M. (to bhaktas) — What were you all talking of? Bhaktas talk of nothing else but God, isn’t it? Chaitanya Deva used to call any other talk as ‘rustic talk’. Swamiji (Vivekananda) used to say that it was all false talk.

"Which chapter were you talking about? The whole of it - from man to God - is one book. The talk with reference to God is called the Vedas, the Upanishad. All other talk is ‘rustic talk’, materialistic talk - it is of a mean order. Why should you indulge in it? You belong to a high family."

Lalit — You see they have not let him stay at the Math today. Instead reprimanding him they sent him away in the hot midday sun. He is very sad. We were talking of this.

M. — We should accept the reprimands of the sadhus. It is their kindness in a way. In Jagannath Puri Temple, the guards strike with a kind of soft whip on the backs of pilgrims so that a big crowd may not form near the sanctum -sanctorum. Many of the pilgrims, it has been seen, ask for such a stroke. They say, ‘I say brother, you have not hit me.’ They believe that such a stroke frees one from sins and the mind becomes pure. That is to say one is blessed by receiving this ‘prasad’ of stroke while one has gone for the darshan of the deity. (Everybody laughs) Yes, yes this too is a prasad.

M. (to the bhaktas) — Educated gentlemen go to the sadhus ashrama with a stick in their hand. On returning they complain, ‘You see, they did not show me any consideration. Rather they insulted me.’ And so on. These are all stupid people, they lack insight.

"Renouncing their home, parents, friends and dear ones, all these, the sadhus have gone to the Math, with the only object of attaining God. Did they go there to live a worldly life with you? Did they forsake everything for this? What did they lack? Each one of them is very learned. They had no want of any kind - of food, clothes and other things. They gave up all only to attain God.

"You go to them at any time of the day and expect them to feed you and show you consideration and respect. How can a man do so? It is possible that a midday meal for only some fifty persons has been prepared. And suppose a hundred persons have come. Will they again cook to feed them and waste the whole day? If this happens, their whole day is wasted. Is it for such an activity that all those people came away forsaking their all?

"And then how will they meet the expenses? All they have, are the provisions received in charity - they manage to serve Thakur and the sadhus with it somehow. People don’t see this side of it. Though they (sadhus) haven’t gone there (Math) to hurt anybody’s feelings. What else can they do - those who bear the responsibility? Many a times they have to be hard and they know it. Besides, the Math is not a hotel. One has to pay for one’s meal even in a hotel. And when you explain to them the reality, these gentlemen take it ill. What to do then in such a case?

"Why can’t you go to them for a talk and have their holy company after taking your meals? Whereas you should go to them to offer them your worship, you go there that they may worship you. How terribly unreasonable! Isn’t it so kind of them that they talk to us and give us their darshan?

"Besides, they may not have time for you. What a busy life they lead; How do you expect them to discuss politics with you? And then each one of them has his own mode of worship. There is always a battle going on in their minds between their personal inclinations and external circumstances. How many different kinds of work they have to attempt to?"

M. (to the bhaktas) — Those who complain have no time to think over all this - their only concern is their own interest, they are unmindful to the convenience of others. How can those who cannot discriminate in these matters, attain the consciousness of Brahman - how can they attain the intellect immersed in Brahman? How can they realize God? How can he who cannot account for salt keep an account of sugar? For shame, what men of mean intellect they are!

"How profitable it is to have the darshan of the sadhus - they awaken our consciousness in no time. These people have taken the vow to realise God having given up their all. They put up with all troubles, they try to obey their guru in everything. Plague is raging in Lahore and maybe the guru asks them to proceed there and offer their services in the spirit of service to the God-in-the-sick. This will be their tapasya. They immediately go there. Whether there is an epidemic or flood or famine or a catastrophe, they would go to help in obedience to their guru’s order. How handsome these boys are, like golden moons; their looks cool the mind and soothens the eye. On seeing them, rather than giving your mind, body and soul in the pursuit of God, you complain saying, they have insulted you, they didn’t serve food to you, they didn’t talk to you - such are your feelings. These are all selfish, stupid ideas. They must all be given up. If possible, you should go and serve them otherwise come back home after their darshan bringing back your lost consciousness. Not to speak of them alone, we should also, whether we are householders or sannyasis, do so, forsaking our all - we must try to surrender our all for the sake of God. Instead of wasting our days in the service of ghosts and witches, we should devote our precious life in the service of God. By taking the wife, son, near and dear ones as different forms of God and the home as the temple of the deity and serving them, that is God, the mind gets purified. Even they are inspired by God-consciousness - the home becomes an ashrama. In ancient India such a spiritual feeling prevailed as a living idea. This you must learn from life of the sadhus living with the vow of selfless service. Instead, to see their faults!"

