SRI RAMAKRISHNA AND MONASTICISM


  
 When God incarnates as a man, he behaves like a human being, but at the same time his every action is extraordinary and meaningful. In the case of Sri Ramakrishna, we see that he married, he took sannyasa, and he also preached religion. In fact, his main attraction is his universality. To quote his own words: “One player is producing only a monotone on his flute, while another is creating waves of melodies in different ragas and raginis. That is my attitude. Why should I produce only a monotone when I have an instrument with seven holes? Why should I say nothing but, ‘I am He, I am He’ ... I want to call on God through all the moods: through santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, and madhur. I want to make merry with God. I want to sport with God.” Thus, he was the prophet of the harmony so badly needed in this age, a spiritual phenomenon who could serve his manna to all, irrespective of caste or creed, and his life becomes the meeting point of all sects and paths.

    One day he asked one of his disciples, “What do you think of me?” The disciple replied, “Sir, you are neither a householder nor a monk." Apparently pleased, Sri Ramakrishna said, “How do you know such a truth?”

    The goal of human life is to realize God; and this realization does not depend on whether one leads a monastic life or the life of a householder. Some people think that Sri Ramakrishna came for monks. Some householders think that he came for them. Actually, he came to demonstrate for modern man how to live a God-centered life.

    Once one of his householder disciples expressed his desire to renounce the world, but Sri Ramakrishna did not give him permission. “What harm is there to remain a householder?” he said to the disciple. “Only keep the mind fixed upon God. The life of a householder is fighting from within the fortress.” Sri Ramakrishna taught that it is better to be normal and natural and grow in one's own way, and that it is not good to force oneself into renunciation. He once said, in regard to garhasthya-sannyasa: “There are two kinds of yogis, the ‘revealed’ and the 'hidden.’ The householder may be a ‘hidden’ yogi. None recognizes him. The householder must renounce mentally, not outwardly.”



Source: Except from an article by Swami Chetanananda from Vedanta, July - August 2010 issue, Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre,
Bourne End, Buckinghamshire SL8 5LG, U.K.
Phone: (01628) 526464 - www.vedantauk.com

Posted by Swami Sadasivananda at 8/10/2010 7:45 PM
Categories: Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

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