Ramakrishna Upanishad
Part 1
Ramakrishna did not write any book. He did not give any lectures. He led a pure life of renunciation. His teaching is in the talks he had with his devout disciples. They have later reduced them in writing.
Ramakrishna saw god in his heart and in everything outside. Just as we see with clarity and certainty others we interact with, he saw god in everything. Such wonderful souls are born from time time in many countries. There is a special power to the words of such divine personalities. When Maharishis speak, their entire life speaks, not just wisdom.
Ramakrishna said once, “As soon as a traveller arrives in a city, he seeks an abode, lodges his baggage there, goes around his business and then returns to the abode he has already secured. If he had not fixed a place to stay in advance, he would have been in a spot at night. Likewise, the abode for rest of mind is god as we go about the affairs of the world. There will come a time when our happiness is at an end and a darkness envelopes our life. We need a refuge at that time. Let us realise the need for the abode that is god.”
When we take water from a pond, we take the clear water from the surface. We should not muddy it. We should not sully our minds with needless debates if we want to lead a pure and dharmic life. Our limited knowledge is like water in a small pond. If we stir it much, only mud will come up.
All of us know that curd has butter in it. It will come up only if we churn, not by just knowing or chanting. If we want to know god, we must have bhakthi and yearn for knowing just like a child yearns to see the mother that is out of sight.
Part 2
Different Religions
About a hundred years ago, Ramakrishna preached:
“We can attain god and his grace in several divergent ways. Have you not seen several ghats in a river? Similarly, there are several ghats to the flood of bliss of god. We can reach it by any ghat, bathe and collect water. Whatever be the way, if we are pure and devoted, we can reach god. Everyone must follow his creed. Whichever creed you follow, if you are devout, people of other creed will respect you.”
We see the same teaching in the inscriptions of Asoka that dates back two millennia. In Gita, Krishna said the same thing thousands of years ago. The message of Gandhi, who took birth in our lifetime and guided us in many aspects, is much the same. Let us adhere to it steadfastly and conduct ourselves accordingly.
Part 3
Pure mind
While looking at a beautiful lady, one must meditate on Devi, Mother of the world. Ramakrishna followed this. We should not cast aspersions on women, talk ill of them or castigate them as deceitful.
Think of Sita languishing under Asoka tree if you get swayed by a beautiful woman.
The spring of good and bad is in our minds. The thoughts that inhabit the mind materialise as external action. Do not think that no one would know your mind and sully your mind progressively. If you do so, you will fall into evil ways.
Part 4
Scriptural knowledge is not wisdom
One day, the renowned Kesava Chandra Sen of Brahma Samaj was talking to Ramakrishna, “For some reason even educated vidwans are infatuated. Though well versed in scripture, they struggle without giving up desire and attachment.”
Ramakrishna said, “The vultures fly high in the sky. But, their eyes are fixed on carcasses below.”
Even if one reads great books, mind will be attracted to objects of desire. Education and desires are different. Desire and attachment prove a stumbling block to wisdom from scripture.
The almanac predicts rain. It may even come to pass. But by squeezing the almanac, not even a drop of water can be obtained. We can learn many good things from dharmic books, but that itself will not lead to bhakti. Only if one follows its precepts and controls the mind, bhakti will manifest.
We take a list of things to buy from a shop. After buying the items, the slip is of no use. By memorising what is in the slip, one will not get the things in the list. Knowing the route to a place is necessary, but not enough. One must go in that route.
Part 5
The recluse and the dasi
A recluse lived near a temple. A dasi’s house was opposite his abode. He used to watch a number of people visit her daily. He was worried that so many were falling to bad ways. One day, he called the dasi and told her, ‘Sinner, you are into evil. What will you do when the messengers of Yama call you to account?’
She felt sorry and prayed to god to find a way for her to end her sinful life. She had no other means of livelihood and continued in her ways. But, her mind was devoted to god.
The recluse felt disappointed and in disgust, he started to keep a log of how many people visited her. Again, he called her and showed her the log. She trembled and prayed to god at her mounting heap of sin. She prayed to god to end her life.
After some time, she died and by coincidence, the recluse also died at the same time. The messengers of Yama attended on the recluse, but those of Vishnu escorted the dasi to heaven. The recluse was furious and shouted. The messengers of Vishnu told him, ‘Please do not shout. Your life was superficial. Though a renunciate, you were after fame and paraphernalia. Look at your body which you kept pure. People are venerating it. But, you are on the way to hell. On the other hand, the body of this dasi was sinning. See her body being used like carrion by the scavenging birds. Her mind was pure. So we are leading her to the abode of god. You took her sin by constantly thinking of it. On your advice, she was truly penitent and was pure at heart. That explains why you both are going where you are headed.’
It is not the duty of a devotee to mind the sins of others. We must keep our mind pure and look at the faults of others with a compassionate heart.
Part 6
Boat on water
A boat floats on water. But, you should not let water into the boat. It will sink. The same applies to life in the world by bhaktas. One must be engaged in worldly affairs for conducting life. But, one must not let worldly affairs enter the mind. If one does, the boat will sink.
