Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 MASTER (to Narendra): "How do you feel about it? Worldly people say all kinds of things about the spiritually minded. But look here! When an elephant moves along the street, any number of curs and other small animals may bark and cry after it; but the elephant doesn't even look back at them. If people speak ill of you, what will you think of them?" NARENDRA: "I shall think that dogs are barking at me." God in every being MASTER (smiling): "Oh, no! You mustn't go that far, my child! (Laughter.) God dwells in all beings. But you may be intimate only with good people; you must keep away from the evil- minded. God is even in the tiger; but you cannot embrace the tiger on that account. (Laughter.) You may say, 'Why run away from a tiger, which is also a manifestation of God?' The answer to that is: 'Those who tell you to run away are also manifestations of God -- and why shouldn't you listen to them?' XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "It is said in the scriptures that water is a form of God. But some water is fit to be used for worship, some water for washing the face, and some only for washing plates or dirty linen. This last sort cannot be used for drinking or for a holy purpose. In like manner, God undoubtedly dwells in the heart of all -- holy and unholy, righteous and unrighteous; but a man should not have dealings with the unholy, the wicked, the impure. He must not be intimate with them. With some of them he may exchange words, but with others he shouldn't go even that far. He should keep aloof from such people." A DEVOTEE: "Sir, if a wicked man is about to do harm, or actually does so, should we keep quiet then?" MASTER: "A man living in society should make a show of tamas to protect himself from evil-minded people. But he should not harm anybody in anticipation of harm likely to be done to him. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 , "Ashoka " <ashoka_h@h...> wrote: > MASTER (to Narendra): "How do you feel about it? Worldly people > > XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX > > "It is said in the scriptures that water is a form of God. But some > water is fit to be used for worship, some water for washing the face, > and some only for washing plates or dirty linen. This last sort > cannot be used for drinking or for a holy purpose. In like manner, > God undoubtedly dwells in the heart of all -- holy and unholy, > righteous and unrighteous; but a man should not have dealings with > the unholy, the wicked, the impure. He must not be intimate with > them. With some of them he may exchange words, but with others he > shouldn't go even that far. He should keep aloof from such > people." Liked this. > > A DEVOTEE: "Sir, if a wicked man is about to do harm, or actually > does so, should we keep quiet then?" > > MASTER: "A man living in society should make a show of tamas to > protect himself from evil-minded people. But he should not harm > anybody in anticipation of harm likely to be done to him. Sri Ramakrishna tells the story of a saint and a serpent in this context. A certain serpent is advised to be sattvic by a saint. The serpent misunderstands that and does not even hiss at the children who intend to harm it. As a result it gets severely injured. The saint finds the snake on his way and comes to know what happened, which is when he advises atleast you should have hissed at the children with the intention of driving them away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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