When it is admitted that God is in all beings, one should strengthen that conviction and act on
that basis. On the contrary, men who profess to believe in God, do not live up to their belief
because of their attachment to useless trifles. Here is an illustration from the life of Shri
Raamakrishna Paramahamsa.
Shri Raamakrishna Paramahamsa used to ecstatically enjoy himself in the worship of the
Goddess in the temple built by Raani Raashmani. One night thieves broke into the temple and
carried away all the jewels on the idol of Krishna in the temple. With a view to carrying on his
regular priestly duties, he went to Raani Raashmani's nephew, Mathuranaath, and told him, "Sir,
thieves have stolen all the jewels on the idol."
Mathuranaath was angry and proceeded with
Raamakrishna to the temple. Losing his temper and balance of mind, he burst out in anger: "Oh
Krishna! Are you not ashamed of yourself? If you are unable to protect your jewels on your own
idol, how are you going to protect the whole world? Were you paralyzed when the thieves were
carrying away the jewels? Or were you asleep? This is a disgrace to your Divinity."
.Hearing these words, Shri Raamakrishna said: "Mathuranaath! Shut up your mouth! For the sake
of your petty jewels and trinkets, is this the way you should berate God? When the Goddess of
all wealth, Lakshmi, is the Consort of the Lord, why do you get so agitated over the loss of a few
trivial ornaments? The Lord can have no such petty feelings. You are feeling so much for the
action of a few thieves who loved some jewels and came to the Lord to get them. It is because of
your love for jewels that you are getting distressed so much. But the Lord has no desires. He is
ready to give Himself away. God is prepared to offer Himself. Such a One, will he be worried
about this petty loss? Hence, change your vision. Don't comment on God."
At these words
Mathuranaath felt ashamed of himself.
Then, Raamakrishna sat near the idol of Shri Krishna and prayed: "Oh Krishna! As long as one is
caught up in the coils of the world, he will speak like an intoxicated man. Only when he gets
immersed in God will he become oblivious to himself. Therefore, do not let me get intoxicated.
Confer on me the boon of self-forgetfulness."
This is what is meant by the saying: "The knower
of the Brahman becomes Brahman himself."' When one experiences the Divine, he sees the
Divine in everything.
(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
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