– Sri Ramakrishna
The following passages have been excerpted from the book Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by Swami Abhedananda.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was in his room seated in his usual place on the small platform beside his bed. It was Sunday and the room was filled with a large number of devotees. Among them was a young college student only nineteen years of age named Narendra, who afterwards became the world-renowned Swami Vivekananda.
Everyone noticed even at that time that he was a sincere and earnest seeker after Truth and that his mind was above all worldly concerns. His eyes were shining with spiritual light, his face was aglow with innocence and simplicity, and his words were full of spiritual power. Sri Ramakrishna was discoursing on worldly people who ridicule the worshippers of God.
Story of the Elephant and the Barking Dogs
Especially addressing Narendra (Swami Vivekananda), Sri Ramakrishna asked: “What do you say, Narendra? Worldly men will speak all manner of things against godly people, but they should act like the elephant.”
“When an elephant passes through a public road, dogs run after him and bark at him; but the elephant turns a deaf ear to their barking and goes on his own way. Suppose my boy, people should speak ill of you behind your back, what would you think of them?”
Narendra (Swami Vivekananda): “I would look upon them as a lot of barking dogs.”
Sri Ramakrishna laughed and said: “No, my friend, do not go so far as that. You should love everyone; no one is a stranger; God dwells in all beings; without Him nothing can exist. When Prahlada realized Him, the Lord asked him to crave a boon. Prahlada replied: “When I have seen Thee, what other boon do I need?” The Lord asked him again. He then prayed: “If You wish to grant me a boon, then please forgive those who have persecuted me.”
“Prahlada meant that by persecuting him they had persecuted the Lord dwelling within him. Know that God resides in all things animate and inanimate. Hence everything is an object of worship, be it men, beasts or birds, plants or minerals. In our relation with men all that we can do is to take heed to ourselves that we mix with good people and avoid bad company.”
Narendra: “What attitude should we hold when wicked people come to disturb our peace or do actually offend us?”
Sri Ramakrishna: “A person living in society should have a little Tamas (the spirit of resisting evil) for purposes of self-protection. But this is necessary only for outward show, its object being to prevent the wicked from doing harm to you. At the same time, you should not do actual injury to another on the ground that he has done injury to you. There is no harm in “hissing” at wicked men and at your enemies, showing that you can protect yourself and know how to resist evil. Only you must be careful not to pour your venom into the blood of your enemy. Resist not evil by causing evil in return.”
Summary
What Sri Ramakrishna is saying is that we must set our boundaries with wicked people and not let them walk all over us, and at the same time we must avoid developing hatred against them. It is better to think of wicked people as ignorant souls than to start hating them. Hating others always lowers our own consciousness.
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 3: How to See God in Those You Don’t Like? Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna – How to tolerate those whom we hate? How to destroy the pride and egoism, which makes us feel superior to others? Answer from Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
- 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 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.
