Men of the World
WHEN THEY ARE ANNOYED WHEN THEY ARE ANNOYED
You see, we don't take any collection during the You see, we don't take any collection during the
performance at our place. Jadu's
performance at our place. Jadu's77 mother says tomother says to me, "Other sadhus always ask for money, but you me, "Other sadhus always ask for money, but you do not." Worldly people feel annoyed if they have do not." Worldly people feel annoyed if they have to spend money.
to spend money.
A theatrical performance was being given at a A theatrical performance was being given at a
certain place. A man felt a great desire to take a certain place. A man felt a great desire to take a seat and see it. He peeped in and saw that a seat and see it. He peeped in and saw that a collection was being taken from the audience.
collection was being taken from the audience.
Quietly he slipped away. Another performance was Quietly he slipped away. Another performance was being given at some other place. He went there being given at some other place. He went there and, inquiring, found that no collection would be and, inquiring, found that no collection would be taken.
taken. There was There was a a great great rush rush of of people. people. HeHe elbowed his way through the crowd and reached elbowed his way through the crowd and reached the centre of the hall. There he picked out a nice the centre of the hall. There he picked out a nice seat for himself, twirled his moustaches, and sat seat for himself, twirled his moustaches, and sat through
through the the performance. performance. (4)(4)
7
7 A devotee of Sri Ramakrishna A devotee of Sri Ramakrishna
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
WHEN ALL TEETH FELL WHEN ALL TEETH FELL
LET me tell you a story. A man used to celebrate LET me tell you a story. A man used to celebrate the Durga Puja at his house with great pomp.
the Durga Puja at his house with great pomp.
Goats were sacrificed from sunrise to sunset. But Goats were sacrificed from sunrise to sunset. But after a few years the sacrifice was not so imposing.
after a few years the sacrifice was not so imposing.
Then someone said to him, "How is it, sir, that the Then someone said to him, "How is it, sir, that the sacrifice at your place has become such a tame sacrifice at your place has become such a tame affair?" "Don't you see?" he said, "My teeth are affair?" "Don't you see?" he said, "My teeth are gone
gone now." now." (5)(5)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
THERE ARE SUCH MEN INDEED!
THERE ARE SUCH MEN INDEED!
TT is not mentioned in their 'Science'
TT is not mentioned in their 'Science' that God canthat God can take human form; so how can they believe it?
take human form; so how can they believe it?
There are such men indeed!
There are such men indeed!
Listen to a story. A man said to his friend, "I have Listen to a story. A man said to his friend, "I have just seen a house fall down with a terrific crash."
just seen a house fall down with a terrific crash."
Now, the friend to whom he told this had received Now, the friend to whom he told this had received an English education. He said: "Just a minute. Let an English education. He said: "Just a minute. Let me look it up in the newspaper." He read the paper me look it up in the newspaper." He read the paper but could not find the news of a house falling but could not find the news of a house falling down with a crash. Thereupon he said to his down with a crash. Thereupon he said to his friend: "Well, I don't believe you. It isn't in the friend: "Well, I don't believe you. It isn't in the paper; so i
paper; so it is t is all falall false." se." (6)(6)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
THE JACKAL THAT WON'T LEAVE THE THE JACKAL THAT WON'T LEAVE THE
COMPANY OF A BULLOCK COMPANY OF A BULLOCK
ONCE a jackal saw a bullock and would not give ONCE a jackal saw a bullock and would not give up his company. The bullock roamed about and up his company. The bullock roamed about and the jackal followed him. The
the jackal followed him. The jackal thought: "Therejackal thought: "There hang the bullock's testicles. Sometime or
hang the bullock's testicles. Sometime or other they other they will drop to the ground and I shall eat them."
will drop to the ground and I shall eat them."
When the bullock slept on the ground, the jackal When the bullock slept on the ground, the jackal lay down too, and when the bullock moved about, lay down too, and when the bullock moved about, the
the jackal jackal followed followed him. him. Many Many days days passed passed in in thisthis way, but the bullock's testicles still clung to his way, but the bullock's testicles still clung to his
body.
body. The The jackal jackal went went away away disappointed.disappointed.
That also happens to flatterers. They think that the That also happens to flatterers. They think that the rich man will loosen his purse strings for them. But rich man will loosen his purse strings for them. But it
it is is very very difficult difficult to to get get anything anything from from him. him. (7)(7)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
THE PLUNDERERS WHO GO Vaishnava, with beads round his neck, rosary in his Vaishnava, with beads round his neck, rosary in his hand, and the holy marks on his forehead.
hand, and the holy marks on his forehead.
