tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41615190823494314992023-11-15T07:04:05.196-08:00RAMAKRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA ybybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-91214894611180597622019-08-07T10:22:00.001-07:002019-08-09T17:40:16.192-07:00022 REPLIES TO COMMENTS OF SHRI TOMFIRE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />Replies to the comments of Shri Tomfire, who has observed as under. I have seen the comments only today. Hence the delayed response. My apologies for replying after nearly three years.
<br /><br /><blockquote>
tomfire said...
<br /><Br /> there are monastaries since times immemorial..... we can find the references in ramayana and upanishats.........some sanyasins prefer roaming.and others staying in the maths........there is no problem with it..........shoes to make no difference in ones character........can u show one unambiguous statement by the swamiji claiming that he is a paramahansa......ramakrishna paramahamsa is not a sanyasin.......he may wear anything that was gifted......so shut ur mouth
<br /><br /> November 25, 2016 at 3:57 AM
<br /><br />tomfire said...
<br /><br /> shoes do not make any difference but sexual abuses make......."Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church" search this in google............
<br /><br /> November 25, 2016 at 4:02 AM
</blockquote>
<br /><br /><h4>REPLIES</h4>
<br />1. To clear the clouds, clarification: I am not a Christian Missionary. Nor am I a Muslim Cleric or Mullah. I am not paid by them.
<br /><br />I am a born Hindu. I have not left Hinduism.
<br /><br />I have due respects to Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his disciple Swami Vivekananda.
<br /><br />Today some Governments take that whoever criticises them is anti-National or a Terrorist. Similarly, a person who criticizes Hinduism within reasonable limits, need not be treated anti-Hindu.
<br /><br />It is meaningful for Hindus to be worried about indiscriminate conversions which are taking place in India by misleading propaganda, and by offering inducements using funds received from EURACANZ (Europe, America, Canada Australia, and New Zealand) , and Gulf countries particularly from Saudi Arabia. For that solution is definitely not-- hating domestic non-Hindus. The Government of India and the State Governments have to make suitable laws for preventing misleading propaganda and inducement conversions, and enforce them. The Governments have to nearly ban Foreign Contributions and Donations to convert Indians.
<br /><br />We must keep in mind that the Ancestors of INdian Muslims and Christians were Hindus only , in the meaning of people who were following the diverging living styles prevalent in Ganga-Indus-Brahmaputa-Narmada-Tapti-Krishna-Godavari-Kaveri River Basins from 1000AD to 1947AD. Why the ancestors of present Indian Christians and Muslims shifted to other Religions? 1. Owing to oppressions and repressions which went on in Hinduism 2. Use of violence by Turkish, Persian, Arab, Mongolian Invaders. 3. Encouragement given by European Colonialists to Christian Missionaries. While these are historical facts, it does not mean that we (existing HIndus) and those whose ancestors converted, should live hating one another forever. Mutual Hatred will be destructive to both. Mutual Hatred and Recriminations, will lead to eternal condemnation of all Indians to Hell. National Resurrection is possible, by reforms in all the INdian Religions and Life Styles (cultures).
<br /><br />To continue
<br />Continuing on 9th August 2019:
<br /><h4>About wearing of Shoes by Paramahamsa Monks</h4>.
<br /><br />I have not written about Shri Ramakrishna as an ordinary monk. I wrote about him, as a highly revered Paramahamsa Monk (Paramahamsa=Great Swan.). Swans are "hamsa-s" in Sanskrit. Then I am referring to a person who did not worry about his hair, when he swept the floors in Dakshineswar Temple. A person who sweeps Temple Premises with his hair, gives us an impression that he will not bother about his body's comforts or its physical appearance. Similarly Shri Ramakrishna was not an ordinary man. He shudders at Gold, silver and money. He gets "disturbed, agitated" when a coin is placed under his bedsheets. That means "Extreme vairAgya" is displayed. Shoes will be inconsistent with this "Extreme vairagya".
<br /><br />Most-important: I am a householder. I am not a "VirAgi". Please do not expect the behavior of a "VirAgi" from me. My concern, is that, Packing, Labels, Samples, and the Product Inside should have harmony (we call Sriti, laya in music) vis-a-vis one another.
<br /><br />Shri Ramakrishna's mingling with Wealthy persons of Kolkata seemed to have influenced him to accept comforts and luxuries consciously. For this reason only, he seems to have guided his main- disciples to ask the householders to pay horse-carriage charges from Dakshineswar to Kolkata, whenever he visited the Rich Devotees' Homes for discourses and kirtans. For this reason only, it appears that he did not object to one of his disciples hiring a big House in Kashipur, Kolkata @ Rs.65/- per month (seems to be high for the 1880-1890 India's prices) for his stay during his medical treatment. Thus, Gods, Godpersons, Temples, Monks become the servants of Wealth Devotees.
<br /><br /><h4>There must be harmony between Packing, Labels, Samples, and the inner Product</h4>.
<br />Packing refers to dress, such as clothes, shoes, forehead-marks, garlands of beads.
To continue, as I have an interruption.
<br /></div>
ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-52923045799011007372014-08-08T14:42:00.003-07:002014-08-08T14:47:06.860-07:00021 Replies to comments of Sam
Topics for discussion: 021, Replies to Comments, Safety of fish, Safety of goats, Swami Vivekananda
<blockquote>
Sam has left a new comment on your post "#010 WHERE IS THE SAFETY FOR FISH AND GOATS?":
<br><br>To know the quality of the tree, look at its fruits. The world shaker of their times, Swami Vivekananda would not have been possible without the Ramakrishna you all mock about. Today, the world acknowledges that you are even equal to human being is because of the efforts of those great souls.
<br><br>Therefore, instead of taking a narrow view on anything ( although I am very sure that your knowledge is limited by your ego deluded by your restless senses), I suggest you analyse the nature of seeds that bring forth fruits like yourself in this beautiful planet.
</blockquote>
<H3>REPLY</H3>
<BR>Well, I respect your views. At the same time, I shall present my views.
<br><br>What did, or whom did Swami Vivekananda shake? Could you kindly read my blog <a href='http://vivekanandayb.blogspot.com' target='_blank' >Click</a>.
<br>Your world-shaker was scanning and touring USA (second trip 1899), in search of homoeopaths, magnetic healers, etc. who could ameliorate the red patches which appeared on his chest, who could find a solution for his gas-filled stomach. He was begging aristocratic wealthy American women to mobilise subscriptions of per head $100, for his personal maintenance. He was lamenting that Americans came last in paying for what they heard in his lectures.
<br><br>Indians had, have existed as human beings since thousands of years, before the birth and death of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, and after the birth and death of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. Indians lost their freedom for a thousand years, only because they were divided on caste lines, because their kings, priests and Seths wallowed in gold and precious stones, ignoring the coolies and peasants.
<br><br>You say "To know the quality of the tree look at its fruits". You may not accept, but please see, what is the quality of the fruits of Vivekananda's work? More ochre-robed preachers went on a prowl of Europe and America selling spirituality and yoga, taking Vivekananda as trend-setter. Apart from the activities and influence of others, Mr. Vivekananda's preachings also spread seeds of religious bigotry and fanaticism in the 20th Century India. Funniest thing, is RSS started using him as Hindu icon, building a posh memorial for him at Kanyakumari, without even knowing that Swamiji supported beef eating.