M. (to the bhaktas) — Thakur used to make his disciples beg if they were in the state of sannyasa. This was to dilute their ego and pride. In Cossipore he made women go out a begging. Ginni (M.’s wife) was one who did so. Balaram Babu’s wife, Lakshmi and some others also did the same. Of course, he sent out men also. Why did Thakur make them do so? Because this helps rid one of pride. As soon as one get rids of one’s pride, one realises one’s real nature. Isn’t this jiva trapped by the eight bonds!

"So long as the bhaktas live in the household, they commit so many mistakes. Why don’t they come out to embrace sannyasa? Instead of coming out, they nurse their pride of being big man of wisdom and feel what not!

"Everyone of you will have to give all to Him. Why? Because everything belongs to Him. How have you become the master of all you have? You are rich because of other’s wealth - but you have forgotten this fact. Most of the time you feel proud of possessing riches and wealth, wife, son and daughter, home and your dear ones. Just analyse and see what is really yours. Is even this body yours? Can you create flesh and blood, and then mind, vital energy and intellect? Aren’t all these His? Everything belongs to Him but we say that it is ours. Sannyasa is nothing else but giving Him what is His. You should live like a servant - tell your ego that you are His servant. Then you may go out with outward sannyasa or stay with your family - you are His slave.

"Begging reduces one’s pride, and builds up the genuine ego. One begins to see that one belongs to Him. Begging signifies standing at the door and praying for the basic needs of the body. It sublimates the lower ‘I’. This rishis made it a rule after considering all the aspects.

"He who has no faith in God cannot take to begging. Besides, by acting on the guru’s words one slowly gains devotion and faith. The lower ‘I’ is changed into the higher `I’ - the barbarian ‘I’ transformed into the cultured ‘I’ - the poison becomes the nectar of life - and finally the man becomes divine - the child of man becomes the child of Immortal Bliss."

M. (to a certain devotee) — Once a few devotees were on their way to Dakshineswar, while Thakur was going to Calcutta by a hired cab. They met on the way. Thakur stopped his cab and made a devotee (M.) board it. Though there was space in the cab yet he didn’t ask others. He who had been taken into the cab suggested that the others could also come in as there was enough space. Thakur said sharply, ‘No, they will go on foot.’ Why did he do so? Was he a hard-hearted person? Certainly not. Never had we ever seen such an affectionate individual. Why then did he act in such a manner? He wanted that they should stay humble. Going on foot helps maintain one’s feeling of subservience. Otherwise one begins to feel important.

"Once Thakur asked a particular bhakta in Cossipore to buy a bati (shallow soup plate). Another person suggested that it was already there. Thakur rejoined, ‘No, let him bring another even if there is one.’ It was mid-day. The bhakta left for Jorasanko, though he had not had his lunch. He brought a bati. Why did Thakur make him do so? Thakur knew that he would think of it all his life. This would do him good. He would gain strength of mind on thinking that he had brought a bati for the Lord. It would bring him great good, he would be in constant living meditation."

M. (to the bhaktas) — Why did he (Thakur) attend this festival? It has a meaning: It was to revive an old centre of pilgrimage, temples, festivals etc. These have been established throughout India. In other countries too they have provided them so that the people may take God’s name at least once a year, witness a festival and enjoy the company of God’s devotees. One forgets all under the pressure of worldly matters. By visiting the centres of pilgrimage and such holy places one is reminded of God, one enjoys holy company. Then one tries to know one’s real self, howsoever short may be its duration. It brings strength to the mind as also peace, happiness and joy.

"The advent of the avatara is not to destroy but to fulfill. Five hundred years ago Chaitanya and Nityananda came and set up a centre of pilgrimage. Their close devotees Raghav Pandit and Raghunath Das were there. They were their close disciples. Thakur went there and again lit a fire in that very Peneti. Doesn’t it begin to get smothered (with time)? The feeling for God gets suppressed. Thakur revived it. Now it will keep burning for many more centuries. He himself declared: ‘I am Chaitanya.’ So he went to Peneti and lifted a five hundred year old veil of neglect. Now the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna and those of Chaitanya would meet there. This is how the Lord revives the teachings of religion and makes them shine forth.

