Mind Matters

 

Vision of God Destroys Doubts

All doubts disappear when one sees God. It is one thing to hear of God, but quite a different thing to see Him. A man cannot have one hundred per cent conviction through mere hearing. But if he beholds God face to face, then he is wholly convinced. 

Formal worship drops away after the vision of God. It was thus that my worship in the temple came to an end. I used to worship the Deity in the Kāli temple. It was suddenly revealed to me that everything is Pure Spirit. The utensils of worship, the altar, the door-frame - all Pure Spirit. Men, animals, and other living beings - all Pure Spirit. Then like a madman I began to shower flowers in all directions. Whatever I saw I worshiped. 

One day, while worshiping Śiva, I was about to offer a bel-leaf on the head of the image, when it was revealed to me that this Virat, this Universe, itself is Śiva. After that my worship of Śiva through the image came to an end. Another day I had been plucking flowers, when it was revealed to me that the flowering plants were so many bouquets. 

- Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, P 396 (2 March 1884) 

 

The World not apart from God

 

For Thy Sake

Seeking a shelter at Thy feet, 

I have forever set aside 

My pride of caste and race, O Lord,  

And turned my back on fear and shame.   

A lonely  pilgrim on life's way, 

Where shall I go for succour now? 

For Thy sake, Lord, I bear men's blame;  

They rail at me with bitter words 

And hate me for my love of Thee. 

Both friends and strangers use me ill.   

Thou art the Guardian of my name;  

Thou mayest  save or slay me, Lord!  

Upon the honour of Thy servant 

Rests, O Lord, Thy name as well;  

Thou art the Ruler of my soul, 

The glow of love within my heart; 

Do with me as it pleases Thee! 

- Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, P 394 (2 March 1884) 

Four Stages of Life

There are four stages of life: brahmacharya, garhasthya, Vanaprastha, and Sannyas. During the first three stages a man has to perform his worldly duties. The Sannyasi carries only his staff, water-pot, and begging-bowl. He too may perform certain nityakarma, but his mind is not attached to it; he is not conscious of doing such work. Some sannyasis perform nityakarma to set an example to the world. 

If a householder or a man belonging to the other stages of life performs action without attachment, then he is united with God through such action. 

In the case of a paramahamsa, like Sukadeva, all karmas - all puja, japa, tarpan, sandhya, and so forth-drop away. In this state a man communes with God through the mind alone.  Sometimes he may be pleased to perform outward activities for the welfare of mankind. But his recollection and contemplation of God remain uninterrupted. 

- Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, P 388 (2 February 1884)

Not Two

 

Force Demand on God

Take for example an adulterous woman. When she first begins to love her paramour, there is so much secrecy, fear, and bashfulness! Then as intimacy deepens, all emotional barriers disappear. She leaves her family and appears in front of everyone holding her lover’s hand. If at that time the man does not take care of her or wants to leave her, she throws a cloth around his neck and pulls him, saying: ‘You wretch, I have left everything and everybody for you, and now you want to drop me on the street! Tell me – will you maintain me or not?’ 

Likewise, a man who has renounced everything for God and made Him his very own force his demands on Him and says: ‘I have renounced everything for You. Now tell me – will You reveal Yourself to me or not?’ 

- Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play, P438