It seems that I remember reading that Sri Ramakrishna was a little uncomfortable around "women of ill repute" (going back to the "sinner" theme)...but it seems like I remember also that Mother set him straight. Does anyone else remember reading about this?....I believe that there was a conversation between them along these lines..
Also, I have heard the analogy, much like the camel analogy, that a dog will gnaw a good bone until his gums bleed. I think that is what worldliness and attachment breeds for us...pain and misery...it is hard to let go of fantasies, projections, lust and anger, and just let go...and see the world for what it is and not for what we want it to be. Try letting go of it when your deep anger is really riled...I've noticed that I WANT TO HANG ON TO IT...(Why???)
Forebearance in life... and how to approach one's spiritual master...I do not believe that "sinning" is even an issue...I believe that sin just falls away as , each day, we live to obey the teachings of the guru...
Sin is simply our ignorance at work. Sri Ramakrishna gave this example of how we move towards knowledge: "With each step you take towards the West, you move that much farther from the East." He might have said it the other way, but the idea is one of process .
We don't arrive instantly, but as long as the effort is made, then we are making progress. And Sri Ramakrishna said that our desires must be allowed to fall off naturally like a scab falls from a wound that has healed. We have only to apply the ointment of spiritual practice.
Sri Ramkrishna and Holy Mother are one. But for the sake of instructing others He stayed away from those of ill repute, while She, the mother of all and giver of refuge to the refugeless, embraced all. It is all His Leela-Khela, Divine sport and play. I do remember reading long ago the conversation between Sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother you refer to.
The Dog's gum bleeding is a good analogy. I myself have experienced it! THe reason I cannot let go of fantasies, lust, anger et al is because of my ego which is sitting where the Lord should sit, on my head. Once it is dethroned, our miseries will lessen. Sri Fhanindra tells me to deal with lust with a sense of humour and to take God's name. It works sometimes when I am sincere and humble! Adversity make me humble. So I have to be whipped back into sense by Holy Mother. What to do except to depend on her unconditional mercy i.e. Grace. Obeying is not so easy an affair as I thought it to be. Mother knows what is in Her mnd. It is Her creation, we are her mental projections. So She knows best. Gurudev Bhuteshananda ji cried out like a child, "Ma, Ma" when I left His presence in March, 1998 just before I was chucked out of the Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata. Perhaps that is the way which in time and after more mellowing I will find relief in adopting.
Thanks and regards,
Ankur
