Message of Sri Ramakrishna

Dr.T.V.Rao MD Human life continues to be a mystery, no one really understands purpose of ourselves in this world, before we complete the cycle of our life. India continues to be land of Karma bhumi which is gifted with great saints; Sri Ramakrishna is one who stands tall before many others. Sri Ramakrishna was born in 1836 and passed away in 1886. Sri Ramakrishna, the most revered saint in Bengal, had the astounding distinction of being declared an incarnation of God during his lifetime by many of the prominent scholars of his days. Although he spent the major part of his life just seven miles from Calcutta, then the capital of British India, few came to know about him during his lifetime. Still fewer truly realized his message. Sri Ramakrishnas message, too, remained undiscovered in his own time. Ramakrishnas message is based solely on his own experience and his direct perception of God. A message that is destined to change history takes time to strike root in the minds of people, but the ushering in of that revolution required years until an inspired new generation of scientists came forward. In our lives we come across many turbulent times, we live today in a complex world; on many occasions we have to stand alone. As Bhagavad Gita Emphasise the human birth is a great Maya of the God, as future of anybody is unpredictable. One book that has transformed many is Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and his teaching, proving the

pious men too cannot avoid their own karma and our Hindu philosophy mounted on the principle of Karma (the law of retribution). In the middle of life many of us have crisis on many occasions we questions the purpose of Gods will and I am convinced, the goal of human life is the realization of the Ultimate Reality which alone can give man supreme fulfilment and everlasting peace. This is the essence of all religions. I am a Hindu; my parents never imposed any orthodoxy on me and my kith and kin in the family. I realised that the best practice in life is purity of mind, as it is an essential condition for the attainment of the Ultimate Reality; real purity is freedom from lust and greed. External observances are only of secondary importance. When we are perplexed with uncertainties in life, one should realise we should pray sincerely, practise discrimination between the eternal and the temporal and remain unattached. God listens to our sincere prayer; intense longing is the secret of success in spiritual life. Unless we have little of spirituality it is not possible to develop creativity in our actions. The Hinduism teaches the atman is paramataman, and every living one is potentially divine which Swami Vivekananda learnt from Sri Ramakrishna which continued for his work on human brotherhood. Since God dwells in all people, helping the needy should be done not out of compassion (which is an attitude of condescension) but as humble service to God. Life is not possession of material wealth; Life is an expression of the spontaneous creativity (Lila) of God. Pleasure and pain, success and failure, are to be borne with patience, and one should resign oneself to Gods will under all circumstances. His life is a searchlight of infinite power thrown upon the whole mass of Indian religious thought, in spite of several sects and orthodoxy. He was the living commentary to the Vedas and to their aim. He had lived in one life the whole cycle of the national religious existence in India. When I get a

doubt about my strengths I remember the words of -Sri Aurobindo on Sri Ramakrishna, His was the great superconscious life which alone can witness to the infinitude of the current that bears us all ocean wards. He is the proof of the Power behind us, and the future before us." Many feel practising religion means compassion to poor however Sri Ramakrishna said, "Why compassion? It means condescension. Who are you to be compassionate to the children of the Lord! Not compassion, but serving your fellowbeings in the spirit of serving God." It is the temple of the body where God actually shines. The message has a great impact on Swami Vivekananda, at once he took up message to the heart, and on the basis of this message he organized the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. With advancement of Science, Technology and Economy we develop more dependence on materialist wealth, if you realize the thought of Sri Ramakrishna Can you weep for Him with intense longing of heart? Men shed a jugful of tears for the sake of their children, for their wives, or for money. But who weeps for God? So long as the child remains engrossed with its toys, the mother looks after her cooking and other household duties. But when the child no longer relishes the toys, it throws them aside and yells for its mother. Then the mother takes the rice-pot down from the hearth, runs in haste, and takes the child in her arms. Even God is like our mother, ever willing to take back to his fold. Today the Universe runs on Conflict of Interest, if we realise God is real, God can be realized; this longing for eternal life can be completely fulfilled; there are many ways to the attainment of this goal. And Sri Ramakrishnas life demonstrates these truths in practice. Let us practice a little of Sri Ramakrishna in our lives, we can bear the worldly conflicts with caution and confidence, and can be near to the Divine. Email doctortvrao@gmail.com