Advice To The Brahmos

Saturday, April 7, 1883

SRI RAMAKRISHNA was visiting Balarām in Calcutta, with Narendra, Bhavanath, Rakhal , M., and others. Balarām, at the Master’s bidding, had invited some of the young devotees to lunch. Sri Ramakrishna often said to him:

“Feed them now and then; that will confer on you the merit of feeding holy men.”

The Master looked on his young disciples, yet untouched by “woman and gold”, as veritable embodiments of God.

A few days earlier Sri Ramakrishna had been to Keshab’s house with Narendra and Rakhal to see a performance of the play entitled Nava-Vrindāvan. Narendra had taken part in the performance, in which Keshab had played the role of Pavhari Baba.

MASTER: “Keshab came on the stage in the role of a holy man and sprinkled the ‘Water of Peace’. But I didn’t like it. The idea of sprinkling such water on a theatrical stage after a performance!

“Another gentleman played the part of Sin. That is not good either. One should not commit sin; one should not even feign it.”

Narendra’s music

The Master wanted to hear Narendra sing. The young disciple was not feeling well, but at the Master’s earnest request he sang to the accompaniment of the Tānpura:

Sing, O bird that nestles deep within my heart! Sing, O bird that sits on the Kalpa-Tree of Brahman! Sing God’s everlasting praise. . . .

Then he sang:

Brahman, Joy of the whole universe, Supreme Effulgence; God beginningless, Lord of the world, the very Life of life! . . .

O King of Kings, reveal Thyself to me! I crave Thy mercy. Cast on me Thy glance! At Thy dear feet I dedicate my life, Seared in the fiery furnace of this world. My heart, alas, is deeply stained with sin; Ensnared in maya, I am all but dead. Compassionate Lord! Revive my fainting soul With the life-giving nectar of Thy grace.

Narendra continued:

Upon the tray of the sky blaze bright The lamps of Sun and moon; Like diamonds shine the glittering stars To deck Thy wondrous form. The sweet Malaya breeze blows soft, For fragrant incense smoke; The moving air sways to and fro The fan before Thy holy face: Like gleaming votive lights The fresh and flowery groves appear. How wonderful Thy worship is, O Slayer of birth and death! The sacred Om, from space arisen, Is the resounding drum. My mind craves nectar day and night At Hari’s Lotus Feet; Oh, shower the waters of Thy grace On thirsty Nanak, blessed Lord; And may Thy hallowed name Become his everlasting home!

He sang again:

In Wisdom’s firmament the moon of Love is rising full, And Love’s flood-tide, in surging waves, is flowing everywhere. O Lord, how full of bliss Thou art! Victory unto Thee! . . .

Then at the Master’s bidding Bhavanath sang:

Where is a friend like Thee, O Essence of Mercy? Where is another friend like Thee To stand by me through pain and pleasure? Who, among all my friends, forgives my failings, Bringing me comfort for my grief, Soothing my spirit in its terror?

Thou art the Helmsman who dost steer life’s craft Across the world’s perilous sea; Thy grace it is alone, O Lord, That silences my raging passions’ storm. Thou pourest out the waters of peace Upon my burning, penitent soul: And Thine is the bosom that will shelter me When every other friend I own Deserts me in my dying hour.

True renunciation

Narendra said to the Master with a smile, referring to Bhavanath, “He has given up fish and betel-leaf.”

MASTER: “Why so? What is the matter with fish and betel-leaf? They aren’t harmful. The renunciation of ‘woman and gold’ is the true renunciation. “Where is Rakhal?”

A DEVOTEE: “He is asleep, sir.”

MASTER (with a smile): “Once a man went to a certain place to see a theatrical performance, carrying a mat under his arm. Hearing that it would be some time before the performance began, he spread the mat on the floor and fell asleep. When he woke up it was all over. (All laugh.) Then he returned home with the mat under his arm.” Ramdayal was very ill and lay in bed in another room. The Master went there to inquire about him.

About 4pm some members of the Brahmo Samaj arrived. The Master began to converse with them.

Study of scriptures for the beginner

A BRAHMO: “Sir, have you read the Panchadasi?”

MASTER: “At first one should hear books like that and indulge in reasoning. But later on-

Cherish my precious Mother Syama Tenderly within, O mind; May you and I alone behold Her, Letting no one else intrude. “One should hear the scriptures during the early stages of spiritual discipline. After attaining God there is no lack of knowledge. Then the Divine Mother supplies it without fail.

“A child spells out every word as he writes, but later on he writes fluently.

“The goldsmith is up and doing while melting gold. As long as the gold hasn’t melted, he works the bellows with one hand, moves the fan with the other, and blows through a pipe with his mouth. But the moment the gold melts and is poured into the mould, he is relieved of all anxiety.

“Mere reading of the scriptures is not enough. A person cannot understand the true significance of the scriptures if he is attached to the world. Though with intense delight I learnt many poems and dramas, I have forgotten them all, entrapped in Krishna’s love. “Keshab enjoys the world and practises yoga as well. Living in the world, he directs his mind to God.”

A devotee described the Convocation of Calcutta University, saying that the meeting looked like a forest of human heads.

MASTER: “The feeling of the Divine is awakened in me when I see a great crowd of people. Had I seen that meeting, I should have been overwhelmed with spiritual fervour.”