SRI RAMAKRISHNA ON VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY

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Salutations to Thakur, Guru, and Ma! Sri Ramakrishna--"In Vedanta philosophy

there are no forms andthe like. Its ultimate principle is that Brahman is the

only reality and the phenomenal universe constituting the names and forms

illusory. So long as one cherishes the idea that 'I am a bhakta', there is the

possibility of getting the vision of the form of the Lord and seeing Him as a

person. Looking at it from the perspective of reasoning, the feeling of 'I an

the bhakta' keeps one away from Him. So I say that according to the Vedanta

philosophy, Brahman is without attributes. What Its real nature is like cannot

be expressed in words. Do you know how this is? It is like a shoreless ocean

of Satchitananda, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. The Lord does not appear

as a person. His form is not visible. What He is cannot be expressed in words.

And who is there to express It? He who is to describe is himself not there."

Satchitananda Kathy (SRI SRI RAMAKRISHNA KATHAMRITA. Vol. I., pp. 106,

110-111) Sri Ramakrishna-"So long as reasoning is not over, man continues to

indulge in voluable discussions. But no sooner does it stop, he becomes silent.

When the pitcher is full of water, the water in it and that of the pond becomes

one, and all gurgling stops. There is sound only till the pitcher is full."