Namaste,
Few days ago, I was reading an article from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna at http://shastrix.blogspot.com/2008/10/playing-in-3d-projection.html
It reads
“The cockroach becomes motionless by constantly meditating on the kumira worm; it loses the power to move. At last it is transformed into a kumira. Similarly, by constantly meditating on God the bhakta loses his ego; he realizes that God is he and he is God. When the cockroach becomes the kumira everything is achieved. Instantly one obtains liberation.”
—The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Chapter 36
The doubt is whether the original version (in Bengali) actually described the way it is written here and used the word "cockroach".
Again, on second thought, the entire thing looks upside down. Here cockroach meditates on worm. Whereas it should be opposite. The worm (i.e. pre-matured larva) always remembers the Bhamri (bramri) (fully-matured being) and becomes Bhamri (bramri) (fully matured being).
There is an explanation of Keet-Bramar-Nyaya is Shankaracharya's Vivekchoodamani
It says that a worm is constantly remembers of Bhamri (due to the fear of its bite and for food). By constantly remembering Bhamri, the worm, which was supposed to become a butterfly, becomes a bhamri.
I found an English version which says”
| "But a man realizes this only when his devotion to God has matured. One gets jaundice when too much bile accumulates. Then one sees everything as yellow. From constantly meditating on Krishna, Radhika saw everything as Krishna; moreover, she even felt that she herself had become Krishna. If a piece of lead is kept in a lake of mercury a long time, it turns into mercury. The cockroach becomes motionless by constantly meditating on the kumira worm; it loses the power to move. At last it is transformed into a kumira. Similarly, by constantly meditating on God the bhakta loses his ego; he realizes that God is he and he is God. When the cockroach becomes the kumira everything is achieved. Instantly one obtains liberation." |
So Shastriji has posted as given in the book. The only point is the doubt in translation.
I found the same paragraph in Gujarati version of Gospel.
It is in the page no 356 (3rd line from the top), Chapter 36.5 (i.e. Khand 36, Adhyaaya 5 - Katha at Girish's House), of Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita Vol 2. The gujarati Version is available in the set of 3 Vol.
I have the 3rd edition, March 1994, Translated by Swami Chaitanyaananda, published by Rajkot Ashram.
It says the same thing which I pointed out.
The worm (Kit) always remembers the bhamri (bramar) and becomes Bhamri.
The paragraph reads.
Sri Radhaji Meditated on Sri Krishna and she saw everything as Sri Krishna. The worm (Kit) always remembers the bhamri (bramar) and becomes Bhamri. A Bhakta by keep on meditating on God becomes God (Ishwara Swarupa).
This is the message which I think, Sri Ramakrishna wanted to teach us.
Since the original Version of Gospel was written in Bengali, I request readers to throw more light in this topic and clarify this issue.
Maybe it is the problem of english translation. I request readers who are aware of the original in Bengali to clarify the word used in it.
For your convenience, the quote comes in Chapter 36, The Master's Birthday, near the bottom of page 700.
| English Version of Gospel can be read online at http://www.kathamrita.org/KathamritaMain.htm or http://www.rkmhq.org/gospel/ – I prefer this link. Find (Ctrl F) cockroach and you will get the para. Bengali Version is also available at http://www.rkmhq.org/gospel/, the link for bengali version is on the Top Right corner. |
AUM
INDIASPIRITUALITY
6 comments:
Hari Om Ramakrishna,
Dear Aum,
Pranam,
I too have been trying to find out if a cockroach really metamorphoses into a "Kumira Worm".
In this connection let me tell you as to what I found out from the English translation of Akshay Sen's book on Thakur (not the punthi). The footnote, which explains this saying, goes to say that the wasps kill cockroach, drag the dead cockroach into their holes and use the dead body to hatch their eggs and when the wasps emerge from the holes people believe that the cockroach has become wasps. However, I do not think that Thakur was referring to wasps nor was He saying somethig which actually does not happen.
Please allow me to share the following two incidences from Gurumaharaj's life which you all would have come across:
Sanskrit grammar: Gurumaharaj did not know Sanskrit grammar - He had said this Himself. Once He had said that the essence of Gita is its found in the anagram of the word Gita itself, namely Tagi, renouncer. Now, everyone knows that the correct spelling of renouncer is Tyagi and not Tagi. Did Gurumaharj tell someting worng! No - as per the expert in Sanskrit grammar, Tyagi and Tgai are the same.
