Swami Premananda was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. In the enclosed conversation he reveals how Sri Ramakrishna taught a group of women to see God even in those they did not like. This teaching is most relevant for us today, for living in an age of rampant intolerance, we too tend to develop severe hatred and dislike for those who differ even slightly from us.
– Swami Vivekananda translating a verse from the Svetasvatara Upanishad
30th May, 1913; Belur Math
In the afternoon, in the Visitors’ Room at the Belur Monastery, the disciple was listening to the reading of Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita -The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Someone commented that Sri Ramakrishna used to accept one as a disciple only after proper inquiry,—after observing his ways, manners and physiognomy and asking about his people and if he was free from debts (family and other responsibilities).
On hearing this the disciple said: “Then it is not true that all were recipients of his grace. There is a song about the Master, in which a devotee says that however degraded he might be, he would have the shelter of the Master’s blessed feet. Is it not true?”
Swami Premananda: “Why not? He showered his grace even on many prostitutes. One day the ladies of Balaram Babu’s family were sitting before the Master in his room, when a prostitute named Ramani passed along a road close by.”
“The Master called out to her and asked: ‘Why don’t you come now-a-days?’ The ladies were scandalised to hear the Master talking with a prostitute.”
“Shortly after the Master took them to visit the shrines. When they reached the Kali temple, the Master addressed the Mother saying: ‘Mother, Thou indeed hast become the prostitute Ramani: Thou has become both the prostitute and the chaste woman!’ The ladies understood that they were wrong in hating Ramani, that the Master spoke with her, knowing her to be the Divine Mother Herself and that they had nothing to be unusually proud of their chastity, for it was all due to Her will.”
Disciple: “The Master might have been all right in not hating the prostitute. But unless we hate the prostitutes, how shall we live apart from them? At least we must pity them even if we do not hate them.”
Swami Premananda: “Why should you hate? Even pity comes out of egoism. Have you not heard the Master’s stories of the tiger-Narayana and the elephant-Narayana? If we are to live away from a tiger and an elephant, are we to hate or pity them?”
“Salute them from afar, thinking that it is through the will of God that they are what they are and that it is through His will again that you are what you are, and His will can in a moment redeem them for ever and drag you down. Destroy your pride and egoism once for all. The prostitute Ramani has now become a great devotee and sheds tears in remembrance of the Master.”
The above conversation with Swami Premananda has been taken from an article titled: “The Diary of a Disciple” which appeared in the Prabuddha Bharata Magazine of the Ramkrishna Mission in February 1930. To read recent issues of the Prabuddha Bharata Magazine online click here.
If You Liked this Post, I Also Recommend Reading:
- Part 1: How to Deal With Insults and Slander? – When someone insults us or spreads malicious rumors about us, how should we respond? Return insult for insult? The profound answer from Vivekananda!
- Part 2: How to Deal With Bullying and Harassment? – Practical advice from Sri Ramakrishna on how to deal with bullying and harassment, using a wonderful parable of the snake to drive home the lesson.
- Part 4: Though God Dwells in All, Wicked People Must Be Avoided – Sri Ramakrishna’s Advice to Sadhaks – Recognize Divinity in all, but do not mix with bad people. Maintain your distance and avoid their company.
- Part 5: Suppose People Speak Ill Behind Your Back, How Should You Behave? – How should sadhaks treat those who dislike them and wish to cause them harm? Advice Sri Ramakrishna gave to Swami Vivekananda.
- Part 6: True Devotee Should Be Calm and Undisturbed by the Bad Opinions of Others – Wicked people may say bad things about you and blame you; but if you love God, you should endure with patience – Sri Ramakrishna’s advice to sadhaks.
