[ramakrishna] Digest 478: Ramakrishna's Disciples

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Why did these devotees visit Sri Ramakrishna again and again? It was because they found something there that they have long been looking for. Here was a freshness of viewpoints that Sri Ramakrishna provided, which allowed them to comprehend their own experiences better.

 

What is religion but an investigation into life? That is the dynamic view of religion. One stops and becomes mechanical when that investigation becomes frustrated.

 

Sri Ramakrishna could remove blocks to those personal investigations which were not getting anywhere. He could, therefore, make the minds of the devotees soar forward and upwards. Notes taken by the devotees may capture some of the personality of Sri Ramakrishna, but they can never capture the spiritually charged atmosphere around him. That is something I can only imagine.

 

 

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c s shah

Ramakrishna

Friday, June 23, 2000 11:18 PM

[ramakrishna] Digest 478: Ramakrishna's Disciples

>Reply to Message: 1 > Thu Jun 22 13:06:19 2000 >jaguarxoxRamakrishna's Disciples================I am sure you must have read the book "They Lived with God" by SwamiChetananda. Life stories of 28 lay devotees is given there.*Love and faith in God develops gradually. Interest in various aspects ofGod or in the life of a man of God and his spiritual teachings is a suresign that faith has entered the heart of the person. All the disciplesof Sri Ramakrishna showed this welcome tendency in their lives. Theywere restless to visit him and listen to his devotional songs and wordsof wisdom. With one hand they got hold of the pillar of God and with theother they were happy to carry out worldly and family duties. SriRamakrishna was such an unshakable support that fear had left theirheart.We feel insecure and are worried about the trials and tribulations inlife. Everyone experiences stress, frustration, estrangement, grief anddespair. To face such predicaments one needs to acquire value ofcontentment and forbearance. We see this in the lives of these devotees.Moreover, they had surrendered themselves to the will of their spiritualguide. It is a question of shraddha, which Swami Vivekananda defined asfaith in the teaching of the Teacher and consequent desire to practiceit. When we realize through self-experience, or through the experiencesof others, that money and fame, intellectual and other privileges areinadequate to free us from the suffering and tragedies of life adefinite ray of hope shines through the lives of these disciples for usto find the way.Today the impact of these householder disciples is distinctly visible inthe form of personal spiritual practices many followers undertake toseek spiritual fulfillment. Moreover, it stimulates many devotees totake active part in various activities of the Mission. The shiningexample of 'caretakers of Sri Ramakrishna' is alive in the hearts ofmany followers to put money at the holy feet of Monks and Mission. Tosome extent, the vast expenditure required for running schools,colleges, and dispensaries, undertaking relief works in the event ofnatural calamities, and constructing temples and guest houses is metwith the sacrifices and generosity of the devotees.As you move ten feet towards the blissful abode of God, you are twentyfeet away from the stressful world. As you take one step towards Him, Heis sure to take ten steps towards you. This is the message thehouseholder disciples of Sri Ramakrishna have left for us. It willbenefit us if we read, ponder, and assimilate the same.c s shah-- ======================E-magazine on Vedanta and Science. Do Visit:http://www.geocities.com/neovedanta======================Sri Ramakrishnaye NamahVivekananda Centre Londonhttp://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/