Naturally people trusted him and came to his shop Naturally people trusted him and came to his shop on business. They thought that, being such a pious on business. They thought that, being such a pious man, he would never cheat them. Whenever a as you know, different names of God. Hearing so as you know, different names of God. Hearing so much chanting of God's names the customers the estimate he formed of them after the exchange the estimate he formed of them after the exchange
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
of a few words. The man who said 'Hari! Hail!' of a few words. The man who said 'Hari! Hail!' asked, 'Since they are no better than a herd of asked, 'Since they are no better than a herd of cows, then may we rob them?" He who said 'Hara!
cows, then may we rob them?" He who said 'Hara!
Hara!' gave his assent, meaning by these words, Hara!' gave his assent, meaning by these words, 'Do rob by all means, since they are m
'Do rob by all means, since they are mere cows!' (8)ere cows!' (8)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
HOW THEY QUARREL!
HOW THEY QUARREL!
IT is not good to say that what we ourselves think IT is not good to say that what we ourselves think of God is the only truth and what others think is of God is the only truth and what others think is false; that because we think of God as formless, false; that because we think of God as formless, therefore He is formless and cannot have any therefore He is formless and cannot have any form; that because we think of God as having form; that because we think of God as having form, therefore He has form and cannot be form, therefore He has form and cannot be formless. Can a man really fathom Go
formless. Can a man really fathom God's nature?d's nature?
This kind of friction exists between the Vaishnavas This kind of friction exists between the Vaishnavas and the Saktas. The Vaishnava says, 'My Kesava is and the Saktas. The Vaishnava says, 'My Kesava is the only Saviour', whereas the Sakta insists, 'My the only Saviour', whereas the Sakta insists, 'My Bhagavati is the only Saviour.'
Bhagavati is the only Saviour.' Once I took Vaishnavacharan
Once I took Vaishnavacharan88 to Mathur Babuto Mathur Babu99..
Mathur welcomed him with great courtesy and fed Mathur welcomed him with great courtesy and fed him from silver plates. Now, Vaishnavacharan was him from silver plates. Now, Vaishnavacharan was a very learned Vaishnava and an orthodox devotee a very learned Vaishnava and an orthodox devotee of his sect.
of his sect.
8
8 A A contemporary contemporary of of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Ramakrishna
9
9 The son-in-law of Rani Rasmani, the foundress of the Kali Temple at The son-in-law of Rani Rasmani, the foundress of the Kali Temple at Dakshineswar, where Sri Ramakrishna lived and did h
Dakshineswar, where Sri Ramakrishna lived and did his Sadhana is Sadhana
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
Mathur, on the other hand, was a devotee of the Mathur, on the other hand, was a devotee of the Divine Mother. They were engaged in a friendly Divine Mother. They were engaged in a friendly discussion when suddenly Vaishnavacharan said, discussion when suddenly Vaishnavacharan said,
"Kesava is the only Saviour." No sooner did
"Kesava is the only Saviour." No sooner did Mathur hear this than his face became red with Mathur hear this than his face became red with anger and he blurted out, "You rascal!" He was a anger and he blurted out, "You rascal!" He was a Sakta. Wasn't it natural for him to say like that? I Sakta. Wasn't it natural for him to say like that? I gave
gave Vaishnavacharan Vaishnavacharan a a nudge! nudge! (9)(9)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
A WORLDLING IS A POOR EXPONENT A WORLDLING IS A POOR EXPONENT
OF THE SASTRAS OF THE SASTRAS
A MAN wanted to engage a Bhagavata pandit who A MAN wanted to engage a Bhagavata pandit who could explain the Bhagavata to him. His friend could explain the Bhagavata to him. His friend said: "I know of an excellent pandit. But there is said: "I know of an excellent pandit. But there is one difficulty; he does a great deal of farming. He one difficulty; he does a great deal of farming. He has four ploughs and eight bullocks and is always has four ploughs and eight bullocks and is always busy
busy with with them; them; he he has has no no leisure." Thereuponleisure." Thereupon the man said: "I don't care for a pandit who has no the man said: "I don't care for a pandit who has no leisure.
leisure.
