Once Swami Brahmananda, one of the foremost disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, was visiting a remote place in Bengal. While he was waiting for a train at a station, among those who came to see him off was a young devotee and his sister.
Suddenly the devotee said to Swami Brahmananda, ‘Maharaj, this is my sister, and she has not had a chance to meet you before. Will you please give her some advice?’ Brahmanandaji then told the girl, ‘My child, there is very little time now to give you detailed instructions; just read The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Whatever is necessary for your spiritual life and mental peace you will find in the Gospel.’
The Original Title of The Gospel written in Bengali
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna in English was originally written in Bengali and titled Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita. This Bengali title is very suggestive as it means ‘The Nectar-like-words of Sri Ramakrishna’. Nectar is an elixir, drinking which one becomes immortal. Similarly, by studying the words of Sri Ramakrishna, the celebrated mystic of modern India, one becomes immortal; of course not in the physical sense but in the spiritual sense. Such study will remove all sufferings, doubts, fears, and anxieties from which modern people often suffer. It will fortify them with courage, strength, and wisdom, and enable them to face the challenges of life successfully, and at the same time attain inner joy and peace.
The Method of Studying The Gospel
The study of The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna does not mean mere reading but understanding, remembering, and then putting those words of nectar into practice. Though the words of Sri Ramakrishna appear to be simple and easy to understand, they are deep and profound. This is a book which should not be read quickly and then tucked away after one reading. It should be studied slowly, thoughtfully, and repeatedly in the backdrop of one’s own life experiences, and then put into practice as far as possible.
This story is from the March 2019 edition of The Vedanta Kesari.
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This story is from the March 2019 edition of The Vedanta Kesari.
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