Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

June 20, 1884 MASTER: "You may feel a thousand times that it is all magic; but you are still under the control of the Divine Mother. You cannot escape Her. You are not free. You must do what She makes you do. A man attains Brahmajnana only when it is given to him by the Ādyāśakti , the Divine Mother. Then alone does he see the whole thing as magic; otherwise not. "As long as the slightest trace of ego remains, one lives within the jurisdiction of the Ādyāśakti . One is under Her sway. One cannot go beyond Her. "With the help of the Ādyāśakti , God sports as an Incarnation. God, through His Śakti, incarnates Himself as man. Then alone does it become possible for the Incarnation to carry on His work".  Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Chapter 23, Festival at Surendra's house 

April 5, 1884   MASTER (To Prankrishna): "The fact is that one must have the 'spiritual eye'.  You will develop that eye as soon as your mind becomes pure.  Take for instance the Kumari Puja.  I worshipped a virgin.  The girl, to be sure, had all her human imperfections; still I regarded her as the Divine Mother Herself. "On one side is the wife and on the other the son.  Love is bestowed on both, but in different ways.  Therefore it comes to this, that everything depends upon the mind.  The pure mind acquires a new attitude.  Through that mind one sees God in this world.  Therefore one needs spiritual discipline". Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Chapter 21, A Day at Dakshineswar

April 5, 1884 MASTER: "Then build them a separate home.  That will be a different thing.  You will defray their monthly expenses.  How worthy of worship one's parents are!  Rākhāl  asked me if he could take the food left on his father's plate.  'What do you mean?' I said.  'What have you become that you cannot?' But it is also true that good people won't give anyone, even a dog, the food from their plates." GIRINDRA: "Sir, suppose one's parents are guilty of a terrible crime, a heinous sin?" MASTER: "What if they are? You must not renounce your mother even if she commits adultery.  The woman guru of a certain family became corrupt.  The members of the family said that they would like to make the son of the guru their spiritual guide.  But I said: 'How is that? Will you accept the shoot and give up the yam? Suppose she is corrupt; still you must regard her as your Ishta. ...

May 25, 1884 MASTER: " 'Woman and gold' is the cause of bondage. 'Woman and gold' alone constitutes samsara, the world. It is 'woman and gold' that keeps one from seeing God. (Holding the towel in front of his face) Do you see my face any more? Of course not. The towel hides it. No sooner is the covering of 'woman and gold' removed than one attains Chidananca, Consciousness and Bliss.   "Let me tell you something. He who has renounced the pleasure of a wife has verily renounced the pleasure of the world. God is very near to such a person." The devotees listened to these words in silence. MASTER (to Kedār, Vijay, and the other devotees): "He who has renounced the pleasure of a wife has verily renounced the pleasure of the world. It is 'woman and gold' that hides God. You people have such imposing moustaches, and yet you too are involved in 'woman and g...