Does Jnani Speak?

A  DEVOTEE: "Suppose a man has obtained the Knowledge of Brahman in samādhi. Doesn't he speak any more?"

MASTER: "Sankaracharya retained the 'ego of Knowledge' in order to teach others. After the vision of Brahman a man becomes silent. He reasons about It as long as he has not realized It.  

If you heat butter in a pan on the stove, it makes a sizzling sound as long as the water it contains has not dried up. But when no trace of water is left the clarified butter makes no sound.  

If you put an uncooked cake of flour in that butter it sizzles again. But after the cake is cooked all sound stops. Just so, a man established in samādhi comes down to the relative plane of consciousness in order to teach others, and then he talks about God.   

The bee buzzes as long as it is not sitting on a flower. It becomes silent when it begins to sip the honey. But sometimes, intoxicated with the honey, it buzzes again.   

An empty pitcher makes a gurgling sound when it is dipped in water. When it fills up it becomes silent. (All laugh.) But if the water is poured from it into another pitcher, then you will hear the sound again.” (Laughter) 

                        - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, P 103 

                               (August 5, 1882) 

Explanation of Evil

Washing away the heart's impurities with tears

NEIGHTBOUR: "Sir, is it ever possible to realize God while leading the life of a householder?" 

MASTER: "Certainly. But as I said just now, one must live in holy company and pray unceasingly. 
One should weep for God. When the impurities of the mind are thus washed away, one realizes God. 

The mind is like a needle covered with mud, and God is like a magnet. The needle cannot be united with the magnet unless it is free from mud. Tears wash away the mud, which is nothing but lust, anger, greed, and other evil tendencies, and the inclination to worldly enjoyments as well. As soon as the mud is washed away, the magnet attracts the needle, that is to say, man realizes God. 
Only the pure in heart see God. A fever patient has an excess of the watery element in his system. What can quinine do for him unless that is removed?  

"Why shouldn't one realize God while living in the world? But, as I said, one must live in holy company, pray to God, weeping for His grace, and now and then go into solitude. 
Unless the plants on a foot-path are protected at first by fences, they are destroyed by cattle." 

                         - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, P 98 

                           (April 9, 1882) 

Not I But Thou

Good of Holy Company

DEVOTEE: "What is the good of holy company?" 

MASTER: "It begets yearning for God. It begets love of God. 
Nothing whatsoever is achieved  in spiritual life without yearning. By constant living in the company of holy men, the soul becomes restless for God. 
This yearning is like the state of mind of a man who has someone ill in the family. His mind is in a state of perpetual restlessness, thinking how the sick person may be cured. 

Or again, one should feel a yearning for God like the yearning  of  a  man  who  has lost his job and is wandering from one office to another in search of work. If he is rejected at a certain place which has no vacancy, he goes there again the next day and inquires, 'Is there an vacancy today?'” 

                        - Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, P 96 

                           (April 9, 1882)

Evil of "I" and "Mine"

God Alone is Real