It is amazing how Sri Ramakrishna used small things to teach his disciples. One day after the midday meal, the Master asked Rakhal to prepare some betel-rolls (betel is chewed after meals in India). Rakhal replied that he did not know how to make betel-rolls. “How strange,” said the Master. “Does one have to be trained as an apprentice to learn to make betel-rolls? Go and prepare some and bring them here.” Rakhal did not make a move. This annoyed Latu. He told Rakhal: “What is the matter with you? Won’t you do what he says? And you are arguing with him! You are not behaving properly!”
Latu’s angry words provoked Rakhal, who blurted out: “If you think that is so, why don’t you go and do it yourself? I won’t do it. I have never made a betel-roll in my life.” By this time Latu’s anger had reached a high pitch, and he went on saying many things inarticulately in his half-Bengali and half-Hindi language.
The Master enjoyed the commotion and called his nephew Ramlal: “Come and see the fun! Just see the fight between these two.” Then he added, “Well, Ramlal, tell me who is the greater devotee, Rakhal or Latu?” Ramlal understood the point and said, “I think Rakhal is the greater of the two.” This remark threw Latu into a fit of rage and he stammered out: “Ah! What a verdict! He disobeyed the Master and yet he is a greater devotee!” Latu’s fury made the Master laugh and he said: “You are right, Ramlal. Yes, Rakhal’s devotion ranks higher. Just see how easily he is smiling and talking.” Pointing to Latu he added: “And how terribly angry he is! A real devotee — can he show anger before the Lord? Anger is satanic. Anger makes love and devotion take wing.” Latu was cut to the quick. He was filled simultaneously with shame and pique, and tears came to his eyes. He said to the Master: “I will never again be angry before you. Please forgive me.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
Ramakrishna’s teaching varied from person to person. For instance, he scolded the mild-tempered Yogananda because he had not protested some false accusations made against him; but the Master instructed Niranjan differently:
Niranjan was habitually good-natured, but he had a violent temper. One day, when he was coming to Dakshineswar on the public ferry, he overheard some of the other passengers speaking sneeringly of Sri Ramakrishna, saying that he was not a true man of renunciation but a hypocrite who enjoyed good food and every comfort, and whose disciples were gullible schoolboys. Niranjan protested strongly, but the speakers ignored him. At this, Niranjan became enraged, jumped to his feet, and began to rock the boat, threatening to capsize it in midstream. Niranjan was a powerful swimmer; he could easily have swum ashore after carrying out his threat. The passengers were frightened and they begged to be forgiven.
When Ramakrishna heard about this incident, he rebuked Niranjan severely. “Anger is a deadly sin,” he said. “You ought never to let it carry you away. The seeming anger of a good man is something different. It’s no more than a mark made on water. It vanishes as soon as it’s made. As for those mean-minded people who talked against me, they weren’t worth getting into a quarrel with — you could waste your whole life in such quarreling. Think of them as being no more than insects. Be indifferent to what they say. See what a great crime you were about to commit, under the influence of this anger! Think of the poor helmsman and the oarsmen in that boat — you were ready to drown them too, and they had done nothing!” (Source: God Lived with Them)
Although Manomohan was normally a quiet, peace-loving person, he could sometimes be very outspoken, as it was unbearable for him to see or hear anything unjust or improper. One day on his way to Dakshineswar a man made some false and disrespectful remarks about Sri Ramakrishna in front of him. Manomohan became furious and told the man, “One more word and I’ll knock you to the ground.”
As soon as Manomohan arrived at Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna said to him: “Everyone thinks that his faith is the greatest. If anyone says a word against his faith, he first argues, then becomes angry, and at last loses control and becomes violent.” Manomohan understood that the Master knew everything and that it was impossible to hide anything from him. He humbly explained, “Sir, I cannot bear to hear anyone criticize you.” The Master replied: “Whether somebody criticizes me or praises me, that is no one else’s business. I am a most insignificant person, so what will that man gain by criticizing me? I have neither the power to give ten jars of gold coins to a person who praises me, nor the power to give ten lashes to a person who censures me. I am a child of the Divine Mother. I live in this world as She wishes.”
Honour and dishonour are the same to an illumined soul such as the Master, because his mind is constantly absorbed in the Atman, beyond the pairs of opposites. Manomohan had learned a good lesson, but he became downcast and sat in a corner hiding his face. After some time the Master said to him: “Why are you so unhappy? Did I scold you? If you are hurt, I shall be in pain. Anger is horrible! I can’t touch an angry person, and I can’t even bear his presence. The scriptures say that next to lust, anger is the greatest enemy of man. Anger originates from rajas.” (Source: They Lived with God)
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