<br><br>It is like this: We venerate Sage VasishTha for his great voluminous precept of Yoga VASiShTha of nearly 40,000 verses, does not mean that we should not wonder about his beef eating in Valmiki Ashram (Pl. Read 3rd intermission of the play Uttara Rama Charitra of Bhavbhuti, the verses of which I placed in my Ramayana blog <a href='http://ramayanayb.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>Click </a>.
<br><br>It may not be true to say that I am mocking at Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. I have great respect for them. It does not mean that we should not study what they preached and practised.
<br><br>You wrote: "I suggest you analyse the nature of seeds that bring forth fruits like yourself in this beautiful planet." My reply: What brought forth fruits like me in this beautiful planet? Keen sense of observation which I learnt from study of the life and works of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. What I learnt from him, is a deep explorative mind.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-30774134211473786062013-02-09T11:20:00.000-08:002014-08-08T14:59:44.302-07:00#021 Replies to comments of Anonymous dated 8th Feb 2013<blockquote>Anonymous said...
Good One!!!!!!!
You are insulting yourself and wasting time assessing another soul!!!!!!
February 8, 2013 at 10:06 AM </blockquote>
<BR></P><P>REPLY FROM YBRAO A DONKEY:
<BR>Well, friend: I respect your opinion. You are entitled to your opinion. Yet, I feel that I can explain, on your comments:
comment: <b>``You are insulting yourself`` </b>: You will not accept, if I praise myself. Besides, praising myself will be a waste of time for me as well as for you. It will be a waste of time for me because, I can know who I am, just by looking through a mirror. Self-praise cannot deceive me. It will be a waste of time to convince you, because I am not trying to sell any goods or services to you. I am not an insurance-agent and I am not selling insurance to you. I am not a religious preacher, so that if I convert somebody, I shall get some $bucks or some sehbAses from my bosses. I have no bosses. I am just a seeker-of-truth. Why I am calling myself a donkey-as though I am insulting myself? : Brief-answer: Any person who treads a path which is different from the path the whole world follows, is a donkey. World is intolerant to departures and deviations. It is immaterial whether the world is incorrect or the deviant is wrong. This is the reason for the sufferings of persons like Copernicus, Galileo, and Socrates.
</p>
<br><b>your comment: wasting time assessing another soul!!!!!!</b>
<br><br>In the process of this search-for truth, after studying the Complete Works of Vivekananda and the rAmakrishNa kathA sudhAs etc. , I realised that there was some hypocrisy in their preachings as compared to their practices.
<br><br> Real-waste-of-time arises here, where people believe blindly what gurus say or write, without verifying what they have done.
<br><br> If we are asked to follow the preachings of somebody, we must invariably assess what he said and what he did. This applies to all gurus rAmakrishNa paramahamsa or Jesus Christ or Gautama Buddha or Shirdi Sai bAbA or Sathya SaibAba. For example if Jesus Christ is depicted as an embodiment of kindness and compassion, with a lamb in his arms, he becomes a great preceptor when he really follows it. Suppose, the very next day, he arranges a feast to his disciples with mutton/goat's meat, we may have to presume that compassion has become fake and a rare commodity in this world.
<br><br> When people worship blindly, national waste of resources takes place. How? Shirdi SaibAba temples are built all over the country, with a blind belief that he can listen to your desires and fulfil them. Some temples obstruct traffic. Special trains are run, when there is a scarcity of imported diesel and even fishermen and farmers are denied their genuine diesel needs. Corrupt officials, businessmen and industrialists offer quintals of gold to idols of Shirdi Sai Baba. Every-edifice of Shirdi Sai Baba religion is built on made-up stories of his miracles and blind faith. A day will come when Shrdi Saibaba cult will start claiming that it is a minority religion and not a part of Hinduism, just as the Ramakrishna Math has claimed that they were not part of Hinduism. Fortunately, Supreme Court rejected their application.
<br><br> Nearly 10 billion Rupees have been spent by the Central Government, State Governments and NGOs on organising rallies-essay-competitions-debates-fancy-dresses on SwAmi VivekAnanda's 150th Anniversary. Every speaker, writer on these dais, once mike came to their hands, repeated the sayings of rAmakrishna and vivEkananda, like parrots, without verifying facts. This poor Nation has no time to verify facts-in-depth. If they start verifying facts and talking facts probably they will not get Government grants or probably businessmen do not give them donations or probably, they will have to face cases and get arrested. Anything could have happened. Hence, the moral is: We have to follow the bandwagon. Else, we have to call ourselves donkeys.
<br><br> In the process, facts and truths become casualties.
<br><h3>Added on 9.Aug.2014.</h3>
Did n't Swami Vivekananda assess anybody without studying their work deeply? Then how could he call Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya as mere pundits with much narrowness of heart? Didn't he blame them for seeking salvation in a hurry-scurry? What salvation did Vivekananda seek in begging Ms. Christina Greenstidel, a German girl, to send her photos, so that he can gauge how much fat did she build in one year? What salvation did he fill his belly with, by stuffing it with shad fish and turtles, and gasping for breath with overheated nerves thereafter. For knowing these, kindly read my Vivekananda blog.
ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-66647258857664444562012-12-15T11:44:00.002-08:002012-12-15T22:18:30.597-08:00#020 Were they temples or slaughter houses?<blockquote>Keshab Babu says: Is it not possible in the
household? What about Maharshi Devendra Nath
Tagore?<br><br>
The Paramahansa Deva utters ‘Devendra Nath
Thakur, Davendra, Davendra’ twice or thrice,
offers him pranam and says, “You know this well
that there was a person who used to celebrate the
festival of Durga and from morning till evening
goats were slaughtered there as sacrifice to the
goddess. Many years later there was no festivity of
sacrifice. Somebody asked, ‘Mahashay, how is it
that there is no longer any hustle and bustle of
sacrifice in your house?’ He replied, ‘I have lost
my teeth, you see.’ Now Devendra also practises
meditation and perception. Naturally he would do
it now. But otherwise he is a good man.”</blockquote>
<blockquote>To the south of the Nata Mandir
is the place of sacrifice.
<br><br>The food prepared for Vishnu’s shrine is
vegetarian. The kitchen for the food of Kali’s
shrine is different. In front of the kitchen, the
maid servants cut fish with big sickles. On
Amavasya (the dark night of the month), a goat
is sacrificed. The offering of the food is over
before noon. In the mean time the beggars, the
sadhus and the guests take plates made of sal
leaves from the guesthouse and sit down in
rows. The brahmins are allotted a separate
corner. The brahmins working here have
different seats. The prasad for the steward is
sent to his room. The babus of Jaun Bazaar
(descendants of Rani Rasmani) stay in the Kuthi
when they visit the temple. They have their
prasad carried to them in the Kuthi.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The gong in the left hand, pancha pradip (lamp
with five wicks) in the right, an attendant with
cymbal in his hand. The arati is being
performed. Along with it, the sweet sound of
the roshan chowki from the south-west
corner of the shrine is being heard. The
Nahabat Khana (drum room) is there. The
evening raga ragini (the modes of Indian
music) is being played. The perpetual festival
of the <i>All-Blissful Mother is as if reminding
the jiva never to be unhappy.</i>
</blockquote>
</p><p>All the above quotes are from Shri rAmakrishNa kathAmrita (the nectar of Shri rAmakrishNa's stories).
</p><p><b>ybrems</b>
<br>What does the all-blissful Mother say to the fish cut with big sickles? to the goats killed on the amAvAsya (new-moon or moonless) night? Should they be happy or unhappy? What do all these artis (camphor burning), cymbals, roshan chowki shehnai tunes, the ripples of the Ganga river, tell the fish and goats? The night must have been butcherly and gory!
