Publisher's Note
It is a great privilege
for us to present to our English-speaking readers, Volume II of Sri Sri Ramakrishna
Kathamrita. Volume I of the book was published last year. In this five volume
work, we have attempted to translate M.'s original Bengali edition, currently
published by the Kathamrita Bhawan, Calcutta.
In the Kathamrita the blissful nectar of Thakur's words is available through
the prism of M.'s totally devoted and pure mind. What he observed of Thakur
and heard from his holy lips, he recorded in his daily diary that same day.
A strong need has been felt by English-speaking readers, for an authentic and
verbatim translation of original work of M. Therefore, we have retained whatever
was in the original Bengali text, feeling that it is important to convey the
original bhava (flavour) of the God-man.
M.'s original Bengali Kathamrita is a step-by-step approach to unfolding the
mind of an ordinary aspirant from intellectual to intellectual-spiritual, from
intellectual-spiritual to spiritual-intellectual and from spiritual-intellectual
to spiritual. M. himself has mentioned what the Kathamrita contains. He says
(in Volume VII, Section III, page 36 of M., the Apostle and the Evangelist):
"The Kathamrita contains the whole life - the unfoldment of mind and soul. I
was present in all these scenes. How the mind was influenced by all these scenes
and words has been narrated here."
Our approach to the translation of Volume II has been similar to that adopted
by us in Volume I. However, a discerning reader will notice three main enhancements.
First, we have used the expression 'lust and greed,' or 'lust and gold' instead
of 'woman and gold,' as a translation of kamini kanchana. Second, we have made
the Bengali spellings for places and personalities consistent with the Ramakrishna
literature, for words such as purashcharana, jivanmukta, Jadu Mallick etc.,
so as to enable the readers of Sri Ramakrishna literature to quickly identify
with the place or person.
Last but not least, we have taken the help of two experienced American spiritual
enthusiasts to review the book minutely from the Western perspective.
Smt. Ishwar Devi Gupta, who left her mortal frame on Buddha Purnima, 26 May,
2002, remains the driving spirit behind the translation and publication of these
volumes of the Kathamrita, both English and Hindi. It was her strong desire
that an English version of the five volumes of the Kathamrita be published.
Sri Dharm Pal Gupta prepared the original draft of the English version, maintaining
the same spirit of faithful translation. Before he left this world in 1998,
he had completed the colossal work of translating the entire five parts of the
Kathamrita into English.
With Thakur's grace and blessings we are able to bring out the second volume.
We are extremely happy that the Volume II is being dedicated at Sri Ramakrishna's
feet on the 109th birth anniversary of Swami Nityatmananda.
May our readers, friends and associates attain supreme bliss and peace by reading
this book - this is our heartfelt prayer at the feet of the Lord.
Ganga Dasahara
Thursday, 20 June, 2002
Publisher