Siddha of Siddhas

[Guest guest]

Earlier post from Kendra asking about 'Siddha of Siddhas....

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" Kendra Crossen Burroughs " <kcburroughs

 

Could someone say something more about the distinction between the siddha

and

the " siddha of the siddha " (see Gospel passage below)? In English one cannot

properly speak of *degrees* of perfection--one is either perfect or not. In

what

way is the siddha of the siddha " more perfect " than the siddha?

 

<< " There is another type, known as the siddha of the siddha, the 'supremely

perfect'. It is quite a different thing when one talks to the master

intimately,

when one knows God very intimately through love and devotion. A siddha has

undoubtedly attained God, but the 'supremely perfect' has known God very

intimately. " >> (p. 114)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~response~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

" In English one cannot properly speak of *degrees* of

perfection--one is either perfect or not "

 

Technically in English (or in any other language)

the moment we assign the word 'perfection' to describe anything;

we have already imposed a 'degree' to it. This happens

due to the limitations of tools, perceptions or even definitions

(however pristine they might be) we have imposed or are

forced to impose on anything.

So 'something is perfect' is a contradiction. A 'degree'

enters into the discussion without waiting for our permission : )

 

Hence the superlative Sri Ramakrishna is using like

'Siddha of Siddhas' is talking about a greater 'degree'

of intimacy. Only a God man of his stature can pass such

remarks - it is beyond me to try and explain levels of

intimacy with God! But there is no contradiction in what he is saying.

 

We have to use utmost caution when we attempt to analyse

the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna.

Please bear in mind everything Sri Ramakrishna taught was

in context. The advice he gave to any individual or any group was

tailor-made. Hence we have to be careful when we read

the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. In fact in some instances

one gets clearer insights into his teachings by studying

'The Great Master' written by Swami Sharadananda. In this

book Swami Shardananda has attempted to interpret the

life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna (no easy task but

the disciple has done justice to his Master).

 

jay Vivekananda Centre London

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Another way of interpreting the phrase 'siddha of siddhas' is

in the context of achieving the 'siddhis' [perfection] through many

different paths. As Sri Aurobindo remarked about Thakur, for most of

us we may achieve the goal in one life-time by pursuing one single

method; Ramakrishna pursued as many as ? 16 [ref. 16 disciples] and

reached siddhahood in each! Thakur himself said, 'if you follow just

one-sixteenth of my sadhana you will reach your goal'. [the 16

he referred to, was also to the number of 'annas' that made up the

basic monetary unit 'rupee' at that time!]

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramakrishna, " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda@b...>

wrote:

>

> Earlier post from Kendra asking about 'Siddha of Siddhas....

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>