<br>All these things have taken place at dakshINESvar temple, with rAmakrishNa the Great Swan's acquiescence.
</p>
<br><b>Q: Why this fuss about a small thing like a mosquito net?</b>.
<br><br><i style='font-size 96pts; color:#ff00ff;'>✯</i>.Ans: Will it be wrong for us to expect non-earthly and non-humanly qualities from those persons whom we attribute divinity and unmanly greatness?
<br>ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-84213398984374317952012-12-15T10:54:00.000-08:002012-12-15T23:14:57.524-08:00#019 Replies to comments of Anonymous<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<dt class="comment-author " id="c2034234075673906156">Anonymous
said...
</dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-2034234075673906156">
May God give you good vision and heart to think in a right way.
Ramakrushna was a Person with tremendous inner power. and a realized
soul.<br />
<br />
<br />
</dd></dl>
</div>
</p><p><b>REPLY</b>
I have no special love or hatred towards paramahamsa dEva (the Great Swan God, rAmakrishna paramahamsa is called in the book rAmakrishNa kathAmrita.
<br>Does a Great Swan who had the reputation of going to samAdhi (a state of unconsciousness ) the moment Mother's name is uttered need a mosquito net, to sleep? A yogi's state of samAdhi ought to be his state of sleep. It is called yOga nidra (The sleep of yoga), the State in which devotees believe that yogis sleep in. yOgIes, particularly those yOgies whose bodies itch in repulsion, when a gold coin is placed on his couch, may not need any mosquito nets to enter sleep.
<br><br><b>Q: How do you know that rAmakrishNa slept under mosquito nets? He was such an innocent sage that he used to sweep the floors in the dakshiNESvar temple, with his hairlocks?</b>
<br />Ans: Here is a quote from the rAmakrishna kathAmrita: Chapter 7. service to mother and Shri Ramakrishna. about Shri Hazra mahAshay, a dedicated innocent devotee of Shri rAmakrishNa. Shri rAmakrishNa said:
<blockquote>Sri Ramakrishna — And then he also lectures
me from time to time. (All laugh.) During a
discussion I perhaps abused him. After the
discussion I lay inside the mosquito net. Then I
remembered what language I had used. I went
to offer my obeisance to Hazra. Only then my
mind was at peace.</blockquote>
<b>ybrems</b>
<br><br>I immensely appreciate that Shri rAmakrishna felt that there was a need to correct his error of abusing Shri Hazra mahAsay.
<br><br>What ought to irk sAdhakas then? -- use of mosquito nets by a God-like human, like an ordinary human with thin skin.
<br><br>Ordinary humans need mosquito nets. Not Great Swans, who go to deep meditative states of unconsciousness, when God's name is mentioned and who sweep floors with hairlocks. samAdhis should make God-like persons mosquito-bite proof.
<br><br>What I wish to point out is: RAmakrishNa was not a practioner of ascetism of that degree of intensity which makes a person unconscious of what is sukham (comfort) and what is kashTam (discomfort). He knew and preferred the comforts of this world. He knew the in-s and out-s of this ordinary materialistic world. We have a proverb in Telugu language, my mother tongue: "nOTlO vElu peTtE korakalEni vADu" , which
approximately translates into English as: "somebody who cannot bite a finger which is inserted into his mouth". Shri rAmakrishNa was not such lamb or naif.
<hr>
<br><br> I do not blame Shri rAmakrishNa for the missing quality innocent-sincerity of an innocent sAdhaka (practitioner of ascetism).
<br><br> Let us remember bhakta kannappa story where kannappa sacrificed his eyes to Lord Shiva, when kannappa observed that Shiva's eyes were bleeding. A true ascetic and devotee should be pain-free.
<br><br>This question (Can a God-man or yogi be sick?) is what some of the European and Aristocratic disciples/patrons of Vivekananda, have raised about his sickness and his getting treated in United States? These were the same women who honored VivEkAnAnda with great gusto during his 1893 visit, and who stayed away during his 1899 visit.
<br><br>Of course, vivEkAnanda's response for the question was one that of indignation and anger. Ultmately he attributed his illness(es) to his bad karmAs (actions).
<br><br>I only wish to point out that howsoever great a philosopher may be, he has to fit himself into the behavioral structure of a monetized and capitalist of society. This mosquito net usage of shri rAmakrishna, we can compare to his disciple swAmi vivEkAnanda's temptation to a battery-operated fan (presumably a table fan, he found in United States. Readers may see about this battery-fan, in vivEkAnanda's letter to alasinga, swAmIjI's disciple from South India. I have already written about Shri rAmakrishna's using shoes and a richman's dress, in another blog post.
<br><br><b style='font-size:96pt; background:#ff00ff;'>✕</b>Now: If Shri rAmakrishnNa were to live in the 21st Century India, would he have used air-condtioners, helicopters, air conditioned cars, curl-on mattresses or <b>not</b>? Most of our jagadgurus (preceptors to the whole world) and pIThAdhipatis (heads of chairs) use them!
</p>
<br><br><b style='font-size:96pt; background:#ff00ff;'>✖</b>What is the fate of the arguments which have taken place among NTV (a telugu language channel), ABN Andhra Jyothi Channel, and Shri swAmi swaroopAnanda of visAkhapatnam, about some scams and blackmailing? The owners of NTV and bhakti TV as well as the ABN Andhra Jyothi TV seem now to patronise more the SringEri jagadguru. Latest in the series of this patronage, we can see in guru vandanam program at lalita kaLA tOraNam, Hyderabad, on 14th Dec. 2012. The TTD is also an active participant in this deification of humans. Many high-court and supreme court judges have been and are devotees of various swAmijis in India.
<br><br><b style='font-size:96pt; background:#ff00ff;'>✔</b>Ans: Will it be wrong for us to expect non-earthly and non-humanly qualities from those persons whom we attribute divinity and unmanly greatness?
<br><br><b style='font-size:96pt; background:#ff00ff;'>✔</b>This post may have to be re-edited and softened, if it seriously hurts the feelings of readers. I can only assure the readers that there is no 'anyamata pracAram' (propaganda of other religions) in this.
<br><br>I am interested only in facts, and any reasonable observations/derivations we can make from the facts and nothing beyond that. To whichever religion, God-persons and prophets may belong to, their living has to conform to what is represented in their deification. If some prophet is represented as a great compassionate emissary of God, with a lamb in his arms, we cannot expect him to arrange or participate in a feast or barbecue or just dining, the very next day, using that lamb or some other lamb.
<br><br>I apologise to my readers in advance, if I cause them an unintended hurt. I also wish to make it very clear that I am an ordinary human being with ordinary human strengths and weaknesses, which may be worse than the habits of my own readers. The enzymes, hormones, pheromones, the food we eat, the books we read, the internet stuff we see, everything else whether mentioned here or not, make us to behave in bizarre ways.
<br><br>I am not actually interested in the behaviors of God-men, whether good or bad behaviors.
<br><br><b style='font-size:96pt; background:#ff00ff;'>✔</b>I am more interested in finding out solutions to problems which arise from the Capitalist compulsions of this society, which makes people to shoot one's own mother, carrying three guns, then go to a school and kill 28 people in a binge of shooting. I believe that it is high time for me to discontinue this 'shri rAmakrishNa blog', just as it is high time for sachIn TenDUlkar to retire. This blog is serving no useful purpose.
ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-59182965613502618182012-10-16T05:30:00.000-07:002012-10-16T05:30:08.758-07:00#017 How to understand God properly?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<dl class="avatar-comment-indent" id="comments-block">
<dt class="comment-author " id="c4485483091967083440"><div class="avatar-image-container avatar-stock">
<span dir="ltr"><img alt="" height="16" src="http://img1.blogblog.com/img/blank.gif" title="Anonymous" width="16" /><blockquote>
</blockquote>
</span></div>
Anonymous
said...
</dt>
<dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-4485483091967083440">
may ramakrishna thakur and lord shiva give u some intellect and a healthy mind to know and understand god properly....
<br />
</dd><dd class="comment-footer">
<span class="comment-timestamp">
<a href="http://ramakrishnayb.blogspot.com/2008/02/95-where-is-safety-for-fish-and-goats.html?showComment=1350332120419#c4485483091967083440" title="comment permalink">
October 15, 2012 1:15 PM</a></span></dd></dl>
</div>
<dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"> </span></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"></span></dd><b>REPLY</b><br />
<dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp">"...give you some intellect..." : The word intellect is an abstract term. Every one of us, whether having formal education or not, have some degree of intellect.</span></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"><br /></span></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp">"...healthy mind..." : The adjective 'healthy' is an abstract term.</span></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"><br /></span></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp">"... understand God properly..."</span></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp">This comment needs careful and courteous discussion and reply. Different religious scriptures expect us to understand God, "properly" i.e. in the manner they stipulate as a 'norm'. Bible has one standard. Quran has one standard. Vedas and Gita have another standard. We are branded infidels, the moment we find something incongruent to the beliefs of the majority. The majority, sometimes, refuses to believe that they too can go wrong. For a long time, it was believed that earth is flat and whoever disagreed with the belief was branded as somebody not having intellect or healthy mind.</span></dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"><br /></span></dd>ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-26475053133662694392012-09-02T17:26:00.002-07:002012-09-02T17:33:49.898-07:00Only psychologists and psychiatrists can explain<blockquote><br />Sri Ramakrishna was walking up and down, now in his room, now on the south verandah. Occasionally pausing on the semicircular porch west of his room, he would look at the Ganges. After a little while he returned to his room and sat on the small couch. It was past three in the afternoon. The devotees took their seats on the floor.<br /><br />The Master sat in silence before them, now and then casting a glance at the walls, where many pictures were hanging. To Sri Ramakrishna's left was a picture of Sarasvati, and beyond it, a picture of Gaur and Nitai singing kirtan with their devotees. In front of the Master hung pictures of Dhruva, Prahlada, and Mother Kali. On the wall to his right was another picture of the Divine Mother, Rajarajesvari. Behind him was a picture of Jesus Christ raising the drowning Peter.<br /><br />Suddenly Sri Ramakrishna turned to M. and said: "You see, it is good to keep pictures of sannyasis and holy men in one's room. When you get up in the morning you should see the faces of holy persons rather than the faces of other men. People with rajasic qualities keep 'English' pictures on their walls—pictures of rich men, the King, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and white men and women walking together. That shows their rajasic temperament."<br /><br />Sri Ramakrishna: "You acquire the nature of the people whose company you keep. Therefore even pictures may prove harmful. Again, a man seeks the company that agrees with his own nature. The paramahamsas keep near them a few young boys five or six years old. They allow such boys to be near them. Attaining the state of a paramahamsa, a man loves the company of boys. Like the paramahamsas, the boys are not under the control of the gunas—sattva, rajas, or tamas. By looking at trees a man awakens in his heart the picture of a hermitage in which a rishi is practising austerity."<br /><br />Source- From Book "Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna"</blockquote><br /><br /></p><p><b>ybrems</b><br />*Ramakrishna seems to be indirectly canvassing that he himself was a paramahamsa (Great Swan). The concept of Great Swan-hood itself is imaginary. If at all great swans exist in this world, every human is a great swan.<br /><br />*I do not wish to say that Ramakrishna had some traits of paedophylic behavior, but some strands seem to lurk from behind. Only psychologists and psychiatrists can explain. I am not competent.<br /><br />*I shall review these comments after some days, because I do not want to hurt the sentiments of ramakrishna worshippers.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-3312365390869552102008-09-15T01:10:00.000-07:002008-09-15T01:54:16.568-07:00#015, What was Balaram Bose's problem?Here is a small quote from the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, Volume I.<br /><br />Date: Apr. 7, 1883.<br /><br /><blockquote>"SRI RAMAKRISHNA was visiting Balaram in Calcutta, with Narendra, Bhavanath, Rakhal, M., and others. Balaram, at the Master's bidding, had invited some of the young devotees to lunch. Sri Ramakrishna often said to him, "Feed them now and then; that will confer on you the merit of feeding holy men." The Master looked on his young disciples, yet untouched by "woman and gold", as veritable embodiments of God."</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br /><br />*Balaram was a rich devotee of Shri Ramakrishna. What did he want?<br />*Why was Shri Ramakrishna assuring Balram the merit of feeding holy men.<br />*Were the young disciples really holy? They might have been simply revolving around Shri Ramakrishna for food. Did anybody test them for their "resistance against woman and gold".<br />*Though Vivekananda claimed resistance against woman and gold before Prof. Deussen, a Sanskrit scholar of Germany, Vivekananda on that occasion did not resist alcohol and meat. At that time Vivekananda was making money, lecturing in Europe and America. Was there any difference among Pounds, Dollars and gold? Did gold mean only bullion?<br /><br />Swami Vivekananda wrote to Shri Balaram Bose from Ghazipur on the 14th Feb. 1890:<br /><br /><blockquote style='background:#ffeedd'>"... <strong>You have expressed remorse at not having reaped any appreciable results by serving the Sadhus</strong>. It is true, and yet not true; it is true if you look towards ideal bliss; but if you look behind to the place from which you started, you will find that before you were an animal, now you are a man, and will be a god or God Himself in future. Moreover, that sort of regret and dissatisfaction is very good; it is the prelude to improvement. Without this none can rise. He who puts on a turban and immediately sees the Lord, progresses thus far and no farther ..."</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />*Why didn't Balram get appreciable results by serving monks?<br />*Why was he regreting?<br />*What was Vivekananda promising?ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-37871767032711393142008-09-15T01:00:00.000-07:002008-09-15T01:09:39.488-07:00#014, Why allude to the oil-man caste and all thatShri Ramakrishna, though a benevolent-speaking and pious man, has also the characteristics of a worldly man. Strangely, he advises his devotees against taking up worldly activities.<br /><br />Here is a quote from the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, Volume I. The incident was said to have taken place at Calcutta on 7th Aprll 1883.<br /><br /><blockquote>The people of Basirhat, Rakhal's birth-place, had been suffering from a severe drought during the summer months.<br /><br />MASTER (to Manilal): "Rakhal says that the people in his native village have been suffering seriously from a scarcity of water. Why don't you build a reservoir there? That will do the people good. (Smiling) You have so much money; what will you do with all your wealth? But they say that telis (The oil-man caste to which Manilal belonged. It is a comparatively low caste in Hindu society in Bengal.) are very calculating." (All laugh.)<br /><br />Manilal was truly a calculating man, though he suffered no lack of money. In later years he set up an endowment of twenty-five thousand rupees for the maintenance of poor students.