Guest guest Posted August 25, 1999 Report Share Posted August 25, 1999 Dear friends, Sri Ramakrishna used to say: 'Suppose you receive a letter from your friend with the request to send him-- two articles of clothing, one pair of shoes, some utensils, a few of this and a few of that--, what do you do? You carefully read the letter, fold it, and keep it in your pocket. Then you start for the market to procure the items mentioned in the letter. Then only you will be able to finish the allotted responsibility. It will be of no use if you continue to read and re-read the letter, brood over it, but do not venture outside to the market to get the items needed.' Every person receives different letter and so everyone's actions initially may appear different; the other person would appear to procure different items from what you are trying to obtain! But if one goes on brooding on these differences, he will fail to get what he wants. We will be entangled in the web of confusion and inactivity. Let others work according to the message of their conscience, you work according to your faith and convictions. Initially one may see a tremendous divergence in each other's activity, but in the long run, one realizes that all the various items collected are for the same friend -The God. Hence, every true seeker of God initially may appear to go on different path, only to be present with you as the goal is neared! Everyone's labour is going to bear the same fruit. Dr c s shah -- ==================================== 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 26, 1999 Report Share Posted August 26, 1999 Dear Dr. S, Thank you! Especially after some of the email wars, we so need to hear this! Sometimes I envision a picture to illustrate this. I think it came from a friend a long time ago who was describing husband and wife growing together in God, but it applies to all: a triangle, and at the pinnacle is God. the 2 sides seem far apart at the bottom, but as one nears God/Absolute, they become closer and closer as the sides of the triangle converge. * /\ / \ / \ / \ / \ ------------- I always liked this image. one can add as many lines as one wants for many faiths. Also, though jnana and bhakti appear to be miles apart in approach, it has seemed to me in meditation that one would be unable to pierce through (something, words are failing me here) without a union of both jnana and bhakti -- the will of the heart of bhakti plus the sharp scalpel of jnana. they appear so different at the bottom of the triangle, but converge each lending its special energy as one climbs The Mountains you were writing of! -- Karen Westend Ashram http://home.earthlink.net/~urbanashram Dr C S Shah wrote: > Dr C S Shah <drcssha > > Dear friends, > > Sri Ramakrishna used to say: > 'Suppose you receive a letter from your friend with the request to send > him-- two articles of clothing, one pair of shoes, some utensils, a few > of this and a few of that--, what do you do? You carefully read the > letter, fold it, and keep it in your pocket. Then you start for the > market to procure the items mentioned in the letter. Then only you will > be able to finish the allotted responsibility. > It will be of no use if you continue to read and re-read the letter, > brood over it, but do not venture outside to the market to get the items > needed.' > > Every person receives different letter and so everyone's actions > initially may appear different; the other person would appear to procure > different items from what you are trying to obtain! > > But if one goes on brooding on these differences, he will fail to > get what he wants. We will be entangled in the web of confusion and > inactivity. Let others work according to the message of their > conscience, you work according to your faith and convictions. > > Initially one may see a tremendous divergence in each other's > activity, but in the long run, one realizes that all the various items > collected are for the same friend -The God. Hence, every true seeker of > God initially may appear to go on different path, only to be present > with you as the goal is neared! Everyone's labour is going to > bear the same fruit. > > Dr c s shah > -- > ==================================== > E-magazine on science and spirituality. Visit: > http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/1704/index.html > http://members.xoom.com/drcsshah/neovedanta/index.html > ==================================== > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > ONElist: your connection to online communities. > > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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