Guest guest Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 Dear Hari Your question about the contradictory messages from our mentors is an important one. Quite often we all feel confused. For example we get 'repeat the name of God. Only when you succeed in finding him, can you do any good to the world.' And then we hear 'if you seek your own salvation you will go to hell; instead devote this life for the benefit of others. Who was the message directed to? The resolution lies in understanding the context in which these messages were given. However grand may be our mentors; every time they opened their mouths they were entering the realm of the relative, the realm of the context and as such their messages must be viewed in context. Let me elaborate. A visitor may come to Sri Ramakrishna and boast of all the marvellous charity work he is proposing. The master would look in his heart and see such boasts as extension of his ego and hence would rebuke him and say in slightly different words, 'until your heart has been purified and touched by God you cannot really do any good except become even more arrogant.' So he would ask him to find God first before talking about charity. Let us take a different example, a young disciple of Swamiji might complain and ask why should we do all these philanthropic work, surely first we must meditate and realise God.' Quick as a flash Swamiji would read his heart, and know that it was not some strong desire to experience God, but downright laziness that was responsible for such comments and would come down hard on him telling him to put his back in his work and forget thoughts of salvation. In Sri Ramakrishna's life we see him offering exactly opposite instructions to two of his disciples. To one who had not stood up to defend him, he rebuked, "if anyone slanders your guru you must take a robust stand and not be silent." To another disciple who was about to sink a boat because his guru was slandered he said, control yourself and do not become too agitated by the comments of ignorant people." Both these disciples had different weaknesses, and the real guru knew which prescription would suit them best. jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 Dear Jay, Excellent explanation which strikes me as being undoubtedly true. Thank you! But still the earnest question remains - as an aspirant, which of the two are we supposed to follow then? Work after realisation or work before realisation? Cheers, Sudheesh > Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:59 pm (PST) > > > Dear Hari > >Your question about the contradictory messages from our mentors is an >important one. > >Quite often we all feel confused. > > > >For example we get 'repeat the name of God. Only when you succeed in >finding him, can you do any good to the world.' And then we hear 'if you >seek your own salvation you will go to hell; instead devote this life for >the benefit of others. >Who was the message directed to? > >The resolution lies in understanding the context in which these messages >were given. However grand may be our mentors; every time they opened their >mouths they were entering the realm of the relative, the realm of the >context and as such their messages must be viewed in context _______________ Block pop-up ads with MSN Toolbar. http://toolbar.msn.com.my/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 Namaste, Both. As long as you are, then you must act. When you are realization there is no action of 'you'. Love, Bob Rose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2006 Report Share Posted November 29, 2006 Hi Sudheesh, Namaste. Most of us face this question. Raja Maharaj and Mahapurush Maharaj (direct disciples of Thakur) have emphasized (for aspirants like us) that both should go hand in hand. Be regular and sincere in the sadhana; do the daily work in a spirit of service/worship. Senior most monks of our Ramakrishna Order say – first, work for realization [this includes doing the mundane tasks too but in a spirit of service/worship]. They also say – our goal must be realization; initially work will be a tool to achieve the goal and in the end difference between work and worship will not be there. So both aspects - Work after realisation and work before realization – both are valid and necessary [at different points of time]. Regards, Uday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 A person cannot help doing work for very life depends on it. Before Realization, his work if slefless in a spirit of service to God purifies his inner self, which is a must for realization. As doing puja and other sadhnas are done to purify the mind so also selfless service as puja of God also purifies. After realization, he does work again as service of God for he sees God in everyone! A similar question was asked from Holy Mother (consort of Sri Ramakrishna) and she said no one can sit and do puja or meditation all the time. Therefore work is a must, then why not do it as aservice to God and His creation. That too will lead you to Realization. RegardsChetan Merani Access over 1 million songs - Music Unlimited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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