<br /><br />Manilal made no answer to these words of the Master about his caste characteristics. Later on, in the course of the conversation, he remarked casually: "Sir, you referred to a reservoir. You might as well have confined yourself to that suggestion. Why allude to the 'oil-man caste' and all that?" <br /><br />Some of the devotees smiled to themselves. The Master laughed</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />*The question raised by Manilal "why allude to my caste" was very apt. It shows his indignance and the worldly thinking of Shri Ramakrishna.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-65600736973795678412008-09-15T00:03:00.000-07:002008-09-15T00:55:33.539-07:00#013, Mundane activities and human<strong>REPLIES TO COMMENTS</strong><br /><br />Anonymous said... on Sept. 14, 2008:<br /><br /><blockquote>its definitely more appreciable to posses both the knowledge of ploughing and reading bhagavat,but being well versed in suchlike issues u must be aware that if an individual truly attain to enlightment he cannot bear to engage in any mundane material activities any more.why do we till soil etc?to earn for a living,isnt it?then is it possible for one who have actually felt dat this world is an illusion n temporary to perform bread earning chores?to do dat would amount to hypocrisy.wat is meant by ramakrishna is dat one should try to hear about god from such a person who have seen god,rather than one who have merely gulped up some scriptures.remember the parrot of rabindranath's 'tota kahini'?try n get in the spirit of the sayings rather than dissecting at it.</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>REPLY</strong><br /><br />1. The survival of human race depends on the mundane activities like ploughing, harvesting, dairying, bee-keeping. In a strict sense and true spirit, they cannot be termed mundane; they are to be termed divine. Imagine for a moment: If the farmer strikes (like employees in some sectors) against sowing seeds or the dairy keeper sells away his cattle to a kabela unable to maintain them, we shall starve. The Godmen will also starve and shout at the top of their voice. Their God does not come and save them.<br /><br />2. A person who is well versed in philosophy and attainment cannot live like a parasite on the society, asking the devotees to pay not only his own cart fares, house rents, but also feed his disciples and entourage.<br /><br />3. Kabir, though a saintly personality, earned his livelihood by weaving cloth. Bammera Potana who translated Bhagavata Purana into Telugu earned his livelihood by ploughing his field. They never considered that weaving and ploughing were mundane.<br /><br />4. Even a person who realised that this world is temporary, has to work to earn his livelihood, unless he is physically frail. <br /><br />5. Plants make their own food through photosynthesis as long as they live. All animals in this creation depend for their food on other animals and/or ultimately on plants. In this respect of self-support, plants are ahead of humans, both philosophically and practically.<br /><br />6. What hypocrisy will there be in working for one's own livelihood?<br /><br />7. Ramakrishna himself falls under the category of the persons who claim that they have seen God, for which there is no proof. Though Swami Vivekananda claimed that Shri Ramakrishna showed him (Vivekananda) the God just by touch, Vivekananda's experience could have been an illusion or Vivekananda himself might have created the incident to glorify his preceptor, out of great infatuation for his Guru.<br /><br />8. The whole Shri Ramakrishna's divine stories could have been a sham. This doubt is not being raised by me. It was raised by Swami Brahmananda himself, the first President of Belur Math, and a senior co-disciple of Swami Vivekananda. Proof for this, you can see in the discussion Vivekananda made in his letter dated Oct. 18, 1895 addressed to Swami Brahmananda. I quote from it:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote style='background:#ffeedd'>" ... Sir, granted that Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a sham, granted that it has been a very serious mistake, indeed, to take refuge in him, but what is the way out now? What if one life is spent in vain, but shall a man eat his own words? Can there be such a thing as having a dozen husbands? Any of you may join any party you like, I have no objection, no, not in the least, but travelling this world over I find that save and except his circle alone, everywhere else thought and act are at variance. For those that belong to him, I have the utmost love, the utmost confidence. I have no alternative in the matter. Call me one-sided if you will, but there you have my bona fide avowal. If but a thorn pricks the foot of one who has surrendered himself to Shri Ramakrishna, it makes my bones ache. All others I love; you will find very few men so unsectarian as I am; but you must excuse me, I have that bit of bigotry. If I do not appeal to his name, whose else shall I? It will be time enough to seek for a big Guru in our next birth; but in this, it is that unlearned Brahmin who has bought this body of mine for ever. <br /><br />I give you a bit of my mind; don't be angry, pray. I am your slave so long as you are his — step a hair's breadth outside that, and you and I are on a par. All the sects and societies that you see, the whole host of them, inside the country or out, he has already swallowed them all, my brother. ..." </blockquote><br /><br />9. Reading scriptures at least enables a person to know what is contained in them. For knowing what is in the scriptures, invariably we have to read them and dissect them, compare the contents with what is written in other scriptures to find out the truth. Weeping for God or asking others to weep for God, sitting on beds and carpets gifted by others, do not imply that a person has seen God and entitle such person to ask others to hear from persons who have seen God rather than hear from those who gulped from scriptures. The belief that the other person who had read scripture gulped them without understanding them tantamounts to speaking with prejudice.<br /><br />I trust that I tried my best to satisfy your comment.<br /><br />(to continue editing).ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-11787090642528432902008-07-17T06:49:00.000-07:002008-07-17T07:04:45.117-07:00#012, DOES NOT WANT PLOUGHS AND BULLOCKS!Shri Ramakrishna spoke from his couch to Narendra and other disciples on March 1, 1885. Source: The Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, Volume 2:<br /><br /><blockquote>"When have worldly people time to think of God? A man wanted to engage a pundit who could explain the Bhagavata to him. His friend said: I know of an excellent pundit. But there is one difficulty: he does a great deal of farming. He has four ploughs and eight bullocks and is always busy with them; he has no leisure.' Thereupon the man said: 'I don't care for a pundit who has no leisure. <strong>I am not looking for a Bhagavata scholar burdened with ploughs and bullocks</strong>. I want a pundit who can really expound the <strong>sacred</strong> book to me.'</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEWS</strong><br />*Should all pandits sit on lazy couches and speak 24/7/365?<br />*A genuine seeker would have gone behind the pandit to the fields, running with the ploughs and bullocks and learnt both Bhagavata and tilling! The pandit could become a scholar of Bhagavata in spite of being engaged in tilling unlike Ramakrishna who was just an empty talker and talker!<br /><br />*Ramakrishna had 24 hours time to spend on Gods and Goddesses eating <em>luchis</em> and sweets, while others pay for his luchis, his building rents and cart hires.<br />*Why Ramakrishna did not do farming?<br />*What could be more sacred than farming?<br /><br />Here it will be relevant to quote from Gitanjali of Rabindranath Tagore:<br /><br /><blockquote>Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads! Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! <br /><br />He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the pathmaker is breaking stones. He is with them in sun and in shower, and his garment is covered with dust. Put of thy holy mantle and even like him come down on the dusty soil! <br /><br />Deliverance? Where is this deliverance to be found? Our master himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of creation; he is bound with us all for ever. <br /><br />Come out of thy meditations and leave aside thy flowers and incense! What harm is there if thy clothes become tattered and stained? Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow. </blockquote>ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-38886353694276111622008-07-03T08:05:00.000-07:002008-07-08T01:30:33.102-07:00#011, Shri Ramakrishna was worldly-wise<strong>CONTEXT</strong><br />Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa visited the Brahmo Temple, Nandan bagan, Calcutta in April 1883. After the prayer, lunch was held upstairs. The hosts forgot to take care of Shri Ramakrishna and his disciples. Consequently, they were to settle for the lunch in a dusty corner. Here is a quote of the incident from the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, Volume I.<br /><br /><blockquote>MASTER (to Rakhal and the other devotees): "What's the matter? Nobody is paying any attention to us!"<br /><br />RAKHAL (angrily): "Sir, let us leave here and go to Dakshineswar."<br /><br /><strong>MASTER (with a smile): "<strong>Keep quiet! The carriage hire is three rupees and two annas. Who will pay that? Stubbornness won't get us anywhere. You haven't a penny, and you are making these empty threats! Besides, where shall we find food at this late hour of the night?</strong>"</strong><br /><br />After a long time dinner was announced. The devotees were asked to take their seats. The Master, with Rakhal and the others, followed the crowd to the second floor. No room could be found for him inside the hall. Finally, with great difficulty, a place was found tor him in a dusty corner. A brahmin woman served some curry, but Sri Ramakrishna could not eat it. He ate luchi with salt and took some sweets.<br /><br />There was no limit to the Master's kindness. The hosts were mere youngsters; how could he be displeased with them, even though they did not show him proper respect? Further, it would have been inauspicious for the household if a holy man had left the place without taking food. Finally, the feast had been prepared in the name of God.<br /><br />Sri Ramakrishna got into a carriage: but who was to pay the hire? The hosts could not be found. Referring to this incident afterwards, the Master said to the devotees, jokingly: "The boys went to our hosts for the carriage hire. First they were put out, but at last they managed to get together three rupees. Our hosts refused to pay the extra two annas and said, 'No, that will do.'"</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEWS</strong><br />*Shri Ramakrishna knew his own position.<br />*He knew the value of money.<br />*He knew the value of food.<br />*Three Rupees and three annas in 1883 nearly equals Rs. 300 in 2008. <br />*If one knows how to collect carriage hires from hosts and devotees, one can have kanchan-jayam (overcoming the temptation of gold). Silver coins placed on a bed-stead can be rejected.<br />*The incident shows Kanchana jayam was only a facade exhibitionism.<br />*Difficult to believe that this type of worldly-intelligent person would have swept the floor with his hair.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-4650302819830688622008-04-07T02:37:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:18:16.444-07:00#006 The worldly men are hypocrites but Godmen are not!Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa taught to his disciples/devotees: (source: his Gospel,<br />Vol. 1, Rules for Householders and monks)<br /><br /><blockquote>"The worldly man is a hypocrite. He cannot be guileless. He professes to love God, but he is attracted by <strong>worldly objects</strong>. He doesn't give God even a very small part of the love he feels for 'woman and gold'. But he says that he loves God. (To Mani Mallick) Give up hypocrisy."</blockquote><br /><br />Vivekananda too preached everywhere denouncing hypocrisy.<br /><br />Now, let us see from Swami Nirmalananda, his life and teachings. Swami Nirmalananda was a direct disciple of Shri Ramakrishna. He was Head of the Bangalore Math in early 19th Century.<br /><br /><blockquote>"...Besides extending and beautifying the Ashrama building and compound, the Swami had the Ashrama amply furnished with various utensils and <strong>furniture</strong>. <strong>Special mention</strong> has to be made of what was added at a later date (1930) – <strong>Coir mattress worth rupees one thousand five hundred, sent to the Ashrama by Seth Khatawoo Khimjee</strong> of Alleppey, a great devotee of the Swami. ...</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />In 1930, a mat would not have cost more than four annas (25 paise). For a householder and a monk, it is a necessity. But why does a monk or monastery need a coir mattress of Rs. 1,500 (at current prices it will be Rs. 150,000 or approx. $4,000). Why should a Monk or monastery depend on Sethjis for worldly objects? A mat of four annas could not a monk afford?<br /><br />What is the relationship between Sethjis and monks?ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-22138631289075650162008-03-01T21:44:00.000-08:002008-07-09T01:19:46.726-07:00#007 IS MEDITATING SITTING ON A CORPSE AN AUSTERITY?Shri Ramakrishna (was reported to have) said in his 'Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna', Volume 1, "The Master and Vijay Goswami".<br /><br /><blockquote>"<strong>One <em>must admit </em>the existence of tendencies inherited from previous births.</strong> There is a story about a man who practised the sava-sadhana. (A religious practice prescribed by the Tantra, in which the aspirant uses a sava, or corpse, as his seat for meditation.) He worshipped the Divine Mother in a deep forest. First he saw many terrible visions. Finally a tiger attacked and killed him. Another man, happening to pass and seeing the approach of the tiger, had climbed a tree. Afterwards he got down and found all the arrangements for worship at hand. He performed some purifying ceremonies and seated himself on the corpse. No sooner had he done a little japa than the Divine Mother appeared before him and said: 'My child, I am very much pleased with you. Accept a boon from Me.' He bowed low at the Lotus Feet of the Goddess and said: 'May I ask You one question, Mother? I am speechless with amazement at Your action. The other man worked so hard to get the ingredients for Your worship and tried to propitiate You for such a long time, but You didn't condescend to show him Your favour. And I, who don't know anything of worship, who have done nothing, who have neither devotion nor knowledge nor love, and who haven't practised any austerities, am receiving so much of Your grace.' The Divine <em>Mother said with a laugh; 'My child, you don't remember your previous births</em>. For many births you tried to propitiate Me through austerities. As a result of those austerities all these things have come to hand, and you have been blessed with My vision. Now ask Me your boon.'" </blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />1. Ramakrishna believed in rebirth. By using the phrase 'must admit', he spread the message that tendencies are carried forward from birth.<br /><br />2. By telling that the Divine Mother appeared to the second man, Shri Ramakrishna is supporting "sava sadhana" (pronunciation: s`ava saadhana) i.e. meditating sitting on corpses.<br />IS MEDITATING, SITTING ON A CORPSE, AN AUSTERITY?ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-28118874359546049442008-03-01T07:08:00.000-08:002008-07-09T01:21:43.651-07:00#008 AVATARS AND MONOPOLY OF SHOWING GOD!Here is a favorite quote of bloggers and writers from India:<br /><br /><blockquote>"Higher and nobler that all ordinary teachers in the world is another set of teachers, the Avatars of Isvara. They can transmit spirituality with a <strong>touch, even with a mere wish</strong>. At their command the lowest and most degraded characters become saints in one second. They are the Teachers of all teachers, the highest manifestations of God through man. We <strong>cannot see God except through them</strong>, We cannot help worshipping them. And indeed they are the only ones whom we are bound to worship."</blockquote><br /><br />This quote is from his 'Bhakti Yoga, Chapter 6, Incarnate Teachers and Incarnations'. <br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />A world of devotional monopoly? Obviously, Swamiji may be referring to his own Guru Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He wrote to Mrs. Ole Bull from Los Angeles on 17.1.1900:<br /><br /><blockquote>" ... My powers I passed over to you. I see it. I cannot any more tell from the platform. Don't tell it to anyone — not even to Joe. I am glad. I want rest; not that I am tired, but the next phase will be the <strong>miraculous touch and not the tongue — like Ramakrishna's</strong>. ..."</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />A clear picture is here. Swamiji himself is claiming miraculous powers, like his Guru. How is the Guru or the Avatara?<br /><br /><blockquote>MASTER: "The sastra prescribes sacrifice on special occasions. Such sacrifice is not harmful. Take, for instance, the sacrifice of a goat on the eighth day of the full or new moon.