; with Thy protecting glance.
Take me across to the other shore of the world
What a delirious fever is that I suffer from!
O Mother, Thy grace is my only cure.
False pride is the fever that racks my wasted form;
‘I’ and “mine” are my cry. Oh what a wicked delusion!
My quenchless thirst for wealth and friends is never ceasing;
How then shall I sustain my life?
Talk about things unread, this is my wretched delirium
And I indulge in it always, O Giver of all good fortune!
My eyes in seeming sleep are closed, my stomach is filled
With the vile worms of cruelty
Alas! I wander about absorbed in unmeaning deeds;
Even for Thy holy name I have no taste, O Mother!
I doubt that I shall ever be cured of this Malady.
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