Lead a householder’s life. But, do your worldly duty with one hand, while clutching at the feet of god with another. When not doing the duty, hold the feet of god with both hands.
Part 7
Public service
One day, a few youths approached Paramahamsa and told him, ‘We have decided to engage in social service.’
He told those lads who were high-spirited, ‘What you have decided is noble. It is a good thought to engage in social service. But, first pray to god, purify your mind and then take to the work you have in mind. Meditation on god will energise you. If you pray sincerely, you will get the capacity to do good to society. You will gain by god’s grace the skill and facility to do what you intend to.”
It is good to bear in mind for anyone getting into public service. Do not go after some task in the eagerness to do public good. Involve yourself in the work that presents itself of its own. Do not have an eye on name and fame and look for what is best. To work for the community involves doing one’s duty without the desire for gain or publicity.
Part 8
Idol worship
While building a house the construction worker uses a scaffolding, but after it is built, there is no use for the scaffolding. For one who is advanced in jnana, there is no need of temple and tank. For those who are not able to keep mind steady in meditation, puja and dip in holy water becomes necessary.
If one makes a lingam with mud in bhakti, that itself is god. God who is everywhere has not quit that lingam.
A person asked Ramakrishna, ‘This idol is nothing but clay. How can one think of it as god and meditate?’
‘Why do you think of clay, stone, copper, etc.? Why don’t you visualise it as the Supreme Being? When god is in everything and everything is god, why is this idol not fit for meditation as god?’
Part 9
Rituals
“Paddy has the grain inside the husk. We remove the husk, cook and eat. But, rice will go off faster than paddy. Only paddy will germinate, not rice. The rituals and festivals have been provided like husk. For the enlightened one, they are not required. If only the jnana was preserved without rituals, it would have perished like rice sown in the field.
When we get injured, a scab forms till healing is complete. When healing is complete the scab falls off on its own. To do away with rituals before attainment of jnana is like removing the scab before healing.
It is not wise to give up achara (rituals, etc.) before attainment of jnana. The fruit ripened by smoke will not be sweet.”
Compare:
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्I उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Here the creeper urvaruka (cucumber) is referred to. When the fruit ripens, it snaps from the creeper without effort. Jnana also is like that. (explained by Kanchi Paramacharya)
Part 10
Not worth a copper
One may get occult powers by yoga, practice, etc. Such powers make one demonstrate unnatural feats not possible to an ordinary person. Ramakrishna advised against them. He did not dub them as hoodwinking. His teaching was that it was not the right way to god. ‘These are thorn bushes on the path to realisation. Do not get in their tangle. True devotees do not desire anything but the lotus feet of the lord. They do not desire occult powers which may sometimes manifest in the normal course also.’
When we eat, the waste products are formed and excreted. No one eats to produce the waste. The occult powers are like that waste. They only increase conceit and impede bhakti.
A parable of Ramakrishna: A yogi went to his guru and told him, ‘I penanced alone in the forest for fourteen years and attained the capacity to walk on water’. The guru said, ‘Why did you suffer thus? You wasted fourteen years. If you shelled out a copper, the oarsman would have reached you across a river. Your achievement is only worth a copper.
Part 11
Pot, rice and fire
Man’s body is a pot. His brain and senses are like the rice, pulse and water cooking in the pot. The pot is on the boil on the stove. It will be hot to touch, so will be the contents. It will scald if one dips one’s hand in it. The heat in the pot and the rice is not of the pot or the rice, but of the fire beneath. In the same manner, Brahmam gives the living and the non-living their characteristics. The action of the brain and the senses is that of Brahmam only. Not a splinter will move without it.
Part 12
If you ache for it, She will appear
A disciple asked Ramakrishna, “What is the way out of maya?”
Ramakrishna said, “If there is a sincere desire, god will show the way. Desiring is not a superficial intention, but a melting of the heart in the keenness to emancipation. We cry shedding bucketfuls of tears for children, wife and money. Who cries to get god’s grace?
When the child is playing with toys, the mother is busy with her chore. The child is done with the toys, throws them away and cries aloud. The mother drops what is in her hand and rushes to the child. So also will Bhagavati rush to a bhakta who cries his heart out.
In Kali, we need not do arduous penance. It is enough if people meditate for three days with a sincere desire. They will attain Iswari’s grace. It is no exaggeration. Try. Look at me. Pick up confidence.
The child says, ‘Ma, wake me up when it is time to eat.’
The mother says, ‘No need for me to wake you up. When you feel hunger, it will wake you up.’
When a true bhakta cries in earnest yearning, Iswari cannot remain indifferent.”
Part 13
The goldsmith’s wife
Water flows under the bridge. It does not stagnate and stink. Handle money likewise. Do not let it accumulate and stink. Spend it liberally and do good. let it be your servant, do not become its servant.
