All religions lead devotees by differing paths to one and same goal

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All religions lead devotees by differing paths to one and same goal

 

(p.226) The knowledge of Brahman in nirvikalpa samadhi had convinced Shri

Ramakrishna that the gods of the different religions are but so many readings of

the Absolute, and that the Ultimate Reality could never be expressed by human

tongue. He understood that all religions lead their devotees by differing paths

to one and the same goal. Now he became eager to explore some of the alien

religions; for to him, understanding meant actual experience.

 

Islam

 

Toward the end of 1866 he began to practice the disciplines of Islam. Under the

direction of his Muslim guru, he abandoned himself to his new sadhana. He

dressed as a Muslim and repeated the name of Allah. His prayers took the form of

Islamic devotions. He forgot the Hindu gods and goddesses--even Kali--and gave

up visiting the temples. He took up residence outside the temple precincts.

After three days he saw the vision of a radiant figure, perhaps Mohammed. This

figure gently approached him and finally lost himself in Sri Ramakrishna. Thus

he realized the Muslim God. Thence he passed into communion with Brahman. The

mighty river of Islam also led him back to the ocean of the Absolute.

 

Christianity

 

Eight years later, some time in November 1874, Sri Ramakrishna was seized with

an irresistible desire to learn the truth of the Christian religion. He began to

listen to readings from the Bible by Sambhu Charan Mallick, a gentleman of

Calcutta and a devotee of the Master. Sri Ramakrishna became fascinated by the

life and teachings of Jesus. One day he was seated in the parlor of Jadu

Mallick's garden house[3] at Dakshineswar, when his eyes became fixed on a

painting of the Madonna and Child. Intently watching it, he became gradually

overwhelmed with divine emotion. The figures in the picture took on life, and

the rays of light emanating from them entered his soul. The effect of this

experience was stronger than that of the vision of Mohammed. In dismay he cried

out, " O Mother! What are you doing to me? " And, breaking through the barriers of

creed and religion, he entered a new realm of ecstasy. Christ possessed his

soul. For three days he did not set foot in the Kali temple. (p.228) On the

fourth day, in the afternoon, as he was walking in the Panchavati [famous

religious and pilgrimage place in India], he saw coming toward him a person with

beautiful large eyes, serene countenance, and fair skin. As the two faced each

other, a voice rang out in the depths of Sri Ramakrishna's soul: " Behold the

Christ, who shed his heart's blood for the redemption of the world, who suffered

a sea of anguish for love of men. It is he, the Master Yogi, who is in eternal

union with God. It is Jesus, Love Incarnate. " The Son of Man embraced the Son of

the Divine Mother and merged in him. Sri Ramakrishna realized his identity with

Christ, as he had already realized his identity with Kali, Rama, Hanuman, Radha,

Krishna, Brahman, and Mohammed. The Master went into samadhi and communed with

the Brahman with attributes. Thus he experienced the truth that Christianity,

too, was a path leading to God-consciousness. Till the last moment of his life

he believed that Christ was an incarnation of God. But Christ, for him, was not

the only incarnation; there were others--Buddha, for instance, and Krishna.

 

Attitude toward Different Religions

 

Sri Ramakrishna accepted the divinity of Buddha and used to point out the

similarity of his teachings to those of the Upanishads. He also showed great

respect for the Tirthankaras, who founded Jainism, and for the ten gurus of

Sikhism. But he did not speak of them as divine incarnations. He was heard to

say that the gurus of Sikhism were the reincarnations of King Janaka of ancient

India. He kept in his room at Dakshineswar a small statue of Tirthankara

Mahavira and a picture of Christ, before which incense was burned morning and

evening.

 

Without being formally initiated into their doctrines, Sri Ramakrishna thus

realized the ideals of religions other than Hinduism. He did not need to follow

any doctrine. All barriers were removed by his overwhelming love of God. (p.229)

So he became a master who could speak with authority regarding the ideas and

ideals of the various religions of the world. " I have practiced, " said he, " all

religions--Hinduism, Islam, Christianity--and I have also followed the paths of

the different Hindu sects. I have found that it is the same God toward whom all

are directing their steps, though along different paths. You must try all

beliefs and traverse all the different ways once. Wherever I look, I see men

quarrelling in the name of religion--Hindus, Muslims, Brahmos, Vaishnavas, and

the rest. But they never reflect that he who is called Krishna is also called

Siva and bears the name of the Primal Energy, Jesus, and Allah as well--the same

Rama with a thousand names. A lake has several ghats [stairways leading down to

a landing on the water]. At one, the Hindus take water in pitchers and call it

'jal'; at another, the Muslims take water in leather bags and call it 'pani'; at

a third, the Christians call it 'water'. Can we imagine that it is not jal, but

only pani or water? How ridiculous! The substance is one under different names,

and everyone is seeking the same substance; only climate, temperament, and name

create differences. Let each man follow his own path. If he sincerely and

ardently wishes to know God, peace be unto him! He will surely realize him. "

 

Sri Ramakrishna, The Face of Silence

Swami Nikhilananda and Dhan Gopal Mukerji

Edited and with an Introduction by Swami Adiswarananda

Foreword by Dhan Gopal Mukerji II

Chapter 4, Sri Ramakrishna, p.226-229

SkyLight Paths Publishing, Woodstock, Vermont

ISBN 1-59473-115-2

 

Note:

 

[3] This expression is used to translate the Bengali word denoting a rich man's

country house set in a garden.