Sri Ramakrishna and Temple-worship .

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna ! Dear Bhaktas ,

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa attained self realization through Temple-worship . Having started as an ordinary Poojari of a Kali-temple in Calcutta , Gadadharan through constant worship, attained the blessings of Kali-Mata and became famous as Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa . He said once :

" During night time , you can see many stars in the sky . But when Sun rises , you can not see those stars . Just because of this , can you say that there are no stars during day time ? . Likewise, during your ignorant times, you say ` There is no God '. God is both formless and with form . Only God can say what He is ! . We can see the God with form . We can also touch God like a close friend " .

An ordinary Poojari Gadadhara becoming Paramahamsa proves beyond any doubt , the effectiveness of Temple worship . Deity-worship easily fetched him , Kali-Mata's divine grace . Ramakrishna always sought Kali-Mata's permission before undertaking any task.

The famous Advaita-Vedanti , Sri Totapuri who had attained *Nirvikalpa-samadhi* , ridiculed Ramakrishna's ardent faith in Deity-worship . Totapuri advised him :

"Ramakrishna , your life's objective must be *Advaita Vedanta darshan* . I will teach you about it's principles " .

Ramakrishna replied politely :

" Let me ask Kali-Mataji. If I receive Her permission , I will come back to learn Vedanta".

After this discussion , Ramakrishna went straight to Kail-temple and prayed for Devi's advice . Kali-Mata gave him permission . He returned to Sri Toalapuri and said :

" Kali-Mataji has given me permission to learn Vedanta from you . "

Sri Tolapuri asked Ramakrishna to withdraw mind from all external objects and merge it with *Atman* ( soul) * . Though he tried to do so , Ramakrishna could not liberate his mind from the *aura* of Kali-Devi . When he informed about this , Tolapuri asked him to focus the mind beyond the personal form of Kali-devi.

Ramakrishna tried very hard . But his mind attained oneness with the personal form of Kali-Mata and he attained *Samadhi* . Tolapuri left the deeply meditating Ramakrishna in that room and went outside . He returned after (3) days . When he opened the door , the sight in front amazed Toalpuri . Ramakrishna was remaining unmoved in that same position and was still in meditation even after three days ! He thought aloud :

"What *Nirvikalpasamadhi* I have attained after (40) years of intense *Sadhana* , is achieved by Ramakrishna within a few hours !!!

At first , Tolapuri could no believe his eyes . Gradually , he brought back Ramakrishna from spiritual bliss to worldly life . Ramakrishna slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the awe-struck Tolapuri .

Sri Tolapuri who had never before stayed at any place more than (3) days, resided (11) months with Ramakrishna in the Kali-temple . It brought a great mental transformation in him . Before, he had rejected Ramakrishna's faith in Deity-worship as utter superstition . But, now he is convinced that the *sannidyam* ( presence) of Kali-devi is not an illusion. Both *Nirguna Brahman* and *Saguna Brahman* are two *BhAvAs* of the same ParaBrahman . Thus Sri Toalapuri and Ramakrishna became mutual Guru-Sishyas .

Conclusion

Many Hindus are extremely proud of their Hindu-birth and qualifications ; and are self-styled *Jeevan-MuktAs* . However, they don't even lead a Vedic way of life ! .

Very few *Jeevan-MuktAs* have existed in recent times . Ramana Maharishi is one . When His body was dying withCancer, His disciples begged Him to cure Himself for the sake of His devotees. Sri Ramana who was least bothered about anything worldly, replied "Why are you so attached to this body ? Let it go ."

Ordinary Hindus like us who can't tolerate even a minor headache , should be realistic . Bhakti-yoga is the path suitable for us . Bhagavan Sri Krishna advises us in Geeta 12.5 - 7 :

" Those who worship the un-manifested (Impersonal Brahman) , experience great difficulty because it is very troublesome for the embodied being to attain the formless . But, those who worship Me as *Saguna Brahman* , surrendering all actions to Me ; setting Me as their supreme goal, and meditating on Me with single minded devotion; easily attain Me ".

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!!

[Guest guest]

In Bangalore, there is a saint, who is Jeevan Mukta in all senses of

the word. He is 91 years old physically, and takes a daily walk on a

regular basis even today. Not at all bed-ridden, he spends his

personal time in Samadhi and eagerly guides all those who come to see

him. Without any fanfare, without any Ashram to own, he simply lives

with his disciples, eating whatever they provide. He still sustains

himself monetarily through his pension, so there is absolutely no

requirement for material gains from any other sources to meet daily

expenses. He also practices Homeopathy to help those who need such

help. Any sadhak can visit him. Those in Bangalore can avail this

opportunity as long as he is in the physical frame. I personally have

gained a lot of spiritual guidance from him, and would recommend him

to those who do not seek glamourous gurus, or world famous gurus, who

simply are in need of guidance. His disciplic lineage is from the

Ramakrishna Order. His name is Dr B C Mukherjee.

