CHAPTER VI

SUNDAY AT THE TEMPLE

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THE nineteenth of August, 1883, fell on Sunday and was the first day after the full moon, so the devotees had leisure to come and see their beloved Master at Dakshineswara. Everyone had free access. He talked with everybody who came. His visitors were from all classes of people,--Sannyasins [**] and Paramahamsas, [*+] Hindus, Christians and Brahmos, Saktas, Vaishnavas and Shaivas,--women as well as men. It was noon. Sri Ramakrishna was seated in His usual place in His room. A disciple came and saluted Him, falling at His

hallowed feet. The Bhagavan made him sit down and kindly inquired after the welfare of himself and of his family. A short while after the Bhagavan began to talk to him upon the Vedanta. He said:

[Non-dualistic Vedantins.] The Astavakara Samhita [**] deals with the knowledge of the Atman (Self). The knowers of the Self declare: "I am He, I am that Supreme Self." This is the view of all the Sannyasins belonging to the non-dualistic (Advaita) school of Vedanta. But it is not meet that a man of the world should hold such a view. He is doing all kinds of work; how at the same time can he be that Highest Self, the Absolute Brahman, who is beyond all actions? The Non-dualistic Vedantins hold that the Self has no attachment to anything. Pleasure, pain, virtue, vice, can never affect the Self in any way; but they do affect men who think that their soul is the same as the body. Smoke can blacken only the wall, but not the space through which it moves. There was a certain devotee named Krishna Kisore, who used to say that he was Kha, or empty space. He

meant that he was the same as the Highest Self, Brahman the Absolute, who is sometimes likened to Akasa (infinite space) because nothing can be predicated of It. A true philosopher has some right to say this. As for others, such a sentiment is altogether out of place.

Thought of freedom brings freedom. But it is good for everyone to cherish the idea that he is free. "I am free," "I am free"; if a man constantly says this, he is sure to be free. On the other hand, he who always thinks that he is in bondage brings bondage on himself in the end. The weak-minded man who always says, "I am a sinner," "I am a sinner," is sure to have a fall. A man should rather say: "I repeat the Holy Name of God; how can there be any sin in me, or bondage of the world?"

Then turning towards the disciple, the Bhagavan said:

To-day my mind is not at ease. I hear from Hridai [**] that he has been ailing much. Is this

[Maya and Daya.] anxiety due to Maya (attachment) or Daya (compassion) towards him?

The disciple did not know what to reply and remained silent.