ONCE, a bird sat on the mast of a ship. When the ship sailed through the mouth of the Ganges into the ‘black waters’ of the ocean, the bird failed to notice the fact. When it finally became aware of the ocean, it left the mast and flew north in search of land. But it found no limit to the water and so returned. After resting a while it flew south. There too it found no limit to the water. Panting for breath the bird returned to the mast. Again, after resting a while, it flew east and then west. Finding no limit to the water in any direction, at last it settled down on the mast of the ship.
What a man seeks is very near him. Still he wanders about from place to place. As long as a man feels that God is ‘there’, he is ignorant. But he attains knowledge when he feels that God is ‘here’. (198)
The Purpose of Putting in The Tremendous Effort is Only to Realise That The Inner Being Cannot Be Realised Through Effort.
This is the greatest mystery of spiritual life. The Atman chooses, and then the Atman reveals Itself to the seeker. Then what is the position of the seeker’s effort here? What we call effort, intellectual, mental or physical, is only a symptom of ignorance. It is permissible to the extent that it goes. The purpose of putting in the tremendous effort is only to realise that the Inner Being cannot be realised through effort. Effort can only help earn something from outside; it may give us some physical or mental experiences, but not existential experience. With effort, we can gain material objects or some emotion or thought. Existence cannot be achieved; it is already there in you as your own being. As long as you try to achieve it, you will fail to recognise it. That is why Bhagavan says here, “Only by My grace do you attain it.”
- This Atman is not attained through scriptural teaching and studies, not by a powerful intellect which can delve deep into the meaning of the Scriptures, and not even by listening to many teachers. Whomsoever this Atman chooses, to him the Atman reveals Himself. — Katha Upanishad 1.2.23
- Neither by the Vedas nor by austerity, charity, and sacrifice can I be seen in this form as you have seen Me. — Bhagavad Gita 11.53
The Search Within
In the concluding portion of the earlier chapter (April 5, 1884) it was said: ‘The sādhu that visits many places is called a bahudaka. He whose craving for travel has been satiated and who sits down in one place is called a kutichaka.’ Sri Ramakrishna asked the elder Gopal about the latter’s intention to go on a pilgrimage. Then he said: ‘As long as a man feels that God is “there”, he is ignorant. But he attains Knowledge when he feels that God is “here”.’ In other words, though God is our inmost self, yet we move about from one place to another in search of Him. As an example the Master mentioned a person who, while carrying a lighted lantern in his hand, knocked at his neighbour’s door for fire to light his hookāh. The fountainhead of all holy places is just before us; still we wander from one place to another. Ram said, ‘The guru asks his disciples to visit holy places only to create faith in his words.’ In fact, pilgrimage has been recommended since time immemorial. When we visit holy places, and see the One who resides within us outside, our devotion is awakened, and our religious fervour is increased. Visiting holy places is in vain if one does not possess inner longing. (Source: Sri Ramakrishna and His Gospel (Volume 2) by Swam Bhuteshananda)
Do not work yourself out. It is no use; always remember — “Duty is the midday sun whose fierce rays are burning the very vitals of humanity.” It is necessary for a time as a discipline; beyond that, it is a morbid dream. Things go on all right whether we lend them our helping hands or not. We in delusion only break ourselves. There is a false sentiment which goes the extreme of unselfishness, only to injure others by its submission to every evil. We have no right to make others selfish by our unselfishness; have we?[Source]
“It is necessary to do a certain amount of work. This is a kind of discipline. But one must finish it speedily. While melting gold, the goldsmith uses everything—the bellows, the fan, and the pipe—so that he may have the hot fire he needs to melt the metal. After the melting is over, he relaxes and asks his attendant to prepare a smoke for him. All this time his face has been hot and perspiring; but now he can smoke. (Source: Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna)