Sunday, June 22, 2008

Four classes of men - Sri Ramakrishna

"It is said that there are four classes of human beings: the bound, those aspiring after liberation, the liberated, and the ever-perfect.
 
Parable of the fish and the net

"This world is like a fishing-net. Men are the fish, and God, whose maya has created this world, is the fisherman. When the fish are entangled in the net, some of them try to tear through its meshes in order to get their liberation. They are like the men striving after liberation. But by no means all of them escape. Only a few jump out of the net with a loud splash, and then people say, 'Ah! There goes a big one!' In like manner, three or four men attain liberation. Again, some fish are so careful by nature that they are never caught in the net; some beings of the ever-perfect class, like Narada, are never entangled in the meshes of worldliness. Most of the fish are trapped; but they are not conscious of the net and of their imminent death. No sooner are they entangled than they run headlong, net and all, trying to hide themselves in the mud. They don't make the least effort to get free. On the contrary, they go deeper and deeper into the mud. These fish are like the bound men. They are still inside the net, but they think they are quite safe there. A bound creature is immersed in worldliness, in 'woman and gold', having gone deep into the mire of degradation. But still he believes he is quite happy and secure. The liberated, and the seekers after liberation, look on the world as a deep well. They do not enjoy it. Therefore, after the attainment of Knowledge, the realization of God, some give up their bodies. But such a thing is rare indeed.


Source: Sri Ramakrishna Jivan Charitra (Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna) by M

http://www.belurmath.org/gospel/index.htm
Chapter 7

2 comments:

Mohan said...

The words of Sri Ramakrishna always provide solace to the ever thirsty soul, though it may hurt for some(worldly men) in the beginning.

INDIASPIRITUALITY said...

Dear Mohanji,

Thank you for reading my blog. I always apprciate the comments.
You are right. We should look spirituality from Spiritual standpoint and not from worldly standpoint. In fact i was planning a post related to this topic.

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