Sri Sri Ramakrishna-The Moral Stories

Moral Stories

  According to Sri Ramakrishna, Guru or the Ideal is ‘Sachidananda’. To carry  the commands or the fulfillment of ‘Sachidananda’ is Dharma. Age after age, God comes on earth as Guru assuming the human body, for mass learning. He is the initiator. He gives the ‘naming sound’ through initiation which is the media of meditation of a sadhak or worshiper. We have to carry faith on his words. If we carry his words consciously, we can see the appearance of God by the blessings of Guru. Thakur Ramakrishna used to teach his disciples through short stories.
 One day Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansha was discussing regarding the Jayan Yoga and Bhakti (Devotion)Yoga of Sreemad Vagabat Gita. Sri Ramakrishna, addressing a young boy advised him to be faithful, be dependent on worshiped God or Goddess. Goddess Kali can do all(Goddess Kali was his worshiped Goddess). He also advised to acquire devotion in life, leaving the practice of wisdom. Wisdom can surround the outer portion of a residential building but devotion can reach to the inner parts of a dwelling house(the words building, house are used to imply human body). The pure soul comes in the world taking a human body. His all natures are related to the common human beings but  He is free from earthly attachment. Thakur Ramakrishna also explained that sometimes we get fragrant and sometimes bad odour in same air, but air is non attached. In relation he told a story- 

 Faith on the Words of Guru:                           

 In the Purana, Vyasdev believed that god Narayana exists in him and in all creatures. Whatever he ate, he believed that all were eaten by Narayana. One day he would cross the river Yamuna and came at the ferry tower. The milk women came there to cross the river. But they were not getting the boat. The milk women addressing him as thakur and asked what would be then. Vyasadeva acknowledged and told that he would help them to cross the river but he was hungry and asked for food. The women had with them different milk made products and served those to him. He ate all. Then the milkmaids asked how they would cross the river. Vyasadeva went to the bank of the river and told if he did not eat anything that day, the river would be divided in two parts and they would cross the river through the middle way. Listening the words, the river divided. The milkmaids became astonish. They started to think that he had just eaten but he considered that if he would not eat anything…….In reply, he told," I have not eaten food but it is eaten by God Narayana. He is the supreme power who is existing in him and the God made the way in the water, not by himself."(Source: Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita.)
 The moral: "I have not eaten food" that means 'I' am that pure soul. Pure soul is unattached to the worldly thing. He has no hunger or thrust, no birth or death- he is immortal like North Pole.

Faith on Guru or Living Ideal
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Two Types of Worshipers:     

 He considered two types of worshipers- one like baby monkey and another is like kitten. The baby monkey can hold his mother in a tight grasp. Like that some worshipers can think that they have to do more practice of silent prayers and religious austerities and to be absorbed more in religious meditation to get the God.  

 These types of worshipers try their level best to get God paying their own efforts. They give their main attention on religious behavior and practices.

Worshipers like Baby Monkey
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   The another worshipers are like kittens. The kitten cannot catch its mother. It only cries repeating the sound mew-mew. All things are done by mother cat. The mother taking the kitten in her mouth move hither and thither and placed him sometimes on bed, on table, on rack, on roof, on roads, on trees,  sometimes in the garbage room  and in different safety places taking proper care. The mother also provides food time to time. The kitten does not know how to catch its mother.

 The second type of worshipers cry anxiously for the God. They always are attached with repeating of naming sounds, given by the Guru. They never give their concentration on rubrics(traditional customs). Once the God becomes please to the fidelity of the devotee and appears to him.(Source: Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita.)

Worshipers like Kittens
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 One day, a devotee asked,"Have you seen Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar? What do you feel about him?" In reply, he tells that Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar what ever work has done, that is very good. Kindness is a very good virtue. But there is a difference between 'Kindness' and 'Maya'(illusion). 'Kindness' is good but 'Maya' is not good. 'Maya' means love to father, mother, brothers, sisters,very close relatives etc. 'Kindness implies the love to all creatures.

 Master(Sir, the other devotee) asked," Is kindness a binding?"

 Sri Ramakrishna replied that this word is in a distant time. 'Kindness' derives from 'Swatta Guna'(The first of the three natural qualities of creatures). 'Swatta Guna' learns upbringing, 'Rajo Guna'(The second of the three natural qualities of creatures) learns creation and 'Tamo Guna'(The third of the three natural qualities of creatures) learns destroy. But 'Brahma'(God) is above all these qualities. The three natural qualities never reach there where He lives. As an example, a thief never go to an open place or right place because he has the fear as he will be caught by police or people. Similarly, 'Swatta', 'Rajo' and 'Tamo' all are characterized like the thief. He told a story-

 One day a man was going through the forest. Suddenly, three thieves caught him and robbed all things. One of the thieves wanted to kill the man after robbing but the second thief resisted. He suggested to leave the man in the forest binding him with a rope. They did that and left the place. After few minutes, the third thief came and made the man free from the rope and told to follow him as he can reach him to the main road. after few minutes, they reached on the main road and indicating a narrow road the thief told,"That is the way to your house, you go on." Then the man told'"You have done good, now you can come with me to my house." The thief told,"No; I have no way to go there, the police or public can catch me."

Sri Ramakrishna discussed the moral of the story and told that our family is nothing but a forest. In this forest three thieves are living- 'Swatta', 'Rajo', and 'Tamo'(the three natural qualities of creatures). 'Tamo Guna' wants to destroy the human beings. 'Rajo Guna' binds the human being in family. But 'Swatta Guna' saves the human being from these two qualities. If any one acquires 'Swatta Guna', he can get relief from the hands of sex- urge, anger etc. which are under 'Tamo Guna'. 'Swatta Guna' makes the human being free from worldly attachments. But it is also like a thief, it never be able to give the knowledge of 'Brahma'(God) but helps to proceed on the way towards absolute state. 'Swatta Guna' lies in far distance from the knowledge of 'Brahma'.

How to Lead the Domestic Life 

  A maid servant was  appointed in a rich family.  She did all works of the house as cooking, washing, sweeping, taking care of the children and aged members of the family etc. She also used to participate in all occasions observed in the family and enjoyments. Even any member died in the family, she also wept with other family members. Ultimately she was closely related with the family. But always she thought that she was not their family member. It was always others’ house to her.

 Accordingly, Sri Ramakrishna, we have always to lead the domestic life passively or with non attachment.

(Source: Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita.) 

Maid Servant In A Rich Family
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 Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansha was a human being of pure soul. He was the 'Guru' or an 'Living Ideal' who initiated Swami Vivekananda. He was not a preacher but an 'Avatar Purus'(He who behold the physical appearance of God). He was such a person who overcome the three 'Gunas'(Swatta, Rajo, Tamo, three qualities in creatures) and realized the existence of 'Brahma' through self actualization.