Digest 478: Ramakrishna's Disciples

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>Reply to Message: 1

> Thu Jun 22 13:06:19 2000

>jaguarxox

>Ramakrishna's Disciples

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I am sure you must have read the book " They Lived with God " by Swami

Chetananda. Life stories of 28 lay devotees is given there.

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Love and faith in God develops gradually. Interest in various aspects of

God or in the life of a man of God and his spiritual teachings is a sure

sign that faith has entered the heart of the person. All the disciples

of Sri Ramakrishna showed this welcome tendency in their lives. They

were restless to visit him and listen to his devotional songs and words

of wisdom. With one hand they got hold of the pillar of God and with the

other they were happy to carry out worldly and family duties. Sri

Ramakrishna was such an unshakable support that fear had left their

heart.

 

We feel insecure and are worried about the trials and tribulations in

life. Everyone experiences stress, frustration, estrangement, grief and

despair. To face such predicaments one needs to acquire value of

contentment and forbearance. We see this in the lives of these devotees.

Moreover, they had surrendered themselves to the will of their spiritual

guide. It is a question of shraddha, which Swami Vivekananda defined as

faith in the teaching of the Teacher and consequent desire to practice

it. When we realize through self-experience, or through the experiences

of others, that money and fame, intellectual and other privileges are

inadequate to free us from the suffering and tragedies of life a

definite ray of hope shines through the lives of these disciples for us

to find the way.

 

Today the impact of these householder disciples is distinctly visible in

the form of personal spiritual practices many followers undertake to

seek spiritual fulfillment. Moreover, it stimulates many devotees to

take active part in various activities of the Mission. The shining

example of 'caretakers of Sri Ramakrishna' is alive in the hearts of

many followers to put money at the holy feet of Monks and Mission. To

some extent, the vast expenditure required for running schools,

colleges, and dispensaries, undertaking relief works in the event of

natural calamities, and constructing temples and guest houses is met

with the sacrifices and generosity of the devotees.

 

As you move ten feet towards the blissful abode of God, you are twenty

feet away from the stressful world. As you take one step towards Him, He

is sure to take ten steps towards you. This is the message the

householder disciples of Sri Ramakrishna have left for us. It will

benefit us if we read, ponder, and assimilate the same.

 

c s shah

 

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