4.Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
[Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a revered Hindu monk and spiritual teacher, widely known as the guru of Swami Vivekananda. Born on February 18, 1836, he passed away on August 16, 1886. From a young age, Ramakrishna followed a deeply spiritual path, dedicating himself to the devotion of Goddess Kali. Often immersed in ecstatic joy, or Anandalahari, he later evolved into a proponent of Advaita Vedanta. His disciples revered him as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and it is said that he played a pivotal role in shaping the spiritual journey of Swami Vivekananda, then a young man named Narendra. Through simple yet profound stories, Ramakrishna imparted deep Vedantic truths that continue to inspire generations.]
1. The Story of the Milkmaid
Once, there was a milkmaid who lived on the banks of River Ganges. She milked her cow every
morning and crossed the river to deliver milk to a Brahmin. Often, she arrived
late because the boat did not come on time. Frustrated, the Brahmin scolded her
and said, “Why is it so difficult for you to cross the Ganges? Many people call
upon God and cross the ocean of life. Why don’t you do the same?”
Taking his words to heart, the milkmaid began
calling upon God’s name and miraculously started bringing milk on time every
day. Curious, the Brahmin asked her how she managed this feat without the boat.
She replied, “As you suggested, I call upon God’s name and walk across the
river.”
The Brahmin, unable to believe her, decided to
witness it himself. To his amazement, he saw her walking across the water while
chanting God’s name.
When Ramakrishna’s disciples asked their Guru how this miracle was possible, he replied,
“Miracles are born from complete faith and a strong sense of purpose. If you
have unwavering faith, anything is possible. God is always with us as our eternal
companion.”
2. A Mother Seeking the Guru’s
Advice
One day, a woman visited Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
with her young son. After attending his lecture, she approached him and said,
“Guru, please help my son overcome his bad habit.”
“What is his bad habit?” asked the Guru.
“He has an uncontrollable love for sweets,” she
explained. “No matter how much I bring home—jaggery, sugar, or other sweets—he
eats everything at once. We are not wealthy, and I can’t afford to feed him
like this.”
The Guru replied, “Come back after two weeks, and I
will help him.”
When they returned after two weeks, the Guru called
the boy aside and advised him to stop eating sweets excessively. The boy
promised he wouldn’t upset his mother again.
Puzzled, the disciples later asked Ramakrishna,
“Why didn’t you give this advice two weeks ago?”
The Guru smiled and said, “At that time, I too was
a slave to sweets. Over the past two weeks, I rid myself of this habit. Only
now am I qualified to instruct him. One should never advise others to overcome
habits that one hasn’t conquered oneself.”
3. Love for All Creatures
Once, while crossing a river with his disciples,
Ramakrishna noticed a centipede struggling in the water. Feeling compassion, he
carefully picked it up to place it on the shore. However, the frightened
centipede bit his hand, causing him to drop it back into the river. Undeterred,
he tried again, and the centipede bit him once more.
Despite the pain, Ramakrishna used a stick to
gently save the creature and bring it to safety.
A disciple asked, “Master, why did you persist in
helping it, even though it hurt you repeatedly?”
Ramakrishna replied, “The centipede acted out of
its nature, which is to bite when it feels threatened. My nature, however, is
to love and help those in distress. Should I change my behaviour because of its
nature?”
4. How to Live
Ramakrishna once explained to his disciples how to
live a balanced life. He said, “Live like a servant in a wealthy household. The
maid diligently cooks, cleans, and cares for the children, but her mind is
always on her own home. She knows that nothing in the house—neither the people
nor the possessions—truly belongs to her.
“In the same way, we must devote our minds to God
while performing our duties in this world. Understand that everything—our home,
family, and possessions—belongs to God. We are merely caretakers. This is the
ultimate reality, and understanding it brings peace.”
5. Importance of Dispassionate
Action
Ramakrishna often emphasized the significance of
performing worldly duties with detachment. He illustrated this with the example
of a dry coconut.
“When a coconut is green, its kernel clings tightly
to the shell and is difficult to separate. But once the coconut dries, the
kernel detaches easily without breaking the shell. Similarly, when we practice
detachment, we can face life’s challenges without fear, pain, or undue
eagerness.
“Cultivate detachment in thoughts, words, and
actions. This indifference, or vairagya, brings peace of mind and true
happiness.”
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