Note from Guru Kurt: This fellow seemed to be an earnest devotee of Ramakrishna, but who am I? I spoke in a certain way to him that he should have recognized, but he became upset instead. At least I recognize myself, or so I think on certain occasions. I have always thought, and indeed shall always think, that a white bird appearing against a dark storm cloud is one of the most beautiful and inspiring sights to be seen on earth. It always puts me into a spiritual mood, for one indeed flies through the stormy, dark hell that is earth, and though I see him not I can sometimes imagine what his audience must see, from their high abode, and how many are watching? How long must I wait to learn this number, about which I care so dearly? Half of infinity, it seems, but the longest time interval anyone can imagine will seem as but a second after an infinitely long stretch of such intervals. I am not patient, but the one who holds me has this patience, all the reverence and devotion required to weather this storm, and the growing means to enjoy the sweet sunshine once the storm passes, in his own shy and quiet way.
Dear Sir,
I found a posting on a website that
you probably sent a long time ago, but I wanted to discuss it (http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/).
I will not write again or bother you in any way. You bring up some good points,
but also some other points I wish to clarify. I will paste your words here,
preceded by "Ramakrishna Devotee," and precede mine with "Guru
Kurt."
Ramakrishna Devotee:
Aim of human life, according to
Hinduism, is the realization of GOD. It encourages establishing an intimate
relationship with GOD and gives more stress on the personal experience of GOD.
Religious Scriptures are nothing but the records of the Personal experiences of
the Spiritual leaders. These personalities are called Prophets or
God-Incarnations. Their pure lives are the eternal sources of inspiration and
serve as corrective forces against the degeneration of religions.
Guru Kurt:
The aim of human life is indeed the
realization of God. This is the end-state or culmination of evolution. Hinduism
is unique in the world in that it gives a full description of the evolution of
man, including reincarnation and the process of enlightenment. The best path to
enlightenment, the way of love, is well described in the Bhagavad Gita and the
Bhagavatam, and Ramakrishna set a perfect example of this path for man to
follow. He did this, however, from the perspective of a real Avatar or
incarnation of the Lord. The same person who was born as Jesus, Buddha, Krishna
and Rama was also born as Ramakrishna. He will come again, I believe very soon.
You must however realize that scriptures are not based on personal experiences,
they are revelations from God himself. They are aids to the spiritual
development of man, for the God-man or incarnation, such as Ramakrishna, is
himself ever-free and blissful. He has no need of scriptures or even spiritual
experiences, but reveals to man the truth about the path to enlightenment.
Please do not worry about the degeneration of religion. God supports religion in
every land, and it will never fail. The current state of many modern people is
materialistic. They are convinced that consciousness arises from biochemical
reactions in the brain, which is patently false. There are also many other
people who hold true to religion, as there will ever be.
Ramakrishna Devotee:
One such brilliant Spiritual leader
of the recent history was SRI RAMAKRISHNA. Millions, all over the world, revere
him at par with Krishna, Buddha, Christ and Mohammed. Sri Ramakrishna always
stressed three ideas;
Guru Kurt:
History will indeed show Ramakrishna
on a par with the people that you mention, for it is verily the same divine
being reborn to show the way to man. Love of God and service of God in others
are the heart of the royal path of love, which is the most efficacious for
mankind in general. Few there are indeed who can tread the arduous path of
knowledge, although this path is recommended by many today, such as Sri
Aurobindo and Eknath Easwaran. Hold fast to the Ramakrishna’s teachings, and
you will go far!
Ramakrishna Devotee:
Sri Ramakrishna was not a scholar in
the ordinary sense. But his intuitive wisdom surpassed those of all scholars of
his time of Calcutta, where he lived. He experienced all the sublime spiritual
states recorded in the scriptures in his daily life.
Guru Kurt:
Ramakrishna’s wisdom was not
intuitive, but came from the mighty divine mind of the Creator himself.
