Vijay: "How can one see God?"
Sri Ramakrishna: "One cannot see God without purity of heart. Through attach meant to 'woman and gold' the mind has become stained - covered with dirt, as it were. A magnet cannot attract a needle if the needle is covered with mud. Wash away the mud and the magnet will draw it. Likewise, the dirt of the mind can be washed away with the tears of our eyes. This stain is removed if one sheds tears of repentance and says, 'O God, I shall never again do such a thing.' Thereupon God, who is like the magnet, draws to Himself the mind, which is like the needle. Then the devotee goes into samadhi and obtains the vision of God.
"You may try thousands of times, but nothing can be achieved without God's grace. One cannot see God without His grace. Is it an easy thing to receive the grace of God? One must altogether renounce egotism; one cannot see God as long as one feels, 'I am the doer.' Suppose, in a family, a man has taken charge of the store-room; then if someone asks the master, 'Sir, will you yourself kindly give me something from the store-room?', the master says to him: 'There is already someone in the store-room. What can I do there?'
"God doesn't easily appear in the heart of a man who feels himself to be his own master. But God can be seen the moment His grace descends. He is the Sun of Knowledge. One single ray of His has illumined the world with the light of knowledge. That is how we are able to see one another and acquire varied knowledge. One can see God only if He turns His light toward His own face.
"The police sergeant goes his rounds in the dark of night with a lantern (A reference to the lantern carried by the night-watch, which has dark glass on three sides.) in his hand. No one sees his face; but with the help of that light the sergeant sees everybody's face, and others, too, can see one another. If you want to see the sergeant, however, you must pray to him: 'Sir, please turn the light on your own face. Let me see you.' In the same way one must pray to God: 'O Lord, be gracious and turn the light of knowledge on Thyself, that I may see Thy face.'
"A house without light indicates poverty. So one must light the lamp of Knowledge in one's heart. As it is said in a song:
Lighting the lamp of Knowledge in the chamber of your heart,
Behold the face of the Mother, Brahman's Embodiment."
Source: Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
3 comments:
sir how can a family head go without doing his duties to wife and children,if woman and gold are considered as dirt what is the situation of wife? please explain how in a marriage can we get gods grace-please explain sir this will helps us to know better about marriage and god,i will be thankful if you give us your answer
Namaste,
Some statements are there for vairagis. Same question was asked by a Brahma Samaj devotee. Sri Ramakrishna said that for a family man, while doing his work, keep one hand in work and other hand in God. After the work is over, keep both hands in God.
So, before doing any work, just remember God and if the work is mechanical, try to chant mantra of any God you like. If it is not possible, just carry on the work. The intention should be to Earn for living and not live for earning. Then one can live a satisfied life, even if he/she is not a crorepati (millionaire).
What ever is compulsory, had to be done. But some things are optional, like watching TV serials, etc. Such things should be substituted with satvik work like reading of scriptures, listening of divine songs like bhajans or chants or hymms of God or do some service. Dedicating some time (45 minutes or atleast 20 minutes) daily is very benificial.
Wife, who is not interfering in your spiritual progress, does not harm much.
(Mental or Physical) Renunciation of wife and home are necessary for an advanced meditator, who by intense meditation and by merits of past birth can easily understand the essence of scriptures and mindset is such that it does not want anything other than the vision of God or Self Realization. He can meditate for long hours. He does not even care of his own body. Everybody cannot have this burning desire for liberation. So 5 things should be balanced for a family head.
1. Work
2. Sex - occasional
3. Rest
4. Enjoyment
5. Meditation or better spirituality
As far as responsibility is concerned, support and do best for children until they are independent. Then reduce your interference upon them and let them take their decisions. Take care of wife's needs and demands except that they hinder your spiritual progress. Attend discourses and lectures conducted by spiritual organizations like Ramakrishna Matt or Chinmaya Mission to 'charge' yourself. Donation of some money whole-heartedly every month is also benificial. It is best if you donate 1/3 of your monthly income. If you cannot, try to donate 10 % or atleast 5%. Try to be in touch with Ashrams and monks. Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, Sri Ramanashram, Parmarth Niketan, Swami Chinmaya Mission are some which I have faith in them. Try to read or listen shastras in your mother tongue if available.
Karma Kand is for inner purification. It is to increase Satva Guna.
Hope this helps.
Hari Aum
Regarding 'women and gold' please read the article titled 'Interpretation of 'Women and Gold' in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna'
The link is already given in the article.
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