<br /><br />"I am now in such a state of mind that I cannot watch a sacrifice. Also I cannot eat meat offered to the Divine Mother. Therefore <strong>I first touch my finger to it, then to my head, lest She should be angry with me</strong>.</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong>This Avatara of Ishvara was afraid that Mother Kali would be angry with him, if he did not touch his finger to the goat. Had he really seen the Goddess Kali, he would have had the courage to ask her 'Mother! Do you relish mutton? Are goats not your children, like we the humans? Have you asked humans to offer mutton as food?'ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-42921153845307180932008-02-22T06:08:00.000-08:002008-07-09T01:23:37.495-07:00#009 One can hate gold if devotees bear Rs. 65 per month rentThis piece of conversation from the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, vol.2, April 21, 1886:<br /><br /><blockquote><strong>The house-rent was between sixty and sixty-five rupees</strong>. Surendra bore most of the expenses and had rented the house in his name. The other householder devotees contributed financial help according to their power. A cook and a maid had been engaged to look after the members of the house-hold.<br /><br />MASTER (to Dr. Sarkar and the others): "The expenses are mounting."<br /><br />DR. SARKAR (pointing to the devotees) "But they are ready to bear them. They do not hesitate to spend money. (To Sri Ramakrishna) Now, you see, gold is necessary."<br /><br />MASTER (to Narendra): "Why don't you answer?"<br /><br />Narendra remained silent. Dr. Sarkar resumed the conversation.<br /><br />DR. SARKAR: "Gold is necessary, and also woman."<br /><br />RAJENDRA: "Yes, his [meaning Sri Ramakrishna's] wife has been cooking his meals."<br /><br />DR. SARKAR (to the Master): "Do you see?"<br /><br />MASTER (smiling): "Yes — but very troublesome!"<br /><br />DR. SARKAR: <strong>"If there were no troubles, then all would become paramahamsas."</strong></blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />The comment of Dr. Sarkar is very apt. If there are devotees to bear Rs. 65 per month as rent in Kolkata of 1885, one can afford to hate gold! One can give sermons quite comfortably!<br /><br />In those days, a large family could live with Rs. seven per month. Paying Rs. 65 for house rent, a princely sum!ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-10903506397388111842008-02-21T05:53:00.000-08:002008-07-09T01:24:59.446-07:00#010 WHERE IS THE SAFETY FOR FISH AND GOATS?Shri Ramakrishna took vows of his monkhood at Dakshineswar, from Shri Totapuri in 1864. Full details, you can in the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, the chapter of Introduction.<br /><br /><blockquote>"... The sacred thread and the tuft of hair were consigned to the fire, completing his severance from caste, sex, and society. Last of all he burnt in that fire, with all that is holy as his witness, his desire for enjoyment here and hereafter. <strong>He uttered the sacred mantras giving assurance of safety and fearlessness to all beings, who were only manifestations of his own Self.</strong> The rites completed, the disciple received from the guru the loin-cloth and ochre robe, the emblems of his new life. ..."</blockquote><br /><br /><em style='background:#ffff88'>Having uttered these sacred mantras of assurance of safety and fearlessness to all beings, how Ramakrishna dealt with meat in his later days?</em><br /><br />The answer for this we can see in the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, Volume I, celebration of his birthday in 1883:<br /><br /><blockquote>ADHAR (to the Master): "Sir, I have a question to ask. Is it good to sacrifice animals before the Deity? It certainly involves killing."<br /><br />MASTER: "<strong>The sastra prescribes sacrifice on special occasions. Such sacrifice is not harmful. Take, for instance, the sacrifice of a goat on the eighth day of the full or new moon</strong>.<br /><br />"I am now in such a state of mind that I cannot watch a sacrifice. Also I cannot eat meat offered to the Divine Mother. Therefore I first touch my finger to it, then to my head, <strong>lest She should be angry with me.</strong><br /><br />"Again, in a certain state of mind I see God in all beings, even in an ant. At that time, if I see a living being die, I find consolation in the thought that it is the <em>death of the body, the soul being beyond life and death</em>.<br /><br />"<strong>One should not reason too much; it is enough if one loves the Lotus Feet of the Mother. Too much reasoning throws the mind into confusion</strong>. You get clear water if you drink from the surface of a pool. Put your hand deeper and stir the water, and it becomes muddy. Therefore pray to God for devotion.</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />1. We can see the superstitiousness of Shri Ramakrishna! He was afraid that Divine Mother would be angry with him. His Guru (who gave him Sanyasa) taught him that Saguna worship (Worship of Gods with form) was foolish. Totapuri did not believe in a personal God! The disciple not only believes a personal Goddess but also fears that she would be angry if he does not touch meat!<br /><br />2. Shri Ramakrishna does not want devotees and disciples to reason deeply. May be Shri Ramakrishna was afraid that if a disciple reasons deeply he would find the truth and does not respect his Gurus who were superstitious!<br /><br />3. There are claims that Ramakrishna had frequent conversations with the Divine Mother. He could have ascertained from her whether she would be angry if he refused to touch meat. He could have also enquired from her whether she had created the Sastras(Scriptures) which stipulated that a goat should be sacrificed on every lunar day.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-56319619220640478222007-09-25T06:48:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:11:30.663-07:00#005 If one has received the commandmentHere is a link to the Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, where you can read the full text of Ramakrishna's visit to houses of two scholars and one Superintendent in Accountant General's Office, Calcutta.<br /><a href='http://www.kathamrita.org/kathamrita/k1sec11.htm'>http://www.kathamrita.org/kathamrita/k1sec11.htm</a>.<br /><br />June 25, 1884. Calcutta. Shashadhara was the first scholar, whose house Ramakrishna visited on the day. Initial appearance was, that Ramakrishna was going to listen to what the scholar had to say from his knowledge. Instead, in a few minutes Ramakrishna makes a declaration:<br /><br /><blockquote>“ ... If one has received the commandment, it is not wrong to teach mankind. When a person teaches after getting the commandment, nobody can defeat him. ... "<br /><br />“ ... When one lights a lamp, swarms of moths come to it by themselves – they don’t have to be called. Similarly, one who has received the commandment doesn’t have to invite people by announcing that a lecture will be delivered at such and such time – no news has to be given. He has such attraction that people themselves rally round him. Then princes and babus come there in groups. And they ask again and again, ‘What will you accept? I have brought mangoes, sandesh (a Bengali sweet), money, shawl etc. What will you accept?’ I tell all those people, ‘Keep them away. I don’t like all this. I don’t want any of these.’ ... "<br /><br />" ... he who has received the commandment can go on preaching as much as he likes. The Mother keeps on pushing heaps of knowledge towards me from behind. This knowledge never comes to an end. If the Mother but once casts a glance, does there remain any scarcity of knowledge then? That is why, I ask whether you have received the commandment or not.” <br /><br />Hazra — Yes, surely he has received the commandment. Isn’t that so, Sir?<br /><br />The Pundit — No, I haven’t received such a commandment.<br /><br />The Host — He may not have received the commandment but he lectures with a sense of duty.<br /><br />Sri Ramakrishna — What will the lectures achieve if the preacher has not received the commandment? ... "<br /><br />" ... When you have the badge of authority, then alone people listen to you. Unless you receive God’s commandment, you cannot teach humanity. He who has to preach must have sufficient spiritual powers. In Calcutta there are so many Hanuman Puris (wrestling clubs) – you will have to wrestle with them. These people (who are seated all around in congregation) are mere animals for sacrifice! ... "</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />What is the essence of all the above "talk of commandment" by Ramakrishna? <br /><br />1. He alone has the authority to preach! He alone has the commandment to preach. <br /><br />2. He alone will get heaps of knowledge in succession from Goddess Kali for the purpose of preaching. <br /><br />3. The listeners are like animals for sacrifice. Or they are like swarms of moths, bringing mangoes, money, shawls, sweets.