The Five Commandments of Sri Ramakrishna

[Guest guest]

Extract from Swami Dayatmananda's article.

 

M. (humbly): " Yes, sir. How, sir, may we fix our minds on God? "

 

Master:

 

(1) " Repeat God's name and sing His glories, and

 

(2) keep holy company; and now and then visit God's devotees and

holy men. The mind cannot dwell on God if it is immersed day and

night in worldliness, in worldly duties and responsibilities;

 

(3) it is most necessary to go into solitude now and then and think

of God. To fix the mind on God is very difficult, in the beginning,

unless one practises meditation in solitude. When a tree is young it

should be fenced all around; otherwise it may be destroyed by

cattle.

 

" To meditate, you should withdraw within yourself or retire to a

secluded corner or to the forest.

 

(4) And you should always discriminate between the Real and the

unreal. God alone is real, the Eternal Substance; all else is

unreal, that is, impermanent. By discriminating thus, one should

shake off impermanent objects from the mind. "

 

M. (humbly): " How ought we to live in the world? "

 

Master: (5) " Do all your duties, but keep your mind on God. Live

with all with wife and children, father and mother and serve them.

Treat them as if they were very dear to you, but know in your heart

of hearts that they do not belong to you. "

 

On his second visit M. received the above five commandments from Sri

Ramakrishna. M. practised them to perfection all his life and taught

them to devotees who used to visit him.

 

These five commandments are of supreme importance for those who wish

to progress in spiritual life. All aspirants, especially the

devotees of Sri Ramakrishna, must remember and assess their

spiritual progress in the light of these commandments. If followed

faithfully they are sure to lead to the highest realisation. To the

extent the devotees are able to practise them, to that extent they

are progressing in the realm of God.