Guest guest Posted August 3, 1999 Report Share Posted August 3, 1999 Dear friends, In this connection it may interest you to read " Simplicity and Frugality " at < http://members.xoom.com/drcsshah/neovedanta/a22.html > Thanks, dr c s shah --------- Vidya123 wrote: > Vidya123 > NAMASTE > Most people think that to be a devotee and to be simple means that you act like a fool in secular situations. Sri Ramakrishna tells us that devotees should not be so. The following is a very interesting story on how Sri Ramakrishna taught Yogen, later known as Swami Yogananda, as well as other disciples, a very important lesson concerning this: >From SRI RAMAKRISHNA THE GREAT MASTER, pg. 647: It was from the Master that > we ( " we " and " us " are used throughout because the author was a disciple of > Sri Ramakrishna later known as Swami Saradananda to whom we are all grateful > for this book) heard for the first time, " My children, people become > simple-minded and liberal as the result of many austerities and sadhanas; if > one is not simple-minded, one cannot realize God. It is to these men of > simple faith that He manifests His real nature. " Again, lest anyone should > think one must be a simpleton to have sincere faith, he would say, " You > should become a devotee but why should you be foolish on that account? Always > discriminate in your mind between what is real and what is unreal, what is > eternal and what is transitory. And then give up what is transitory and fix > your mind on the eternal. " > > Unable to harmonize these two statements, some of us got scolded now and > again. Swami Yogananda had then not yet renounced the world. He required an > iron-pan for his house and went to Barabazar to buy one. He reminded the > shopkeeper of the evil consequences of irreligiousness and said, " Look here, > take the just price for the article, and give me a good thing; see that it > has no cracks or holes. " The shopkeeper in his return said, " Rest assured, > sir, I'll of course do that, " and chose for him a pan and gave it to him. He > believed in the words of the shopkeeper and brought it without examining it. > But, when he came to Dakshineswar (where the Master lived at that time), he > found that it was cracked! when the master heard of this, he said, " How is > that? How is it that you bought the article without examining it? The > shopkeeper is there to conduct his business, not to practice religion. Why > did you believe him and get deceived? You should no doubt be a devotee, but > not a fool on that account! Should you be deceived by people? First examine > whether the right thing has been given and then give the shopkeeper the > price. See that the article does not weigh less than it should, before you > receive it. Again, there are some articles for which it is customary for the > sellers to give a little more than the quantity stipulated. Never neglect to > take that extra quantity also. " Many such examples can be given Suffice it to > remark that the Master's extraordinary shrewdness coexisted with wonderful > simplicity. > > ------- > Sri Ramakrishna shows us that shrewdness must be in balance and coexistence > with each other. Basically, some devotees aren't shrewd in these matters > because either they think that it is not important to give attention to or > they are just lazy to do secular things. Laziness said and showed time and > again that laziness in any form is not spirituality. He himself was so > unbelievably meticulous as far as keeping everything in order and in its > proper place and keeping everything clean. Whenever the Master went anywhere > he would make sure the devotee gathered everything that would be required for > the night as well as other necessities and when leaving the place he would do > the same while many times the devotee would forget without Sri Ramakrishna's > reminder. Sri Ramakrishna urged his devotees: You should no doubt be a > devotee, but not a fool on that account! I think this is a very important > message. May we all assimilate it and practice it. > > Hari Om > -Om Lala > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > ONElist announces " FRIENDS & FAMILY! " > For details, including our weekly drawing, go to > /info/onereachsplash3.html > > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ -- ==================================== E-magazine on science and spirituality. Visit: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/1704/index.html http://members.xoom.com/drcsshah/neovedanta/index.html ==================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 1999 Report Share Posted August 3, 1999 Super recapitulation of the Master's delightful stories! Thanks! Vidya123 <Vidya123 ramakrishna <ramakrishna > Monday, August 02, 1999 10:58 PM [ramakrishna] Devotees should not be fools >Vidya123 > >NAMASTE > >Most people think that to be a devotee and to be simple means that you act >like a fool in secular situations. Sri Ramakrishna tells us that devotees >should not be so. The following is a very interesting story on how Sri >Ramakrishna taught Yogen, later known as Swami Yogananda, as well as other >disciples, a very important lesson concerning this: > >From SRI RAMAKRISHNA THE GREAT MASTER, pg. 647: It was from the Master that >we ( " we " and " us " are used throughout because the author was a disciple of >Sri Ramakrishna later known as Swami Saradananda to whom we are all grateful >for this book) heard for the first time, " My children, people become >simple-minded and liberal as the result of many austerities and sadhanas; if >one is not simple-minded, one cannot realize God. It is to these men of >simple faith that He manifests His real nature. " Again, lest anyone should >think one must be a simpleton to have sincere faith, he would say, " You >should become a devotee but why should you be foolish on that account? Always >discriminate in your mind between what is real and what is unreal, what is >eternal and what is transitory. And then give up what is transitory and fix >your mind on the eternal. " > >Unable to harmonize these two statements, some of us got scolded now and >again. Swami Yogananda had then not yet renounced the world. He required an >iron-pan for his house and went to Barabazar to buy one. He reminded the >shopkeeper of the evil consequences of irreligiousness and said, " Look here, >take the just price for the article, and give me a good thing; see that it >has no cracks or holes. " The shopkeeper in his return said, " Rest assured, >sir, I'll of course do that, " and chose for him a pan and gave it to him. He >believed in the words of the shopkeeper and brought it without examining it. >But, when he came to Dakshineswar (where the Master lived at that time), he >found that it was cracked! when the master heard of this, he said, " How is >that? How is it that you bought the article without examining it? The >shopkeeper is there to conduct his business, not to practice religion. Why >did you believe him and get deceived? You should no doubt be a devotee, but >not a fool on that account! Should you be deceived by people? First examine >whether the right thing has been given and then give the shopkeeper the >price. See that the article does not weigh less than it should, before you >receive it. Again, there are some articles for which it is customary for the >sellers to give a little more than the quantity stipulated. Never neglect to >take that extra quantity also. " Many such examples can be given Suffice it to >remark that the Master's extraordinary shrewdness coexisted with wonderful >simplicity. >--------- --- >------- >Sri Ramakrishna shows us that shrewdness must be in balance and coexistence >with each other. Basically, some devotees aren't shrewd in these matters >because either they think that it is not important to give attention to or >they are just lazy to do secular things. Laziness said and showed time and >again that laziness in any form is not spirituality. He himself was so >unbelievably meticulous as far as keeping everything in order and in its >proper place and keeping everything clean. Whenever the Master went anywhere >he would make sure the devotee gathered everything that would be required for >the night as well as other necessities and when leaving the place he would do >the same while many times the devotee would forget without Sri Ramakrishna's >reminder. Sri Ramakrishna urged his devotees: You should no doubt be a >devotee, but not a fool on that account! I think this is a very important >message. May we all assimilate it and practice it. > >Hari Om >-Om Lala > > >--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > >ONElist announces " FRIENDS & FAMILY! " >For details, including our weekly drawing, go to >/info/onereachsplash3.html > >------ >Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah >Vivekananda Centre London >http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 4, 1999 Report Share Posted August 4, 1999 This reminds me of Jesus's saying that we should be wise as serpents and innocent as lambs. Vidya123 wrote: > Vidya123 > > NAMASTE > > Most people think that to be a devotee and to be simple means that you act > like a fool in secular situations. Sri Ramakrishna tells us that devotees > should not be so. The following is a very interesting story on how Sri > Ramakrishna taught Yogen, later known as Swami Yogananda, as well as other > disciples, a very important lesson concerning this: > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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