In answer to a question of whether one must practice spiritual disciplines all one's life, Ramakrishna replied, "No. But one must be up and doing in the beginning. After that one need not work hard. The helmsman stands up and clutches the rudder firmly as long as the boat is passing though waves, storms, high wind or around the curve of a river; but he relaxes after steering through them. As soon as the boat passes the curves and the helmsman feels a favorable wind, he sits comfortably and just touches the rudder. Next he prepares to unfurl the sail and gets ready for a smoke. Likewise, the aspirant enjoys peace and calm after passing the storms of 'woman' [lust] and 'gold' [greed]."
Ah, truly. Freak flag unfurled and partaking of the holy smoke, I'd best keep my hands off rudders altogether.
"The mind of the yogi is always fixed on God, absorbed in the Self. You can recognize such a man by merely looking at him. His eyes are wide open with an aimless look, like the eyes of the mother bird hatching her eggs. Her entire mind is fixed on the eggs, and there is a vacant look in her eyes..."
Ramakrishna was uncanny in his ability to come up with perfect analogies, direct pointers, resonant images. A mother bird hatching her eggs means everything to the seeker who employs self-inquiry.
"Pointing to his body the Master said with a smile, 'just a pillow-case.'"
Ah, truly. Freak flag unfurled and partaking of the holy smoke, I'd best keep my hands off rudders altogether.
"The mind of the yogi is always fixed on God, absorbed in the Self. You can recognize such a man by merely looking at him. His eyes are wide open with an aimless look, like the eyes of the mother bird hatching her eggs. Her entire mind is fixed on the eggs, and there is a vacant look in her eyes..."
Ramakrishna was uncanny in his ability to come up with perfect analogies, direct pointers, resonant images. A mother bird hatching her eggs means everything to the seeker who employs self-inquiry.
"Pointing to his body the Master said with a smile, 'just a pillow-case.'"
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