<br /><br />4. The scholar has no authority to preach.<br /><br />The scholar is modest and truthful enough to say that he did not have the commandment or the authority.<br /><br /><strong>QUESTIONS</strong><br />1. Who gave Ramakrishna the authority to preach? Temple priesthood? Who gave him commandments? Self-declared.<br /><br />2. Whether swarms of moths or animals for sacrifice or not, listeners particularly the rich and influential persons visit God persons because the affluent and elite have more problems and lack peace of mind. They have infinite variety of desires. They have hidden desires and diseases. They want the God persons to solve them or suggest solutions. In return, they will pay the coach fares, feed them with luchis and sandesh (sweets), offer them shawls, bear all their expenses etc. As long as at least a part of the desires are being fulfilled, the devotees visit the God persons, shower them with gifts and wait at their beckoning.<br /><br />3. What a God person needs is not much knowledge of scriptures or philosophy, but a capability to talk convincingly. He must be able to exit safely whenever inconvenient questions are asked, saying "maayaa (illusion)". He must be willing to flatter and occasionally show reluctance to, the rich devotees.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-81120116216243730772007-09-25T05:25:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:07:59.227-07:00#004 RAMAKRISHNA AND PANDAVAS18th Aug. 1883. Ramakrishna's discussions with his admiring devotees and disciples at Dakshineswar Temple.<br /><br /><blockquote>" ... Whatever be the pleasure and pain of the body, the spiritual knowledge of a bhakta, the wealth of his bhakti lasts. This treasure is never lost. Just see what calamities the Pandavas suffered! But they never lost their spiritual consciousness even once amidst their troubles. Where can one find such jnanis and such bhaktas? ... " </blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEWS</strong><br />The 12 year extermination of Pandavas to forests and 1 year exile, the attempted de-robing of Draupadi are all calamities attributable to their own ego and exhibitionism. First, they unnecessarily performed a Rajasuuya Sacrifice by enslaving kings and extracting wealth from them. They built an unnecesarily lavish mansions and halls (Maya sabha), insulted Duryodhana by deceptive architecture. This hurt his self-respect and led him to plot the mischievous gambling binge. Yudhisht`hira and his brothers though initially hesitated to participate in the games of dice, ultimately yielded only because of temptation and covetousness. Yudhisht`hira did not stop after losing his kingdom and wealth. At this stage itself had he stopped the gambling and proceeded to some obscure village with his brothers and wives he would have lived with greater self-respect, albeit in poverty. He continued to wager his four brothers, himself and ultimately Draupadi. What spiritual consciousness is there in all these actions? Bringing in spirituality for worldly failures and appreciating unworthy kings and princes as Gnaanis (enlightened persons) is an erroneous scriptural tradition in Hinduism. And Ramakrishna is a part of it.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-35048031027674356932007-09-23T08:09:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:04:49.821-07:00#003 ASK THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE FOR THE FAREHere is a link to Kathamitra, volume 1, the Gospel of Ramakrishna as recorded by Shri Mahendranath Datta.<br /><a href='http://www.kathamrita.org/kathamrita/k1sec02.htm'>http://www.kathamrita.org/kathamrita/k1sec02.htm</a><br /><br />Oct. 27, 1882. Shri Keshab Chandra Sen, the Brahmo Samaj leader came on a steamer to Dakshmineshwar and sending his disciples invited Ramakrishna to the steamer. Ramakrishna travelled with Keshab from Dakshineswar to the Coal Loading Port on the Hughli River, in Calcutta. On the way Ramakrishna preached him about Brahma, Kali, <br />and Nishkama Karma (Self-less action not expecting results). After getting down from the steamer, Ramakrishna and his disciples engage a cab and board it. Keshab prostrated on the ground before Ramakrishna in reverance and left home. Ramakrishna went to a disciple's house by name Surendra. When the cab reached Surendra' house:<br /><br /><b>Shri Ramakrishna's dress </b>: A red-bordered dhoti, shirt, socks, shoes etc. <br /><br /><blockquote>"... But Surendra was not at home. He has gone to his new garden. The inmates of the house open a room on the ground floor for them to sit. The cab fare is to be paid. Who will pay it? Had Surendra been there, he would have paid. Thakur says to a bhakta, “Ask the ladies of the house for the fare. <b> Don’t they know that their men are frequent visitors? </b> ... "</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEWS</strong><br />*If the husbands visited a Godman frequently, should the wives pay the Godman's cart hire?<br /><br />*Do the Ladies owe an obligation to him? Did the ladies borrow anything from him?<br /><br />*The purpose of Ramakrishna's visiting Surendra's house seems to be to call for Narendra (Vivekananda) and have a look at him. Narendra came. After talking to him, he rushed back to Dakshineswar by bidding farewell to him. Ramakrishna does not wait for the return of Surendra from his garden, whose ladies paid his cab fare and arranged a room for him.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-57402422252618442102007-09-21T06:20:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:12:59.045-07:00#002 DWARF PERSONS TAKE LONG TIME TO ATTAIN GNANA!REVIEW NO 2<br /><br />Around April 1885. House of Shri Balram Bose at Kolkata. Shri Ramakrishna was discussing about one devotee Shri Hazra, with Narendra and Bhavnath and others.<br /><br />Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a great yogi. We do not expect sagelike persons to have prejudices and misconceptions. We expect that they treat everybody with equanimity.<br /><br />Now, let us see what Shri Ramakrishna says about Shri Hazra:<br /><br /><blockquote> ... “And, you know what? It depends on physical traits. <strong>A dwarfish stature and dents here and there on the body are bad signs. Such a person takes a long time to attain jnana.</strong>” ...</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />Really? Does a short person with dents here and there takes long time to attain gnaana (true knowledge)? Are appearances important for self-realisation? What type of preaching is this?<br /><br /><P>Fortunately, the devotee Bhavnath closed this saying "Stop this, sir. Let’s not continue such talk."<br /><br /><P>From this discussion, probably we may also deduce that Ramakrishna preferred Narendra as his principal disciple because he was tall and pahilvan like.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4161519082349431499.post-63399535828371949242007-09-21T05:29:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:14:16.447-07:00#001 IS SLAUGHTERING EVERYBODY ILLUSION?Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a great preacher and priest. His principal greatness was his capability to explain even subtle philosophical concepts with the help of simple anecdotes. <br /><br />For those who are interested to read these beautiful anecdotes, I furnish below a link:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.kathamrita.org/kathamrita2/k2sec24.htm'>http://www.kathamrita.org/kathamrita2/k2sec24.htm</a>.<br /><br />I respect Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa greatly. Yet the sametime, there is a need to have an objective look into his sayings (written by others as said by him). I invite readers to correct me whenever I go wrong.<br /><br />Like many traditional preachers and priests, Ramakrishna also did not say "I do now know" or "I shall search, enquire and tell. Till then we shall postpone this particular item of discussion.". He too depended on the usual "Maya (illusion)" of the almighty.<br /><br />Around April 18, 1885, in the house of Shri Balaram Bose, at Calcutta. (Chapter 7, Vol. 2 of Kathamitra). Bhavnath asked him that in Markandeya Chand`i, the Goddess Chandi (Durga or Shakti) slaughtered everybody one after another and enquired what did it mean.<br /><br />Shri Ramakrishna's reply: <br /><blockquote>"... It is all Her sport. I also used to think about it the same way. Then I saw that it was all maya (illusion). Her creation is, indeed, maya – and so is Her destruction ..."</blockquote><br /><strong>BLOGGER'S VIEW</strong><br />This explanation is absolutely inadequate.ybr (alias ybrao a donkey)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13635995478285822763noreply@blogger.com3