Special bird: Gurumaharaj used to give the example of a special bird which would drink only rain water and not water from any other source even if it dies of thirst. Once Swamiji saw some midget bats, which looked like the special bird Gurumaharj was talking about, drinking water from the pond (puddle of water or the river I do not remember). Later on He told Gurumaharaj that He saw those special birds drinking water which was not rain water in an accusing tone. Gurumaharj knew who Swamiji was and believed Him wholeheartedly. He was upset by the thought that if even one of the words He uttered turns out to be untrue then what is the gurantee that the rest are not untrue. When Swamiji visited Him next, He asked the latter to show what He had seen (i.e., the special bird drinking ordinary water). Swamiji took Him out and showed what He had seen. Gurumaharaj immediately identified those birds to be midget bats, not the special bird and started laughing saying "..rascal (SHALA) ..now on I would not trust what you say...)
I can not believe that what M recorded was not what Thakur had said.
I too need help but people discourage me by saying that I am counting the leaves instead of eating the mangoes
Jai Gurumaharaj Ji Ki Jai
Utpal Chakrabarty
Hari Om Ramakrishna,
Dear Aum,
Pranam,
There are four of Thakur's sayings in the gospel which I am trying to relate to their scientific basis. They are available in the attached three extracts from the Gospel:
1. Formation of Fossil
2. Metamorphosis of cockroach (which you are alraedy working on)
3. Transmutation of lead into mercury and
4. Formation of pearl
I am sure you all have come across them and will agree that it is amazing to see Thakur's power of observation and analysis.
I believe it is important to verify their scientific basis of each of Thakur's above sayings to reinforce the fact that whatever Thakur had uttered, spiritual or secular, are all true. I am looking for appropriate materials in the webs but could not find anything which directly confirm them.
I shall be grateful if someone can confirm if the following have been proven:
1. Fossil is formed by replacement of the chemicals of the corpse by those of the rock.
2. Does a cockroach actually metamorphoses into beetle by thinking of beetle (is Kumira insect a kind of beetle?).
3. Can the atomic structure of a metal change into that of another metal by being in contact with the other metal (which is not a chemical reaction per se)
4. Does the drop of water provide the irritation, which causes the pearl to form (as stated by Swamiji).
Jai Gurumaharaj Ji Ki Jai
Utpal Chakrabarty
Hari Om Ramakrishna,
Dear Aum
Pranam
This refers to the idea that only pre-matured organism can turn into fullymatured beings.
Thakur had also given the example of someone the length of whose tail bone had increased by meditating on Mahabeerji. As per Swami Saradanandaji, that "someone" was no one but Thakur Himself - at one stage He used to behave like a monkey.
Now - if one takes an analogy, in the stages of evolution human is certainly ahead of monkey but transformation was not stopped by meditation.
Also, it is said that Bharat Raja was born as a deer in his next birth.
Jai Gurumaharaj Ji Ki Jai
Utpal Chakrabarty
Namaste Utpalji,
Thank you for your comments. The reason for bringing this issue is that the entire meaning changes as i have mentioned.
Regarding doing the scientific research, i think that as one excels in spirituality, mind calms down. We are not encouraged to do any activity which increases our mental activity. Doing research increases the mental activity and later it disturbs the meditation and one leaves the japa and is involved in other thoughts. So, from spiritual standpoint, this is not a healthy sign. However, this does not mean that one should accept things blindly, but if you have faith in a saint or guru, then try to extract the essence or lakshyarth of the story and leave other things.
Even if chatak bird or such a natural phenomina does not exits, still if the message hidden in the story is useful for our spiritual progress, then we should accept it. I personally agree that Sri Ramakrishna did not gave a fanatic or imaginary example.
Hari Aum
INDIASPIRITUALITY
Regarding the physical change, it as you mention, intense meditation and complete surrender can bring physical changes. To believe this is left upto individual.
**I can not believe that what M recorded was not what Thakur had said.
There is no need to dis-hearten. M recorded word by word as Sri Ramakrishna said.
If you notice, there is no word "I" in the entire Gospel or Sri Ramkrishna Jivan charitra. I have not found any book which does not contain "I" or personal interpretations when a biography of a great saint is written.
M is completely hidden in the entire book - these are the words of Swami Vivekananda.
Entire Biography is written with Sri Ramakrishna in center.
Hari Aum
INDIASPIRITUALITY
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