Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna
-
As a lamp does not burn without oil, so a man cannot live without God.
-
A boat may stay in water, but water should not stay in the boat. As aspirant may live in the world, but the world should not live within him.
- All women are parts of the Divine Mother, and therefore they should be looked upon as mothers by all.
- As one and the same water is called different names by different people, some call it “water”, some “vari”, some “aqua” and some “pani”. As the one Sachidananda – Existance – Intelligence – Bliss – Absolute – is invoked by some as God, by some as Allah, by some as Hari and by others as Brahman.
- In a potters shop there are vessels of different shapes and forms – pots, jars, dishes, plates etc but all are made of the same clay. So God is one but he is worshipped in different ages, and times under different names and aspects.
- He who has faith has all, but he who lacks it lacks all.
- If you must be mad, be it not for the things of the world. Be mad with the love of God.
- As one thinks, so does one become.
- Whatever you offer to God will return to you a thousand fold.
- Be not a traitor to your thoughts. Be sincere, act according to your thoughts and you shall surely succeed. Pray with a sincere and simple heart and your prayer will be heard.
- Our duty is to fall down and adore where others only bow.
- Disease is the tax which the soul pays for the use of the body, as the tenant pays for the use of the house.
- Till one becomes simple like a child, one cannot get divine illumination.
- As a mother, in nursing her sick children, gives rice and curry to one, sago and arrow root to another, and bread and butter to a third, so the Lord has laid out for different men different paths suitable to their nature.
- One cannot have the vision of God as long as one has these three – shame, hatred and fear.
- He is born in vain who, having attained the human birth, so difficult to get, does not attempt to realize God in this very life.
- Be not a traitor in your thoughts. Be sincere, act according to your thoughts, and you will surely succeed. Pray with a sincere and simple heart, and your prayers will be heard.
- Don’t find fault with anyone, not even with an insect. As you pray to God for devotion, so also pray that you may not find fault with anyone.
- If you must be mad, why should you be mad for the things of the world? If you must be mad, be mad for God alone.
- There is a popular saying that Hanuman jumped over the sea through his faith in Rama’s name, but Rama himself had to build a bridge.
- Live in the world like a waterfowl. The water clings to the bird, but the bird shaker it off. Live in the world like a mudfish. The fish lives in the mud, but its skin is always bright and shinny.
- Have faith. Depend on God. Then you will not have to do anything yourself. Mother Kali will do everything for you.
- O mother, thou art the operator and I am the machine. Thou art the driver and I am the carriage. I move as thou movest me, I do as thou makest me do. I speak as thou makest me speak. Not I, Not I but thou, but thou.