The Master gave the following instruction to Mahendranath Gupta ("M"), the author of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna:
Sri Ramakrishna - "Just practice a little and someone will come to tell you the right way. You must observe the fast of ekadashi."
The Master also said:
"How long does one have to perform evening worship and other rituals? As long as one does not develop bhakti for His lotus feet, as long as the eyes do not fill with tears while repeating His name, and as long as the hair of one’s body does not stand on end."
"The blossom falls off as soon as the fruit appears. When one develops bhakti, when one attains the Lord, sandhya and other rituals fall off.
"When the daughter-in-law of the house is pregnant, the mother-in-law gradually frees her from work. When she has been pregnant for nine months, her mother-in-law does not allow her to work at all. When the infant is born, the mother only attends to it, taking it in her lap. She doesn’t have to attend to any other work. Similarly, when one has attained the Lord, one gives up rituals like sandhya."
Thanks Sir/madam(web admin). The quotations are beautiful and I have observed their truth in my teacher Sri Fhanindra. How beautifully Ramakrishna illustrates such truths. Hope we too reach that stage one day. Today visited Sri Fhanindra. Told him of Sister Rosemary's post of an earlier date where she regretted not having a shrine to visit and your apt reply. He said Prema bhava (escatic love) is a great thing. It is not important where you keep your chosen diety, what is more important is how you keep Him. Just for the sake of keeping or out of love. You can keep even in a nook and corner with love.These two things (somebody gives the Lord/Mother place in his heart with care; somebody keeps Him/Her on a table with care) are great things. From these bhakti arises.
Regards.
