The teacher

The members of the Brahmo Samaj are opposed to the traditional guru systems of orthodox Hinduism. Therefore a Brahmo devotee asked the Master about it.

Brahmo devotee:

Is spiritual knowledge impossible without a guru?

Ramakrishna:

Satchidananda alone is the Guru. If a man in the form of a guru awakens spiritual consciousness in you, then know for certain that it is God the Absolute who has assumed that human form for your sake. The guru is like a companion who leads you by the hand. After realizing God, one loses the distinction between the guru and the disciple. The relationship between them remains as long as the disciple does not see God.
(p. 253)

Ramakrishna:

How is it ever possible for one man to liberate another from the bondage of the world? God alone, the Creator of this world-bewitching maya, can save men from maya. There is no other refuge but that great Teacher, Satchidananda. How is it ever possible for men who have not realized God or received His command, and who are not strengthened with divine strength, to save others from the prison-house of the world?

One day as I was passing the Panchavati on my way to the pine-grove, I heard a bullfrog croaking. I thought it must have been seized by a snake. After some time, as I was coming back, I could still hear its terrified croaking. I looked to see what was the matter, and found that a water snake had seized it. The snake could neither swallow it nor give it up. So there was no end to the frog's suffering. I thought that had it been seized by a cobra it would have been silenced after three croaks at most. As it was only a water snake, both of them had to go through this agony. A man's ego is destroyed after three croaks, as it were, if he gets into the clutches of a real teacher. But if the teacher in an unripe one, then both the teacher and the disciple undergo endless suffering. The disciple cannot get rid either of his ego or of the shackles of the world. If a disciple falls into the clutches of an incompetent teacher, he doesn't attain liberation.
(pp. 225-226)

Ramakrishna:

The roof is clearly visible, but extremely hard to reach.

Narendra:

Yes sir.

Ramakrishna:

But if someone who has already reached it drops down a rope, he can pull another person up.
(p. 488)

Ramakrishna:

Have faith in the guru's words, and work. If you have no guru, then pray to God with a longing heart. He will let you know what He is like.
(p. 352)

Ramakrishna:

He who is the Lord of the Universe will teach everyone. He alone will teach us, who has created this universe... The Lord has done so many things -- will He not show people the way to worship Him? if they need teaching, then He will be the Teacher. He is our Inner Guide.
(p. 125)

©1999 by Deb Platt