 

Interested devotees living in Bangalore can request me for his address

through email.

 

Jai Sri Krishna

 

, " krishnadaya "

<krishnadaya wrote:

>

>

> Hare Krishna ! Dear Bhaktas ,

>

> Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa attained self realization through

> Temple-worship . Having started as an ordinary Poojari of a Kali-

temple

> in Calcutta , Gadadharan through constant worship, attained the

> blessings of Kali-Mata and became famous as Sri Ramakrishna

Paramahamsa

> . He said once :

>

> " During night time , you can see many stars in the sky . But when

> Sun rises , you can not see those stars . Just because of this , can

you

> say that there are no stars during day time ? . Likewise, during

your

> ignorant times, you say ` There is no God '. God is both

> formless and with form . Only God can say what He is ! . We can see

the

> God with form . We can also touch God like a close friend " .

>

> An ordinary Poojari Gadadhara becoming Paramahamsa proves beyond any

> doubt , the effectiveness of Temple worship . Deity-worship easily

> fetched him , Kali-Mata's divine grace . Ramakrishna always sought

> Kali-Mata's permission before undertaking any task.

>

> The famous Advaita-Vedanti , Sri Totapuri who had attained

> *Nirvikalpa-samadhi* , ridiculed Ramakrishna's ardent faith in

> Deity-worship . Totapuri advised him :

>

> " Ramakrishna , your life's objective must be *Advaita Vedanta

> darshan* . I will teach you about it's principles " .

>

> Ramakrishna replied politely :

>

> " Let me ask Kali-Mataji. If I receive Her permission , I will come

> back to learn Vedanta " .

>

> After this discussion , Ramakrishna went straight to Kail-temple and

> prayed for Devi's advice . Kali-Mata gave him permission . He

> returned to Sri Toalapuri and said :

>

> " Kali-Mataji has given me permission to learn Vedanta from you .

> "

>

> Sri Tolapuri asked Ramakrishna to withdraw mind from all external

> objects and merge it with *Atman* ( soul) * . Though he tried to do

so

> , Ramakrishna could not liberate his mind from the *aura* of Kali-

Devi

> . When he informed about this , Tolapuri asked him to focus the mind

> beyond the personal form of Kali-devi.

>

> Ramakrishna tried very hard . But his mind attained oneness with the

> personal form of Kali-Mata and he attained *Samadhi* . Tolapuri left

the

> deeply meditating Ramakrishna in that room and went outside . He

> returned after (3) days . When he opened the door , the sight in

front

> amazed Toalpuri . Ramakrishna was remaining unmoved in that same

> position and was still in meditation even after three days ! He

thought

> aloud :

>

> " What *Nirvikalpasamadhi* I have attained after (40) years of

> intense *Sadhana* , is achieved by Ramakrishna within a few hours

!!!

>

> At first , Tolapuri could no believe his eyes . Gradually , he

brought

> back Ramakrishna from spiritual bliss to worldly life . Ramakrishna

> slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the awe-struck Tolapuri .

>

> Sri Tolapuri who had never before stayed at any place more than (3)

> days, resided (11) months with Ramakrishna in the Kali-temple . It

> brought a great mental transformation in him . Before, he had

rejected

> Ramakrishna's faith in Deity-worship as utter superstition . But,

> now he is convinced that the *sannidyam* ( presence) of Kali-devi

is

> not an illusion. Both *Nirguna Brahman* and *Saguna Brahman* are two

> *BhAvAs* of the same ParaBrahman . Thus Sri Toalapuri and

Ramakrishna

> became mutual Guru-Sishyas .

>

> Conclusion

>

> Many Hindus are extremely proud of their Hindu-birth and

qualifications

> ; and are self-styled *Jeevan-MuktAs* . However, they don't even

> lead a Vedic way of life ! .

>

> Very few *Jeevan-MuktAs* have existed in recent times . Ramana

> Maharishi is one . When His body was dying withCancer, His disciples

> begged Him to cure Himself for the sake of His devotees. Sri Ramana

who

> was least bothered about anything worldly, replied " Why are you so

> attached to this body ? Let it go . "

>

> Ordinary Hindus like us who can't tolerate even a minor headache ,

> should be realistic . Bhakti-yoga is the path suitable for us .

> Bhagavan Sri Krishna advises us in Geeta 12.5 - 7 :

>

> " Those who worship the un-manifested (Impersonal Brahman) ,

> experience great difficulty because it is very troublesome for the

> embodied being to attain the formless .

> But, those who worship Me as *Saguna Brahman* , surrendering all

> actions to Me ; setting Me as their supreme goal, and meditating on

Me

> with single minded devotion; easily attain Me " .

>

> Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!!

>