"And, this was the time when the English ways had penetrated the society. People had ceased to revere holy centres - the English educated person did not like to dance unfettered by shame or utter and sing loudly God’s name. He broke this tendency. Were not all his close disciples anglicized? Narendra actually used to dance with Thakur.

"And there is another side. Without being one with the ordinary man, it is not possible to practise true religion. One has to mix humbly with all to sing God’s glory. It was to crush the pride of being learned, respectable, wealthy, high born, that Thakur went himself taking his disciples with him, and danced like mad there. The bhaktas would not have gone there just on being asked to do so. So he took them with him.

"Every act of his has a deep meaning. Man tries to reason it out such a thing happened only once in Peneti. However, it is not so, it is all planned. A ‘made-easy edition’ of religion is festival or celebration. The great personalities have spread these festivals etc. throughout India."

M. (to the bhaktas) — We people think that we can manage everything. But it is not so. There is a greater planner above us. Only His plan will last till the end. We think we do everything. So we plan and try to execute it.

"But in reality there is another doer above us. It is by the will of this great doer that everything happens. (M. reminisces) Thakur had just given up his body. I was then a teacher in the Oriental Seminary. I was the headmaster of three schools at a time. I had to teach for an hour in each school. I used to go there by palanquin, at times also by tram. Once I was changing tram at the Burra Bazar when I saw a sadhu there. His face was similar to Thakur’s. He had his seat there. He was like a child. I would go and stand besides him daily. When the sun was bright I used to hold an umbrella above him. Seeing him Thakur would fill my mind. Once he favoured me by asking if I could help him take a train at Howrah. I said, yes. Thereafter I bought his ticket and made him entrain at Howrah. He kindly gave me a small piece of paper saying, ‘Put it in a case and keep it with you as an amulet. You will never be in want then; all your travails will end.’ After the train left I walked on happily carrying it with me and reached the Pontoon Bridge of Howrah. As soon as I cast a glance towards Dakshineswar I was reminded of Thakur’s words, and felt downcast with shame. I touched the paper with my forehead and threw it into the Ganga. I felt ashamed of myself. I realized that Thakur was always looking after me. For he had said, ‘What is there for you to worry about? You already have the privilege of having a guru.’ The moment I remembered these great words of his, I was overwhelmed with shame. Then I returned home reassured, full of bliss."

M. (to the bhaktas) — It is a great medicine to repeat his name. There is no better medicine. The sadhus say, ‘The water of the Ganga is the medicine and Lord Narayana - Hari, the physician.’ All sorrows vanish on remembering Him.

The Elder Jiten — Every year during Moharrum, Mohammedans observe national mourning.

M. — I read about the disciples of Iyazis in some stories. One of them said, ‘Father, I hit myself so hard that even today I feel its pain. And it is going to last long.’

"In the view of the worldly people, all these joys and sorrows go on. They will never end. So the rishis were not in favour of displaying sorrow. Joy and sorrow are there and will remain so. The rishis tried to take the path to happiness. That is why mourning is not so much the custom with the Hindus. Celebrate birthdays, victory days - all these are good. Grief brings dejection to the human mind. That is why the sadhus have joyful celebrations on the 13th day of the death of a person because giving up his body he has merged himself in Brahman. So they have joyous celebrations.

"It is better to hear of one’s real Self than of grief and pain. Whenever grief comes to the mind one should make it realise that it is only momentary - now it is there, now it is not. But all creatures have a real Self which is bliss, peace, love and Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute.

"The grief and sorrow in the world are like shadow’s play - they are both light and dark. Today we hear something good, tomorrow it turns bad. Somebody is born now, we hear that he is dead the next moment. It is like the shifting picture in the bioscope. (Laughs) Once I saw a picture in the bioscope. Seeing a cavalry charge in it, a viewer thought it was real. So he went behind the curtain to see it. I told him that it was nothing - that nothing had happened. But he believed it was real. It is the same with worldly life. His mahamaya presents it to the man as something real and he begins to believe it - that is His avidya-maya (maya of ignorance). In reality only He exists, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. The world will last but two days, the everlasting is only God. Besides, He came in the form of a man only the other day. He left only thirty-eight years ago. By His grace, he has given us refuge at His lotus-feet. He will give you refuge too, also to those who will come after you. Isn’t he known as the Refuge of the Humble, the friend of the world?"

Morton School, Calcutta.

Saturday, 9th August 1924.

24th of Shravana 1331 (B.Y.)

The 5th day of the bright fortnight, 25 dandas/41 palas.