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The fool who repeats again and again: “I am bound, I am bound,” remains in bondage. He who repeats day and night: “I am a sinner, I am a sinner,” becomes a sinner indeed.

Ramakrishna

Many people think they cannot have knowledge or understanding of God without reading books. But hearing is better than reading, and seeing is better than hearing.
RAMAKRISHNA

Book Hearing Knowledge Reading Thinking Understanding
The sun can give heat and light to the whole world, but he cannot do so when the clouds shut out his rays. Similarly as long as egotism veils the heart, God cannot shine upon it.
RAMAKRISHNA

Cloud Heart Light Long Ray Similarly Sun World
So long as one does not become simple like a child, one does not get divine illumination.
RAMAKRISHNA

Child Children Illumination Knowledge Long Simple Worldly
A man is truly free, even here in this embodied state, if he knows that God is the true agent and he by himself is powerless to do anything.
RAMAKRISHNA

Agent Embodied God Man People State True
So when a person dies in a state of ignorance, he is born again; but when he becomes well baked in the fire of true knowledge and dies a perfect man, he is not born again.
RAMAKRISHNA

Again Die Fire Ignorance Knowledge Naked Person True Well
No sooner does the man come back from the holy waters that the old sins jump on his shoulders from the trees.
RAMAKRISHNA

Back Come Holy Jump Man Old Shoulder Sin Sooner Water
A boat may stay in water, but water should not stay in boat. A spiritual aspirant may live in the world, but the world should not live within him.
RAMAKRISHNA

Aspirant Boat Live Spiritual Stay Water World
You see many stars in the sky at night, but not when the sun rises.
RAMAKRISHNA

Heaven Ignorance Night Rise Sky Star Sun
Because of the pot the water appears to be divided into two parts; because of the pot you seem to perceive an inside and an outside.
RAMAKRISHNA

Appear Divided Inside Outside Part Perceive Pot Water
If you desire to be pure, have firm faith, and slowly go on with your devotional practices without wasting your energy in useless scriptural discussions and arguments. Your little brain will otherwise be muddled.
RAMAKRISHNA

Brain Desire Devotional Energy Practice Practise Wasting
The winds of grace blow all the time. All we need to do is set our sails.
RAMAKRISHNA

Blow Grace Need Sail Set Time Wind
First realise God, see Him by means of spiritual discipline. If He imparts power you can do good to others; otherwise not.
RAMAKRISHNA

Discipline God Good Impart Power Raise Spiritual
More are the names of God and infinite are the forms through which He may be approached. In whatever name and form you worship Him, through them you will realise Him.
RAMAKRISHNA

Approached Hypocrite Infinite May Name
But it is not sufficient to bind him again into the world.
RAMAKRISHNA

Again Bind Sufficient World
The truth is that you cannot attain God if you have even a trace of desire. Subtle is the way of dharma.
RAMAKRISHNA

Attain Desire Dharma God Subtle Trace Truth Trying Way
What is the use of merely listening to lectures? The real thing is practice.
RAMAKRISHNA

Lecture Merely Persistence Practice Real Use

The fool who repeats again and again: “I am bound, I am bound,” remains in bondage. He who repeats day and night: “I am a sinner, I am a sinner,” becomes a sinner indeed.

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The fool who repeats again and again: “I am bound, I am bound,” remains in bondage. He who repeats day and night: “I am a sinner, I am a sinner,” becomes a sinner indeed.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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