The Thirst For God Is Religion

What is Religion?

The thirst for God is religion.

1 This is yet another amazing statement by the Prophet of this age. Let us listen to the words of his master Sri Ramakrishna in this regard. Once, Sri Ramakrishna said to the devotees assembled in his room, quoting the words of Sri Girindra Ghosh of Pathuriaghata, regarding turning our passions to God: ‘Since you cannot get rid of your passions – your lust, your anger, and so on – give them a new direction. Instead of desiring worldly pleasures, desire God. Have intercourse with Brahman. If you cannot get rid of anger, then change its direction. Assume the tamasic attitude of bhakti, and say: “What? I have repeated the hallowed name of Durga, and shall I not be liberated? How can I be a sinner any more? How can I be bound anymore?” If you cannot get rid of temptation, direct it toward God. Be infatuated with God’s beauty. If you cannot get rid of pride, then be proud to say that you are the servant of God, you are the child of God. Thus turn the six passions toward God’ 2

Elsewhere, he said, ‘A man may not know the right path, but if he has bhakti and the desire to know God, then he attains Him through the force of sheer bhakti. Once a sincere devotee set out on a pilgrimage to the temple of Jagannath in Puri; he did not know the way; he went west instead of south. He no doubts strayed from the right path, but he always eagerly asked people the way, and they gave him the right directions, saying, “This is not the path; follow that one.” At last, the devotee was able to get to Puri and worship the Deity. So you see, even if you are ignorant, someone will tell you the way if you are earnest.’3