Don’t avoid any work. There is nothing that is unknowable, difficult to understand, or puzzling. Through the intellect, human beings have solved the mystery of deep truths such as: what is God, what is life after death like, is there rebirth, what is the Atman, etc. But if that intellect becomes overwhelmed and confused even when doing small things, then how can one realize God?
(p.142, Swami Akhandananda As We Saw Him, Swami Akhandananda’s words on 17 December 1928)
One must call on God with a longing heart. One must learn from the Guru how God can be realized. Only if the Guru himself has attained Perfect Knowledge can he show the way. A man gets rid of all desires when he has Perfect Knowledge. Mad! That’s the word. One must become mad with love in order to realize God. But that love is not possible if the mind dwells on ‘woman and gold’
(p.346, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna’s advice to M on 17 December 1883)