The following insightful conversation between Sri Ramakrishna and Bijoy, a celebrated preacher of the Brahmo Samaj, has been captured by Swami Abhedananda in his book: Gospel of Ramakrishna. It has been excerpted below from there.
Sri Ramakrishna: What do you say is the means of attaining to God?
Bijoy: Bhagavan (honorary term for Sri Ramakrishna). by the repetition of His Holy Name. In this age the Holy Name of the Lord has saving powers.
Sri Ramakrishna: Yes, the Holy Name has saving powers, but there must be earnest longing with it. Without earnest longing of the heart no one can see God by mere repetition of His Name. One may repeat His Name, but if one’s mind be attached to lust and wealth, that will not help much. When a man is bitten by a scorpion or a tarantula, mere repetition of a mantram will not do; a special remedy is necessary.
Bijoy: If that be the case, Bhagavan, then how did Ajamila, who was the greatest of sinners and committed all sorts of crimes, obtain salvation by repeating the Name of the Lord at the time of his death?
Context: The story of Ajamila is found in the Bhagavata Purana. According to the story Ajamila was a pious man, who lost his way in life and committed many sinful acts. When Ajamila lay on his death-bed, his mind continued to remain attached to his family and children. On account of this attachment, at the last moment he called out to Narayana, his son. But Narayana also happened to be the name of the Lord and so Sri Krishna came running to save Ajamila’s soul. Forgiving his sins Sri Krishna gave Ajamila salvation.
Sri Ramakrishna: Perhaps in his previous incarnations Ajamila was righteous and performed a great many good deeds. Besides, it is said that he practised asceticism later in this life. It may also be said that at the last moment of his life the repetition of the Holy Name purified his heart and therefore he attained salvation.
When an elephant is washed, immediately he throws dust and dirt over himself; but if he is kept in a clean stall after his bath, then he cannot cover himself with dirt. By the power of the Holy Name a man may be purified, but he may once more commit sinful acts because his mind is weak.
He cannot promise that he will never sin again. The water of the Ganges may wash away past sins, but there is a saying that sins perch on the top of trees. When a man comes out of the Ganges and stands under a tree, the sins drop over his shoulders and seize upon him; these old sins ride him, as it were.
Therefore, repeat the Holy Name of the Lord, but at the same time pray to Him that you may have true love and devotion for Him, and that your love for wealth, fame and the pleasures of the body may decrease because they are transitory, they last only until to-morrow.
MORAL: For sadhaks to derive benefit from mantra jap, they must have devotion in the heart. Then mantra jap becomes fruitful in erasing past karmic sins.
