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Do not shirk duties

CHENNAI: It is not possible for the majority of people to renounce worldly life to pursue the spiritual path. But this does not mean that only a select few can realise God and thereby put an end to transmigration. Keeping this in mind, saints have out of consideration for the teeming humanity, caught in the throes of bondage, advised householders about how to orient their life to the spiritual goal amidst the demands of day-to-day life.

In his discourse, Swami Gautamananda said Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a saint who lived in recent times to whom many devotees turned for solace and guidance. To those who sought him, he always used to talk about God’s love and compassion for His devotees as the Father and the Mother of the entire creation, as generally lay people feared God as the dispenser of justice. He used to tell those who had family responsibilities that they should not forsake those who depended on them to follow the spiritual goal. Instead, a householder should perform all actions with a sense of detachment, discharge all his duties properly and engage in the world actively. Along with these he should follow spiritual practices (Sadhana) and do service so that all his acts become attuned to God. As he progresses in the spiritual path, the Lord will reduce his responsibilities at the appropriate time so that he can devote more and more time intensively for Sadhana. One should never abandon one’s duties.

Once he deflated the ego of a promising devotee by enquiring about his wife’s Vidya (spiritual attainment). Without understanding what the saint was implying he replied that she was not educated. Sri Ramakrishna immediately retorted, “Are you then a Jnani (a man of wisdom)?” This was to drive home that academic learning was not what he meant by Vidya. One should leave behind all worldly identities when approaching a Master like him for Jnana and must only express his burning desire to realise God.

Academic knowledge will equip one to excel intellectually but that will not take one near God. Only total faith in God, devotion to Him and wisdom gained by doing Sadhana will enable one to grasp Self-knowledge, which is liberating.

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