Ramakrishna was verily an incarnation of the impersonal Brahman, and as such had
full access to all of Brahman’s vast storehouse of knowledge. He merely
selected a few pearls and gems from this storehouse, and tossed them out for
mankind to enjoy and profit by. He used to toy with the phrase, "Should one
worship the impersonal God or the personal God?," knowing full well that in
future ages he himself would be worshipped as the personification of Brahman. He
used to also say, "Not all can recognize an incarnation of God" to
fool his disciples, while hinting at the real truth. None of them could even
recognize him, although they suspected who he was. An incarnation has no need to
state out loud who he is, for he has nothing to gain from man, but lives only to
serve the spiritual progress of the whole of humanity. As an incarnation,
Ramakrishna’s entire life was a spiritual experience compared to that of an
ordinary human, for I tell you the truth, an Avatar’s thought process is
nothing at all like man’s! Ramakrishna used to jump around like a monkey while
imitating the attitude of Rama’s Hanuman. What human would ever think to do
such a thing? Yet he enjoyed it. When there was a conference of spiritual
leaders of the day that decided he was an incarnation, his response was,
"Well I am glad it is not some kind of disease." What human would say
such a thing? An Avatar’s thought process is completely free from the smallest
taint of self-will or selfishness. It is ever-compassionate, ever-loving, and
ever-tender. What is more, it often contemplates the eternal nature of the
universe within its human frame, and this is the source of Ramakrishna’s daily
experiences of samadhi.
Ramakrishna Devotee:
He identified two main obstacles in
spiritual experience:
Lust,
(kamini)
Greed
for material wealth. (kanchana)
Guru Kurt:
Yes indeed, these are major
obstacles. There are many ways to describe the problem of embodied man. Another
way is to state that as he has come along through evolution, his soul has become
besmirched by inevitable contact with the material realm. It is attracted by the
things that it sees in the world around, and becomes attached to them. Lust is
the desire to possess a woman’s body. Greed is the desire for material wealth,
as you state. The desire for fame is a third evil desire I would add here. One
should not concern oneself with the opinions of others, but should strive to
please God and God alone. In this way one attains freedom from all attachment to
objects, and from the desire for fame and prestige as well. In meditation, in
the stage of dharana one frees the senses from their most evil attachments to
material things. In the stage of dhyana, the mind is completely stilled and one
discovers that one is not the mind but a spirit or soul. In the supreme climax
of samadhi, one realizes one is not separate from Brahman himself. Kamini and
kanchana are the obstacles for the first stage of meditation, where the senses
become free. Ramakrishna’s message here is meant for the majority of mankind,
who will probably not make it this far in their current life. In dhyana, one
faces subtler obstacles, such as the desire for fame that I mentioned. This
desire often remains, although in a burnt-out and degenerate form, even in the
illumined teacher. This is I believe the case with Sai Baba, who adds to his
renown by falsely claiming to be an Avatar. He is misleading many with this
claim.
Ramakrishna Devotee:
Though he was married and was a
loving husband, he was a celibate monk of absolute purity!
Guru Kurt:
Now I will tell you something the
world does not know. The Buddha, Rama, Krishna, Chaitanya, and Mohammed were all
strictly celibate. Could the one who wrote the Bhagavatam, which enjoins
celibacy for monks, have lost his intelligence as he was born again and again?
Certainly not. The tradition that states the Buddha had a child is false.
Mohammed may have had 12 wives, and Chaitanya two or more in succession, but
they all lived as monks and nuns. This is absolutely true.
Ramakrishna Devotee:
He could not even touch coins by his
hands!
Guru Kurt:
Money is indeed the root of all evil,
but unfortunately no other system seems to work for selfish man. In a world
filled with men like Ramakrishna, all would work to make sure that all had
enough. All items of everyday use would be given free to all. Without greed or
the desire for personal possessions (believe me, Ramakrishna had none), where is
the need for money? All property would be held in common in an unselfish
society. People would receive their joy in working for the welfare of all, in
deep and lasting personal relationships with their brethren, and in doing the
righteous will of their Father YHWH in heaven, also called Brahman. However,
this is not practical for the world in which we live. Ramakrishna used his
divine powers to produce a feeling of disgust and loathing for money in all its
forms, to set an example for man and turn man's thoughts in a better direction,
away from the desire to amass money and material possessions.
Ramakrishna Devotee:
He saw God in his own being and in
all other beings around him.
Guru Kurt:
This is indeed the vision one has
after the attainment of nirvikalpa samadhi. God was visible in all around to
Ramakrishna, and he also beheld God within his own heart. In truth, God was a
dearer friend to Ramakrishna than any of his disciples, or his loving wife
Sarada, ever were. Who can state what the relationship is between an incarnation
and the entire mighty spiritual being that he represents? Brahman embodied a
tiny fragment of his personality in the being known as Ramakrishna, yet
Ramakrishna loved Brahman in the form of the Divine Mother dearly. These holy
mysteries are far too deep for man’s limited intellect to comprehend. It is
done for sport and play, and is not just a cold example for mankind. Ramakrishna
really felt the exhilarating rapture and love for God that he described. Who can
understand this?
