The Master's teachings on the question of free will and self-surrender can be classified into two categories. On the one hand we find him saying to his devotees: "I have cooked the food, just sit down to partake of it"; "The mould is prepared, now cast your own minds in it and get the form"; "If you cannot do anything at all, give me your power of attorney". On the other hand, we find him also instructing: "Give up all desires one by one, that is the way to success"; "Be like a cast-off leaf blown by the wind"; "Give up lust and greed and call on God"; "I have done all the sixteen parts, do at least one part yourselves". It seems that our progress in life is often retarded, because we very often fail to understand the significance of these two sets of teachings of the Master and strike a balance between free will and pre-destination, self-effort and self-surrender.
One day at Dakshineswar we had a long discussion with one of our friends, Swami Niranjanananda, on free will and pre-destination, and not being able to arrive at any conclusion, went to the Master for a solution of our difficulty. The Master was amused at our boyish discussion at first, but then added seriously, "Is there any one who has free will or anything like that? It is by God's will alone that everything has always happened and shall happen. Man understands it in the long run. But then something has to be added. Just as, when a cow is tied to a post with a long tether, it can stand at a distance of one cubit from the post, or it can go up to the whole length of the tether according to its choice; so too with the free will of man. A man ties a cow with the idea, 'Let her lie down, stand or move about as she likes within that area.' Similarly God has given man some power. And He has also given him freedom to utilize it as he likes. That is why man feels himself free. But the rope is fastened to the post. And mark this: If anyone prays to Him in all humility, He may remove him to another place and tie him there; or He may lengthen the tether or even remove it completely from his neck."
Thus instructed, we asked, "Is it then that man has no duty or responsibility in the matter of practicing spiritual disciplines? Can he say, 'Whatever I do, is according to His will'?" The Master replied: "Of what avail is it merely to say so? They are empty words. Is there any use telling, 'There is no thorn; it is not hurting', when you actually cry out 'ugh', startled on touching the thorn. If men were free to practice Sadhana, all would have undertaken it. But how is it that they can't? There is, however, one thing: He does not give one more power, if the little that is given is not properly used. This is why individual effort and perseverance are necessary. Don't you see, everyone has to make some effort, however small, before he gets God's grace? When one does so, the experiences due to be undergone in ten lives will come to fruition in one, and man will attain to spiritual realization immediately. But one has to make some effort.
Source: Sri Ramakrishna, The Great Master, Volume 1, (pp. 93-94) original in Bengali by Swami Saradananda (A direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna) Translation by Swami Jagadananda
