Digest Number 1771

[Guest guest]

The following message came from Edith.

We had to edit out the tail end of the message.

Once again we remind our members not to re-post earlier

messages..................................jay

 

 

-

" Edith Tipple " <edtipple

<Ramakrishna >

Sunday, April 25, 2004 11:40

Re: [sri Ramakrishna] Digest Number 1771

 

 

Dear Jagannath,

 

Yes, my understanding is that we fear death and hold back at the last moment

because we are so attached to the mind and body. Therefore, our task in

life is to unattach ourselves so that we will go freely.

 

It sounds as though your near-death experience was a very great blessing in

that it instilled that spiritual yearning in you that is so important for

spiritual progress. And it is GOOD to hear that you are dissatisfied with

your spiritual progress. Swami Prabhavananda used to say often, " Be content

with externals -- but have Divine discontent! " It is not our surroundings

that are causing our lack of progress, but our lack of faith coupled with

lack of yearning. I remember in the 60's when then-Swami Ranganathananda

visited, someone asked him why we struggle and struggle and still do not

find God. He thought a minute and then said, " Well, I guess it's because

we're not desperate enough. " How simple! We must become absolutely

desperate -- as Ramakrishna's example of the guru holding the disciple's

head under water. Let your family bicker -- and put your mind in God

instead of in the bickering.

 

I absolutely disagree with you on two points. #1 that everyone should take

to monastic life and #2 that there is no point in trying to help

family-oriented persons. Point #1 -- there are different temperaments and

different karmas to be played out. Point #2 Thakur was speaking of worldly

people when he spoke of the camel continuing to chew thorns with a bleeding

tongue. Spiritual aspirants are not worldly people. What we must all do,

wherever we are -- monastic, family, unmarried but in the world -- is to put

our minds on God. Period, end of argument. Once you are bitten by the

cobra of the Lord, your karma must play itself out -- it is what you have

set up for yourself -- but you do not need to define yourself by it.

 

You must stop looking on yourself so negatively. I'd like to share what

Swami Vandanananda once said: " Never critizie another -- You have no idea

what growth is going on inside! The time in a person's life that he appears

most worldly and at spiritual loss, he may be growing faster than at any

other time. "

 

To your last remark, " This world is one lousy place for those who wish to

lead a spiritual life, " let me remind you of when someone asked Maharaj if

it was possible to realize God in the world. His answer: " Where else would

you do it? "

Best wishes, Jagannath,

Edith