Look at the goldsmith’s wife. She is pushing the paddy into the mortar with one hand. With the other hand, she is keeping the child in her lap and patting it. Alongside, she is bargaining with the customer who had come to buy flattened rice. Though she is multi-tasking, she guards against her hand getting hurt in the mortar. Like that, even while involved in mundane activities, keep god in mind constantly.
While cutting jack fruit, we smear oil in the hand before cutting. That prevents the resin from the fruit sticking in the hand. In like manner, we should fix our mind on god while doing worldly duties. If we do, however much wealth and comforts we come across, the resin of attachment will not stick in our mind, nor will difficulties break it.
Part 14
Sacred shrines
The cow gives milk. The milk is latent in the blood and is delivered though its udders. But, if we squeeze its ears, we will not get milk. It is true that god is everywhere in the universe. But, the sacred shrines are like the cow’s udders. The devotees go there, get the milk of bhakti and attain to god. The shrines are hallowed by the penance, meditation, chanting, prayer, puja of countless devotees. There is a special efficacy in the shrines where millions of devotees, learned as well as the laity, have visited, rolled on the precincts and worshipped. It becomes easier to relate with god in such shrines.
We may get water by digging the earth. But, there are already wells, ponds and lakes full of water. Is it not easier to draw water from them and quench our thirst? Temples, pilgrimage centres and holy water sources are similar. We can quench our bhakti thirst in such places.
Just as cattle settle down to chew after gazing, we must internalise the divine experience of visiting such shrines after our return.
Part 15
Why still lie and deceit?
We have got independence and become a republic. Our nation has attained a status of pride. The world elders praise and respect our leader. With all this, why do we still behave like beggars and cheats? Why do we think that lie and deceit are the way of life? Why do we demean ourselves oblivious of the greatness of Bharata Devi? To those who pine thus, the following parable of Ramakrishna may be cited.
“One day, a tiger attacked a flock of sheep that was grazing in a forest. It was pregnant and in the strain of the attack, it delivered the cub there and died. The cub survived and grew amongst the sheep. It behaved as a sheep. A few years later, another tiger attacked the flock. The sheep ran helter skelter. The cub also ran with them. The attacking tiger wondered how the cub was there. It held the cub by the scruff of its neck. The cub bleated. The tiger took the cub to water and shoed it its real form and said, ‘Fool, see you are also a tiger like me.’ The tiger also fed it meat and forced it to eat it. The cub relished it and sought more. It regained its true nature of a tiger. The cub was taken back among the tigers.”
Let us break loose from the slavish mindset of the past and reclaim the glory that is ours. Poverty is not suffering; lowliness is suffering. We can live honourably even if poor. Let there be no dishonesty, stealth and lie. Let us uphold the new glory of Bharata Devi.
Part 16
Prayer
Do not pray to god for anything in particular. Leave it to him. That is what scriptures enjoin, but human nature is not content with it. We plead for particular good.
As the nature and character of god is beyond our intellect and as we do not know for sure what is good or bad for us, it is best to leave it to god. However, there is no harm in conversing with god as we do among ourselves. That is natural. If we converse with god at least once a day, playing with him and crying to him, it will cleanse our minds in course of time. This is experiential truth.
It does not matter if you cannot worship god in idols like laymen with blind faith. Pray, ‘I do not know whether you have a form or not. Your nature is unintelligible to me. Be that as it may, show me grace.’ He will take care of you. No one else will take care of you like him. He has answered your prayers. He knows what is good for you. He will reveal himself to you at least at the time of death.
Part 17
As the thought that lie and cunning only will be fruitful has taken root and become the norm, people dismiss dharma as useless. But, only dharma will be beneficial. Fraud and cheating will destroy society.
A few fisherwomen went to a fair to sell fish were returning with their creels. On the way back, it rained and became dark. They were taking shelter near a gardener’s hut. The gardener advised them to spend the night there and return the next morning. They agreed. But, they could not sleep. The gardener had kept in a basket jasmine collected from the garden. They complained, ‘What is this bad smell?’ They sprinkled some water on their creels and lay down. With the fish smell overpowering the jasmine smell, they passed into deep sleep and snored away to glory.
Each person lives in the paradise of his wonted practices. If we are not used to good practices, the bad practices will appear superior.
In these days the only penance we can do is to talk the truth. We do not adhere to it also. Everyone, even in business, must talk the truth. That is real cleverness, worldly wisdom and the way to attain god.
Faith in god is the perpetual lamp we light at home. We must keep it burning always. It will ensure success in our endeavours.
Part 18
One day Ramasamy Padayachi went to the neighbour’s door at midnight and knocked. He shouted, “Sengoda, Sengoda.” He came out and asked, “Why do you wake me up at dead of night? What do you want?”
Ramasamy said, “Please give me a match stick. I need to light my cigar.”
Sengoda replied, “Strange! You hold a lantern and asking me for match stick.”
We are also like that. We carry god within us, but look for him elsewhere. Ramakrishna gestured to his heart and said, “If we realise the god here, we will see him pervade the entire universe. If we do not see him in the heart, we can’t see him anywhere else.”