Ramakrishna Devotee:
His Individual Consciousness always
identified with the Cosmic Consciousness.
Guru Kurt:
Actually, this is only true when he
was immersed in the state of samadhi. He needed to come down from samadhi to
give instruction, and at this time he experienced separate consciousness and
bliss, as he was fond of saying, with his "ripe I."
Ramakrishna Devotee:
Within a short span of fifty years of
life, he practiced all the religious austerities and attained the subsequent
realizations of the ultimate goals and led a very fortunate band of disciples to
God realization.
The highest form of spiritual
attainment in Advaita Vedanta is termed as Nirvikalpa Samadhi by the Scriptures
and they say, a person shall not live not more than 21 days after that
experience. But Ramakrishna’s case transcends all such records and
injunctions. He says, His Divine Mother had kept him in this world to do good to
the humanity after the attainment of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
Guru Kurt:
As an Avatar, Ramakrishna was
ever-free and never needed to perform any sadhana. He did these things to set an
example for mankind, and to have a little fun. There is nothing on earth as
exciting and interesting as striving to attain God. He does this whenever he
visits earth. Jesus had a period of sadhana too, which was lost to history, as
did the Buddha. There was no chance Ramakrishna would perish after his intense
experiences. This is said of human beings who attain nirvana, and Ramakrishna
was not a human being. Again, he was playing with the disciples when he stated
there was a danger of his demise. I will tell you something else. Before his
birth, Ramakrishna was fully aware that he would die at the age of 45 from
cancer. He accepted this because now, all sufferers from this terrible disease
can say that they have a true friend in God! Just like Jesus, Ramakrishna
accepted suffering for the sake of humanity. Who can fathom the magnitude of
this love? Yet, he knew he was an immortal being and that he would be born
again. He even hinted that his next birth would be in a country where English is
the main language. As Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita, an incarnation is
aware of all his past births. He is also aware of his future births.
Ramakrishna Devotee:
According to Ramakrishna, to know God
as the only Reality and the world as an unreality is jnana (knowledge). But he
exhorts to go beyond that highest realization to have "vijnana". He
teaches us, "What is vijnana? It is knowing God in a special way. The
awareness and conviction that fire exists in wood is jnana, knowledge. But to
cook rice on that fire, eat the rice, and get nourishment from it is vijnana. To
know by one’s inner experience that God exists is jnana. But to talk to Him,
to enjoy Him as Child, as Friend, as Master, as Beloved, is Vijnana. The
realization that God alone has become the Universe and all living beings is
vijnana"
Guru Kurt:
I am not sure exactly what he meant
here. I believe he was exhorting man to travel on the blissful and
ever-successful path of love. He was not joking when he stated that one may talk
to God after attaining samadhi. At this time, God answers all questions and
becomes one’s dearest friend.
I will finish up by examining the
quotations you have included by Vivekananda. Be aware that Vivekananda was not
an incarnation like Ramakrishna, but an illumined man. He attained his
illumination by Ramakrishna’s grace alone. Illumination occurs when one
attains union with Brahman within. On the path of love one seeks the Avatar, and
Brahman hides behind this beautiful form. One who discovers the personal Lord
within has verily found Brahman. But for Vivekananda Brahman was present both
within and without, as Ramakrishna! Whenever the Avatar visits planet earth,
many of the people who come into contact with him become enlightened. This was
even true of Jesus’ disciples. Although the Bible makes no mention of this at
all, it is clear from their later works and writings.
Vivekananda:
"Each soul is potentially
divine. The Goal is to manifest this divinity within, by controlling nature,
external and internal"
Guru Kurt:
Every soul is already divine at its
core, as Vivekananda does correctly state in other places. He had a tendency to
drive his points home with force and brevity, although not always with full
accuracy. Brahman has brought all the matter in the universe out of himself, and
he has become the souls of the people and other creatures too. It is his divine
play that as these beings rise up through evolution, they should be enmeshed in
the world and unaware of their real divine and self-radiant nature. A soul must
strive to free itself, and when it is close enough Brahman Himself completes the
process from within, emerging in triumph and glory to extinguish all remaining
traces of self-will in the devotee’s heart and to fill him with divine bliss
and rapture. It is His play that this should be so. What fun would it be if
everyone were already aware that they are Brahman indeed?
