It is the mind that makes one wise or ignorant, bound or emancipated. Ramakrishna More Quotes by Ramakrishna More Quotes From Ramakrishna Live in the world like a waterfowl. The water clings to the bird, but the bird shakes it off. Live in the world like a mudfish. The fish lives in the mud, but its skin is always bright and shiny. Ramakrishna skinsbirdwater Take the case of the infinite ocean. There is no limit to its water. Suppose a pot is immersed in it: there is water both inside and outside the pot. The jnani sees that both inside and outside there is nothing but Paramatman. Then what is this pot? It is 'I-consciousness'. Because of the pot the water appears to be divided into two parts; because of the pot you seem to perceive an inside and an outside. One feels that way as long as this pot of 'I' exists. When the 'I' disappears, what is remains. That cannot be described in words. Ramakrishna oceantwolong Too much study of the scriptures does more harm than good. The important thing is to know the essence of the scriptures. After that, what is the need of books? One should learn the essence and then dive deep in order to realize God. Ramakrishna learninggodbook The magnetic needle always points to the north, and hence it is that sailing vessel does not lose her direction. So long as the heart of man is directed towards God, he cannot be lost in the ocean of worldliness. Ramakrishna oceanheartmen One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God. Ramakrishna realizingtelling-the-truthgod The truth is that you cannot attain God if you have even a trace of desire. Subtle is the way of dharma. If you are trying to thread a needle, you will not succeed if the thread has even a slight fiber sticking out. Ramakrishna desiretryingway Pray to God that your attachment to such transitory things as wealth, name, and creature comforts may become less and less every day. Ramakrishna attachmentnamescomfort A bath in Ganges undoubtedly absolves one of all sins; but what does that avail? They say that the sins perch on trees along the banks of the Ganges. No sooner does the man come back from the holy waters that the old sins jump on his shoulders from the trees. The same old sins take possession of him again. He is hardly out of the waters before they fall upon him. Ramakrishna watermenfall Do yourself what you wish others to do. Ramakrishna wish Common men talk bagfuls of religion but do not practise even a grain of it. The wise man speaks a little, even though his whole life is religion expressed in action. Ramakrishna wiselittlesmen When the divine vision is attained, all appear equal; and there remains no distinction of good and bad, or of high and low. Ramakrishna visiondivinelows God can be realized through all paths. All religions are true. The important thing is to reach the roof. You can reach it by stone stairs or by wooden stairs or by bamboo steps or by a rope. You can also climb up by a bamboo pole. Ramakrishna bambooropeimportant The winds of God's grace are always blowing, it is for us to raise our sails. Ramakrishna gracewindinspirational An ocean of bliss may rain down from the heavens, but if you hold up only a thimble, that is all you receive Ramakrishna oceanrainheaven If you desire to be pure, have firm faith, and slowly go on with your devotional practices without wasting your energy in useless scriptural discussions and arguments. Your little brain will otherwise be muddled. Ramakrishna practicedesirebrain Unless one always speaks the truth, one cannot find God Who is the soul of truth. Ramakrishna speak-the-truthspeaksoul Little children play with dolls in the outer room just as they like, without any care of fear or restraint; but as soon as their mother comes in, they throw aside their dolls and run to her crying, "Mamma, mamma." You too, are now playing in this material world, infatuated with the dolls of wealth, honour, fame, etc., If however, you once see your Divine Mother, you will not afterwards find pleasure in all these. Throwing them all aside, you will run to her. Ramakrishna motherrunningchildren If you spent one-tenth of the time you devoted to distractions like chasing women or making money to spiritual practice, you would be enlightened in a few years. Ramakrishna practicespiritualyears One should not think, 'My religion alone is the right path and other religions are false.' God can be realized by means of all paths. It is enough to have sincere yearning for God. Infinite are the paths and infinite are the opinions. Ramakrishna meanreligionthinking Great men have the nature of a child. Ramakrishna greatnessmenchildren
