Different Names for Brahman - - The Ultimate

December 2, 2002

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Wrote: Sri Ramakrishna--

"Kali is none other but Brahman. The One who is Brahman is Kali.

Kali is the Primeval Power. When It is inactive, I call it Brahman.

When It creates, preserves and destroys, I call It Shakti. I call It

Kali.

To whom you call Brahman, I call Kali.

Brahman and Kali are on and the same. They are like the fire and its

burning power. If one thinks of fire, its burning power immediately

comes to mind.

When one accepts Kali, one has to accept Brahman. Similarly, by

accepting Brahman one has to accept Kali.

Brahman and Shakti are one and the same. I call Him Shakti and the

same Being I call Kali."

SRI SRI RAMAKRISHNA KATHAMRITA Vol. I., pp.376-7

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The ULTIMATE REALITY is "Brahman" or "Atman" - beyond all form and

substance. This ULTIMATE has many names . . . Kali, Shiva, Krisna

being but a few. The "differences" between these come from seeing

less than ALL of the ULTIMATE. To one who has reached enlightenment,

these differences diappear.

I can document this point from the Upanishads.

But the clearest aphormism is from Ramakrishna:

"Sri Ramakrishna once explained to his disciples that

the same God is called by various names by different

people; similarly some people call water as 'pani' and

others call the same as 'jal', 'aqua', or 'vari' etc.

Until they see the water, they are ready to fight

amongst themselves shouting: 'No, no, you are wrong; pani

is not water!' But as soon as water is brought in

front of them, these 'fighting fanatics' all start

dancing: 'Look, this is my aqua; oh, this is my pani,' and

realize that the controversy and high temper was

unnecessary. Sri Ramakrishna could cite such a parable only

because he had experienced the oneness of God, Atman,

Hari, Allah, 'Father in the Heaven', etc."

--- End forwarded message ---

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