Pranam,
Chirag Patel, USA

Yours in the Holy Trinity,

Satwik
Bangalore, India

It is our privilege to be allowed to be charitable, for only so can we grow. The poor man suffers that we may be helped; let the giver kneel down and give thanks, let the receiver stand up and permit.

This completely shattered my illusions about charity and left me in a daze. I recall reading and re-reading it. Particularly interesting is the reversal of roles between the so-called “giver” and the so-called “receiver”. How often we believe we are doing others a service when engaging in some form of charity when truly, it is about our being allowed to be charitable. It makes one realize that one is blessed to give and that one ought to give with an attitude of humility – not superiority.
Hari Om Tat Sat.
Nirmala Balkaran
Ladysmith, SA

Dear Sister
Yes, Swamiji’s statement is, indeed bold! I always feverishly quote this when I dwell upon the Charity concept in my Talks. Don’t we see poor ladies in rags practically standing on the road junctions and seeking help? What if we can part with a little money or food items that are wasted anyway? The objection comes that how do we know that they are genuine and would they utilise our ‘gift’ properly? To this, the above-quoted Swamiji’s inspiring words are the only answer.
And you have rightly concluded that It makes one realize that one is blessed to give and that one ought to give with an attitude of humility – not superiority.
Swami Vimokshananda

I have a question which I haven’t asked anyone yet. Thakur believed in all different paths. He devoted his life for MAA in SAAKAARA form as well as NIRAAKAARA. He asked for devotion and DHYAANA from all. He also did not want anybody calling him GURU or BHAGWAAN.

Why then Ramakrushna mission worships Thakur as God? Isn’t that different practice from what Thakur himself taught us all?
Pranam,
Chirag Patel, USA
http://rutmandal.info

Dear Chirag
You are welcome with your question.
Firstly, congrats for reading about Sri Ramakrishna! Where did you get that Thakur “did not want anybody calling him Guru or Bhagawaan”?
There are instances where HE CATEGORICALLY TOLD TO SOME OF HIS “DISCIPLES” specially “MONASTIC DISCIPLES” (for eg. to Swami Yoganandaji) and in some cases even Householder Disciples (for eg. Girish Chandra Ghosh), that they can continue worshipping HIM as GOD.
I have encountered the question in our youth meetings whether Thakur is a simple human. saint, or avatar or God. The best answer is Thakur is what He really is and what He makes you understand of Him. He is Unknown but definitely not unknowable. It is the conviction of every monk that Thakur IS God.
See the mystery of his birth…Both Master’s parents had visions that the Lord will be born in their home….. Kshudiram dreamt at Gaya that Lord Vishnu will be born in his home and then Chandramani had a light engulf her body from the Shivaling…also before the birth of Master.
Ordinarily mortals attain self realisation through a course of intense spiritual discipline, while eternally perfect beings (Avatar) come down on earth with the realisation already in them. Most of the time they disguise themselves as ordinary mortals. After reading the Life and Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna ….ONE MUST DECIDE FOR HIMSELF WHAT SRI RAMAKRISHNA WAS! Or IS! His actions, His words and deeds will speak for themselves.
In order to arrive at a somewhat intelligible assessment, I give below two links which when you click, will open and please read them.
http://issuu.com/vimoksha/docs/sri_ramakrishna_the_unknown
http://issuu.com/vimoksha/docs/devotees_visions_of_the_master
May Thakur provide the necessary illumination to understand Him.
Swami Vimokshananada

Just read through your conversation above with Sucheta. In case you have not heard about it, one site which can be used is http://www.esnips.com where you can upload upto 5GB data (in any form) with free account, and others can either listen to the tracks or download them. Just thought of sharing this in case it is useful.

Hari Om!
~Vaibhav.