You may see the stars in the sky at night, but not when the sun rises. Can you therefore say that there are no stars in the heavens during the day? O man, because you cannot find God in the days of your ignorance, say not that there is no God.
He is born in vain, who having attained the human birth, so difficult to get, does not attempt to realise God in this very life.
Those who wish to attain God or make progress in their devotional practices should particularly guard themselves against the snares of lust and wealth. Otherwise they will never attain perfection.
The sun can give heat and light to the whole world, but it cannot do so when the clouds shut out its rays. Similarly, as long as egotism veils the heart, God cannot shine upon it.
A boat may stay in water, but water should not stay in the boat. An aspirant may live in the world, but the world should not live within him.
A boy holding to a post or pillar whirls about it with headlong speed without any fear of falling; likewise, perform your worldly duties, fixing your mind firmly upon God, and you will be free from danger.
If a man sees an attorney, he naturally thinks of lawsuits and courts. Similarly, on seeing a pious devotee, one is reminded of God and of the life hereafter.
Japa means repeating the 'name' of the Lord silently, sitting in a quiet place. If one continues the repetition with concentration and devotion, one is sure to be blessed with Divine visions ultimately - one is sure to have God-realisation.
The tree laden with fruit always bends low. If you wish to be great, be lowly and meek.
Many are the names of God and infinite are the forms through which He may be approached. In whatever name and form you worship Him, through them you will realise Him.
A truly religious man should think that other religions are also many paths leading to the Truth. One should always maintain an attitude of respect towards other religions.
One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realise God.
The darkness of centuries is dispersed as soon as a light is brought into a room. The accumulated sins of countless lives vanish by a single glance of God.
The winds of God's grace is incessantly blowing. Lazy sailors on the sea of life do not take advantage of it. But the active and the strong always keep the sails of their mind unfurled to catch the favourable wind and thus reach the destination very soon.
Devotion of God increases in the same proportion as attachment to the objects of the senses decreases.
One develops various propensities according to the company one moves in; and again, one seeks the company congenial to one's propensities.
As long as I live, so long do I learn.
As long as you live, learn everyday of the mysteries of Love and Devotion. It will be always to your advantage.
The devil never enters the house wherein songs in praise of the Lord are always sung.
Look at the anvil of a blacksmith - how its is hammered and beaten; yet it moves not from its place. Let men learn patience and endurance from it.
Sugar and sand may be mixed together, but the ant rejects the sand and carries away the grain of sugar. So the saints and pious men successfully sift the good from the bad.
Sing with devotion the hallowed 'name' of the Lord, and the mountain of your sins will vanish, just as a mountain of cotton will burn to ashes and disappear if but a spark of fire falls on it.
Man suffers so much simply for want of devotion to God. One should therefore adopt such means as would help the thought of God to arise in the mind at the last moment in one's life.
There are some who boast of their wealth and power, of their name and fame, and high status in society; but all these are for a few days only. None of these will follow them after death.
The companionship of the holy and the wise is one of the main elements of spiritual progress.
Man suffers through lack of faith in God.
Mere reading of the scriptures is not enough. A person cannot understand the true significance of the scriptures if he attached to the world.
It is good to prepare for death. One should constantly think of God and chant His name in solitude during the last years of one's life.
To the Ramakrishna
Centre of South Africa's Website
