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photo: COURTESY rAMAKRISHNA MUSEUM, BELUR mATH
stances, even when one has
to live with unfriendly or
hostile people. But for this
one needs inner strength
and an unshakable buddhi,
will or determination.
Regarding this
the Master once told
Vijay Goswami:
‘He who is a devotee of
God must have an understanding that cannot
be shaken under any conditions. He must be
like the anvil in a blacksmith’s shop. It is constantly
being struck by the hammer; still it
is unshaken. Bad people may abuse you very
much and speak ill of you; but you must bear
with them all if you sincerely seek God. Isn’t
it possible to think of God in the midst of the
wicked? ’ (560).
Sri Ramakrishna’s attitude towards wealth is
to be understood in the right perspective. It is
true that his mind had become so sensitive that
he could not touch money. But this does not
mean that he was against the earning of wealth
by householders. What he condemned was excessive
attachment to wealth. He said: ‘He alone is a
true man who has made money his servant. But
those who do not know the use of money are not
men even though they have human forms’ (637).
About the proper use of money Sri Ramakrishna
said: ‘Money enables a man to get food
and drink, build a house, worship the Deity, serve
devotees and holy men, and help the poor when
he happens to meet them. These are the good uses
of money. Money is not meant for luxuries or creature
comfort or for buying a position in society’
(285). In other words, money should be invested
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and used wisely, and should
not be wasted foolishly.
Sri Ramakrishna also
never approved of householders’
neglecting their
duties towards the
household life under
the pretext of leading
a spiritual life. He
Shirt made of flannel worn by Sri Ramakrishna
scolded some of the men
who came to stay at Dakshineswar leaving their
wives and children to the mercies of friends and
relatives.
Sri Ramakrishna spoke of two kinds of yoga
or means of attaining union with God: mano
yoga, which means mental disciplines such as
meditation, japa, and the like; and karma yoga,
which means performance of selfless work. He
has stated clearly: ‘If a householder or a man belonging
to the other stages of life performs action
without attachment, then he is united with
God through such action’ (388).
How does karma yoga bring about union
with God? Selfless work, niṣkāma-karma, purifies
the mind, and in the purified mind dawns
love for God, which leads to God realization.
However, Sri Ramakrishna has pointed out that
it is very difficult to do work selflessly.
The above discussion shows how Sri Ramakrishna
has harmonized spiritual life with the fulfilment
of the duties of life and social obligations.
It is possible to lead a completely God-centred life
even while living in society as an active member of
it and convert one’s whole life into an undivided
consecration to God. This aspect of Sri Ramakrishna’s
life and teachings was fully manifested
in the life of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.
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