The Following has been excerpted from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna:
Today the birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna will be celebrated at the Kali Temple. It is Sunday, 11 March, 1883, the second day of Falgun. The intimate disciples of Thakur will celebrate his birthday with him.
Sri Ramakrishna (to M.) — Oh, you have come! (To the devotees) One does not succeed if one has the feeling of shame, hatred and fear. How much joy you will have today! But the rascals who do not sing and dance, intoxicated with the name of the Lord, will never attain Him. Why feel ashamed of talking about God, why fear what others think? Come, sing together.
Bhavanath and Kalikrishna sing.
Blessed is this day so full of joy,
We are together spreading Your true religion in Bharat (India).
Every heart is Your abode, everywhere Your holy name is taken.
The community of devotees is singing Your glories,
Lord, we want neither wealth, nor friends, nor fame. We desire nothing.
Men and women pray to You with a longing heart.
O Lord, we have taken refuge at Your feet. Why fear? Why fear death?
Shouting, ‘Victory, victory to You,’ we have attained the mine of immortality.
Sri Ramakrishna listens to the song with full attention and his hands folded. While listening, he suddenly goes into ecstasy. In fact, Thakur’s mind is like a dry matchstick – strike it but once and it lights. The mind of an ordinary man is like a wet matchstick – howsoever much you may strike it, it doesn’t ignite. The reason is that it is attached to the objects of sense enjoyment. Sri Ramakrishna remains absorbed in meditation.
I am 2 days late in coming here to the courtyard to send my greetings to all my sisters and brothers on this wonderful occasion. May Thakur bless and pratect us always. May he increase our devotion to the Mother and may we always feel Their presence in our lives