I am not looking for a Bhagavata scholar burdened I am not looking for a Bhagavata scholar burdened with ploughs and bullocks. I want a pandit who with ploughs and bullocks. I want a pandit who
can
can really really expound expound the the sacred sacred book book to to me." me." (10)(10)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
ELDER,
ELDER, THE THE PUMPKIN PUMPKIN CUTTERCUTTER
You must have seen the sort of elderly man who You must have seen the sort of elderly man who lives in a family and is always ready, day and night, lives in a family and is always ready, day and night, to entertain the children. He sits in the parlour and to entertain the children. He sits in the parlour and smokes the hubble-bubble. With nothing in smokes the hubble-bubble. With nothing in particular to do, he leads a lazy life. Now and again particular to do, he leads a lazy life. Now and again he goes to the inner court and cuts a pumpkin; for he goes to the inner court and cuts a pumpkin; for since women do not cut pumpkins, they send the since women do not cut pumpkins, they send the children to ask him to come and do it. This is the children to ask him to come and do it. This is the extent of his usefulness - hence his nickname, extent of his usefulness - hence his nickname, 'Elder, the pumpkin cutter.'
'Elder, the pumpkin cutter.'
He is neither a man of the world nor a devotee of He is neither a man of the world nor a devotee of God.
God. That That is is not not good. good. (11)(11)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
THERE IS NEED FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS NEED FOR EVERYTHING Wicked People are needed too.
Wicked People are needed too.
At one time the tenants of an estate became unruly.
At one time the tenants of an estate became unruly.
The landlord had to send Golak Choudhury, who The landlord had to send Golak Choudhury, who was a ruffian. He was such a hard administrator was a ruffian. He was such a hard administrator that the tenants trembled at the very mention of that the tenants trembled at the very mention of the name.
the name.
There is need for everything. Once Sita said to her There is need for everything. Once Sita said to her husband: "Rama, it would be grand if every house husband: "Rama, it would be grand if every house in Ayodhya were a mansion! I find many houses in Ayodhya were a mansion! I find many houses are old and dilapidated." "But, my dear," said are old and dilapidated." "But, my dear," said Rama, "If all the houses were beautiful ones, what Rama, "If all the houses were beautiful ones, what would the masons do?" God has created all kinds would the masons do?" God has created all kinds of things. He has created good trees and poisonous of things. He has created good trees and poisonous plants and weeds as well. Among the animals there plants and weeds as well. Among the animals there are good, bad, and all kinds of creatures - tigers, are good, bad, and all kinds of creatures - tigers, lions, snakes, and so on. (12)
lions, snakes, and so on. (12)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
THERE ARE MEN AND MEN THERE ARE MEN AND MEN
MEN may be divided into four classes: those MEN may be divided into four classes: those bound by the fetters of the world, the seekers after bound by the fetters of the world, the seekers after liberation, the liberated and the ever-free.
liberation, the liberated and the ever-free.
Among the ever-free we may count sages like Among the ever-free we may count sages like Narada. They live in the world for the good of Narada. They live in the world for the good of others, to teach men spiritual truths.
others, to teach men spiritual truths.
Those in bondage are sunk in worldliness and are Those in bondage are sunk in worldliness and are forgetful of God. Not even by mistake do they forgetful of God. Not even by mistake do they think of God.
think of God.
The seekers after liberation want to free themselves The seekers after liberation want to free themselves from attachment to the world. Some of them from attachment to the world. Some of them succeed and others do not.
succeed and others do not.
The liberated souls, such as the Sadhus and The liberated souls, such as the Sadhus and
Mahatmas, are not entangled in the world, in Mahatmas, are not entangled in the world, in 'woman and gold.' Their minds are free from 'woman and gold.' Their minds are free from worldliness. Besides they always meditate on the worldliness. Besides they always meditate on the
Lotus Feet of God.
Lotus Feet of God.
Suppose a net has been cast into a lake to catch Suppose a net has been cast into a lake to catch fish. Some fish are so clever that they are never fish. Some fish are so clever that they are never
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna
most of the fish are entangled in the net. Some of most of the fish are entangled in the net. Some of them try to free themselves from it, and they are them try to free themselves from it, and they are like those who seek liberation. But not all the fish like those who seek liberation. But not all the fish that straggle succeed.
that straggle succeed.
A very few do jump out of the net, making a big A very few do jump out of the net, making a big
splash in the water. Then the fishermen shout, splash in the water. Then the fishermen shout, 'Look! There goes a big one!' But most of the fish 'Look! There goes a big one!' But most of the fish caught in the net cannot escape, nor do they make caught in the net cannot escape, nor do they make any effort to get out.
any effort to get out.
On the contrary, they burrow into the mud with On the contrary, they burrow into the mud with the net in their mouths and lie there quietly, the net in their mouths and lie there quietly, thinking, 'We need not fear any more; we are quite thinking, 'We need not fear any more; we are quite safe here.' But the poor things do not know that safe here.' But the poor things do not know that the fishermen will drag them out with the net.
the fishermen will drag them out with the net.
These
These are are like like the the men men bound bound to to the the world. world. (13)(13)
Tales and Parables of S
Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishnari Ramakrishna