Vivekanada was a stern fellow, and
here he recommends the steep and harsh path of self-control. Ramakrishna was
ever recommending instead the gentle and efficacious way of love. One striving
on the path of love finds all his senses, and his whole inward nature, coming
naturally under control. The reason the path of love is more effective than the
stern path of knowledge is that the universe itself is bathed in love.
Brahman’s very nature is love, and although this love is so vast that to us it
seems impersonal, he sends his incarnations so that people have a being that
looks just like them to worship. In loving Ramakrishna, one loves Brahman
himself, and He is pleased with this! Since we depend on His grace operating
from within to complete our path, it behooves us to please him.
Why does Brahman not smile so much on
the person who strives on the path of knowledge, who is independent in his
thinking and struggles mightily against his self-will and selfish desires? It is
because the true relationship of a created being to his Creator should be one of
intense love, not obstinate independence. There is a trace of selfishness in one
striving on the path of knowledge, for he wants in some way to attain the goal
independent of other beings, by his own lonely efforts. He is focussed mainly on
himself. This path does work for some, for effort is always rewarded. Indeed
this person will attain to love too at the end of the path, for the goal of
union with the Self within is the same, who is the source of all love,
knowledge, and action. Yet Brahman feels for us as a parent feels for his only
child. He has set up evolution so that all must struggle to attain him, but
there is a little idea, hidden in the back of his mind, that he really wants to
see everyone free who he loves so dearly. This is why the path of love is more
efficacious. It is because Brahman has a secret desire to free everyone
immediately from their bondage, that he responds to one who loves him truly
(through the intermediacy of an incarnation) as a parent responds to a needy
child. As Ramakrishna used to say, when a baby throws down everything and cries
for its Mother, she comes running!
Vivekananda:
"Do this either by work, or
worship or psychic control, or philosophy- by one, or more, or all of these- and
be free".
Guru Kurt:
Vivekananda has forgotten here the
path of love, which as I explained is the most effective and the most enjoyable.
Selfless work done for the sake of the Lord is a very effective tool. It
combines the paths of action and love, and is blessed by God. Most worship is a
mere formality and lip service, and with this God is not impressed. This is why
God is a little irritated with the Christians, for they believe a little
recitation of doctrine is sufficient for leading a good spiritual life. Brahman
much prefers a life of meditation and selfless service. Meditation is superior
to prayer, for all prayer is requesting or extorting things from God. God,
please protect this person (and not all other people). God, please get me a car
by Christmas. God this, God that. In meditation, one aims to transform oneself
into a divine being, and this is much more pleasing to Him. He wants his
creatures to grow spiritually, to increase in virtues like compassion and mercy,
and to begin to experience the joys of bhakti and the states leading to
illumination, for dharana and dhyana are also sweet, not just samadhi. He
watches closely, understanding the purpose and inner intent of the meditator,
and helps him if the aspirant is intense in his longing. He responds to prayer
too, but only in his own way. He seldom grants material desires, and to tell you
the truth if he is going to protect someone he does so without being asked.
I am not sure what "psychic
control" is. This may have been something popular in the 19th
century that I have never heard about. Philosophy, however, is again the path of
knowledge. It is not possible to make much progress reading books, but
discussions about religious topics, particularly when it is with an illumined
teacher, are indeed beneficial. God approves of all rational discussions, for he
gave man the rational faculty to develop in himself. God even approves of the
discussions of atheists, for at least they are thinking, although not rightly.
He does not approve of their actual lives, however, but he appreciates their
attempts to rule him out. He finds them quite humorous. Imagine being an
invisible man, sitting down at a table right next to some people trying to
decide whether you exist or not! Nevertheless, there is not much real stuff in
philosophical discussions. Meditation and selfless work are required to make
actual, substantial changes in one’s soul, and to move quickly along the path
to enlightenment.
Vivekananda:
"This is the whole of religion.
Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but
secondary details".
Guru Kurt:
Vivekananda has not stated the whole
of religion here, for he forgot love of God, the main point! What he means is
the attainment of the Self is the most important ideal in life, and these
secondary aids fall away as one progresses along the path. While this is true,
they are necessary for a certain class of people. Tamasic or slothful people
also make progress, in their own sluggish way. It is good to have standard
religious worship, with the recitation of doctrine, if one is not yet prepared
to take the full plunge into vigorous spiritual effort. If one cannot eat the
delicious soup that is being served, one can at least smell the soup as the
waiters pass by!