Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa Quotes - The Gospel of Ramakrishna

Dear Readers ,

Many of us living as householders often wonder if family life and the pursuit of wealth conflicts with the attainment of spirituality. The question then arises - Is the pursuit of money bad ?

Here's an explanation and a clarification from one of the greatest spiritual teachers the world has seen ....Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. This is a Quote from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.

The term "Master " in the following conversation refers to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. The person "M " is a disciple that he is conversing with and the recorder of The Gospel.

God and worldly duties :

M: "Sir, may I make an effort to earn more money?"

MASTER: "It is permissible to do so to maintain a religious family. You may try to increase your income, but in an honest way. The goal of life is not the earning of money, but the service of God. Money is not harmful if it is devoted to the service of God."

M: "How long should a man feel obliged to do his duty toward his wife and children?"

MASTER: "As long as they feel pinched for food and clothing. But one need not take the responsibility of a son when he is able to support himself. When the young fledgling learns to pick its own food, its mother pecks it if it comes to her for food."

M: "How long must one do one's duty?"

MASTER: "The blossom drops off when the fruit appears. One doesn't have to do one's duty after the attainment of God, nor does one feel like doing it then.

"If a drunkard takes too much liquor he cannot retain consciousness. If he takes only two or three glasses, he can go on with his work. As you advance nearer and nearer to God, He will reduce your activities little by little. Have no fear. 

"Finish the few duties you have at hand, and then you will have peace. When the mistress of the house goes to bathe after finishing her cooking and other household duties, she won't come back, however you may shout after her."

                                                        ********

Note to readers : In the above excerpt " Service to God" almost always means utilising one's wealth for the greater good of humanity. Helping those that are in need and that have less than us .

Source and credits : 

The above excerpt is from Chapter 4 of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and can be read by visiting our Life Transforming Books section and scrolling down to THE GOSPEL. You could also simply click on the Gospel and the Book will open up for you.

Inspirational Quotes in Hindi with an English translation (Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya Books).

Dear Readers , 

Enclosed here are two fabulous  quotes from Pt Shriram Sharma Acharya's Book - " Rishi Chintan Key Sannidhye Mein ". The original Quotes are in Hindi and an attempt has been made to capture the corrosponding  meaning in English . 

The First quote answers the following question : " When are our prayers successful? " . To read the full Quote or read this fabulous Book of Quotes , please click on the book link provided at the bottom of the article.

The second Quote tells us that our lives should be spent purposefully in the pursuit of "Knowledge and Wisdom". Knowledge gained in one life is carried over to the next life and hence the greatest wealth is the "Wealth Of Knowledge".

Quotes in Hindi :

प्रार्थना कब सफल होगी ?

"ईश्वर से की गयी प्रार्थना का तभी उत्तर मिलता है, जब हम अपनी शक्तियों को काम में लायें |

आलस्य , प्रमाद, आकर्णमयता और अज्ञान यह सब अवगुड यदि मिल जाएँ तोह मनुष्य कि दशा वह हो जाती है जैसे किसी कागज़ के थैले के अंदर तेज़ाब भर दिया जाये | ऐसा थैला अधिक समय तक न ठैर सकेगा और बहुत जल्द गल कर नष्ट हो जायेगा ।

ईश्वरीय नियम बुद्धिमान माली के समान हैँ , जो कूड़े घास को निकाल फेंकता है और योग्य पौधों कि भरपूर साज़ संभल रखकर उन्हें उन्नत बनाता है | 

जिसके खेत में बेकार खर-पतवार  उगे पड़े होंगे , उस खेत की फसल मारी जायेगी । ऐसे किसान कि कौन प्रशंसा करेगा , जो अपने खेत कि दुर्दशा करता हैं । निस्चय ही ईश्वरीय नियम निकम्मे पदार्थों कि गन्दगी हटाते रहतें हैं , ताकि सृष्टि का सौंदर्य नष्ट ना हो पाये । "

                                                              - पेज ६५ , बुक : "ऋषि चिंतन के सान्निध्य में "

English abbreviation and translation of the above Quote :

Quote in Hindi :

ज्ञान का संचय | 

" विद्वान पुरुष सुगन्धित पुष्पों के सामान हैं । वे जहां जाते हैं वहाँ आनन्द  साथ ले जाते हैं । उनका सभी जगह घर है और सभी जगह स्वदेश है । विद्या धन है । अन्य वस्तुएँ तो उसकी समता में बहुत तुच्छ हैं । यह धन ऐसा है जो अगले जनमो में भी साथ रहता हैं । विद्या द्वारा संचारित कि हुई बुद्धि आगामी जन्मों में क्रमशः उन्नति ही करती जाती हैँ और उससे जीवन उचतम बनते हुए पूर्णता तक पहुँच जाता है । 

कुए को जितना गहरा खोदा जाए, उसमें से उतना ही अधिक जल प्राप्त होता जाता है । जितना अधिक अध्ययन किया जाये उतना ही ज्ञानवान बना जा सकता है । विश्व क्या है और इसमें कितनी आनंदमयी शक्ति भरी हुई है , इसे वही  जान सकता है , जिसने विद्या पढ़ी है । ऐसी अनुपम सम्पति का उपार्जन करने में ना जाने क्यों लोग आलस्य करते है ?
 आयु का कोई प्रशन नहीं है,चाहे मनुष्य वृद्ध हो जाए या मरने के लिए चारपाई पर पड़ा हो तो भी विद्या प्राप्त करने में उत्साहित होना चाहिए क्योंकि ज्ञान तो जन्म -जन्मांतरों तक साथ जाने वाली वस्तु है। 

वे मनुष्य बड़े अभागे है जो विद्या पढ़ने में जी चुराते हैं । भिखारी को दाता के सामने जैसे तुच्छ बनना पड़ता है , ऐसे ही यदि तुम्हे शिक्षकों के सामने तुच्छ बनना पड़े तोह भी शिक्षा प्राप्त करना ही कर्तव्य है। 

                                               _- पेज ६२  , बुक : "ऋषि चिंतन के सान्निध्य में "

English abbreviation and Translation of the above Quote:

                                                          *********

Source and credits :

The above Quotes are from the fabulous book of Quotes in Hindi, titled - "Rishi Chintan Key Sannidhye Mein ". To read this book online please click the book title and the Book will open up for you.

To Know more about Yugrishi Shriram Sharma Acharya ( He was Ramakrishna Paramhansa in his previous life) please click the Wikipedia Link enclosed here.