Sri Ramakrishna Teachings on realization of Impersonal God

[Guest guest]

Question : " Sir, is there no spiritual discipline leading to realization of the

Impersonal God? "

 

Sri Ramakrishna : " Yes, there is. But the path is extremely difficult. After

intense austerities the rishis of olden times realized God as their innermost

consciousness and experienced the real nature of Brahman. But how hard they had

to work! They went out of their dwellings in the early morning and all day

practised austerities and meditation. Returning home at nightfall, they took a

light supper of fruit and roots.

 

" But an aspirant cannot succeed in this form of spiritual discipline if his mind

is stained with worldliness even in the slightest degree. The mind must withdraw

totally from all objects of form, taste, smell, touch, and sound. Only thus does

it become pure. The Pure Mind is the same as the Pure Atman. But such a mind

must be altogether free from 'woman and gold'. When it becomes pure, one has

another experience. One realizes: 'God alone is the Doer, and I am His

instrument.' One does not feel oneself to be absolutely necessary to others

either in their misery or in their happiness.

 

" Once a wicked man beat into unconsciousness a monk who lived in a

monastery. On regaining consciousness he was asked by his friends, 'Who is

feeding you milk?' The monk said, 'He who beat me is now feeding me.' "

 

M : " Yes, sir. I know that story. "

 

Sri Ramakrishna : " It is not enough to know it. One must assimilate its meaning.

It is the thought of worldly objects that prevents the mind from going into

samadhi. One becomes established in samadhi when one is completely rid of

worldliness. It is possible for me to give up the body in samadhi; but I have a

slight desire to enjoy the love of God and the company of His devotees.

Therefore I pay a little attention to my body.

 

" There is another kind of samadhi, called unmana samadhi. One attains it by

suddenly gathering the dispersed mind. You understand what that is, don't you? "

 

--

Om namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prashant Jalasutram