Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

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8.

 

51. He is born in vain, who having attained the human birth,

sodifficult to get, does not attempt to realilse God in this very life.

 

52. Jiva is Shiva (all living beings are God). Who then dare talk of

showing mercy to them? Not mercy, but service, service. For man must

be regarded as God.

 

53. Let me be condemned to be born over and over again, even in the

form a dog, if so I can be of help to a single soul.

 

54. As a piece of rope, when burnt, retains its form, but cnnot serve

to bind, so is the ego which is burnt by the fire of supreme Knowledge.

 

55. A truly religious man should think that other religions are also

many paths leading to the Truth. One should always maintain an

attitude of respect towards other religions.

 

56. Every man should follow his own religion. A Christian should

follow Christianity, and a Mohammedan Mohammedanism. For the Hindu,

the ancient path, the path of Aryan Rishis is the best.

 

57. I will give up twenty thousand such bodies to help one man. It is

glorious to help even one man.

 

58. A boat may stay in water, but water should not stay in the boat.

An aspirant may live in the world, but the world should not live

within him.

 

59. Do everything that is necessary in the proper time, and let your

mind be always fixed on God.

 

60. All religions are true. God can be reached by different religions.

Many rivers flow by many ways but they fall into the sea. There all

are one.

 

61. The tree laden with fruits always bends low. If you wish to be

great, be lowly and meek.

 

62. Be as devoid of vanity as the cast away leaf carried by the high

wind.

 

63. God cannot be seen so long as there is the slightest taint of

desire. Therefore have your minor desires satisfied, and renounce the

major ones through right reasoning and discrimination.