Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

June 15, 1884  PRATAP: "Revered sir, are those who live with you making progress in spiritual life?" MASTER: "I tell people that there is nothing wrong in the life of the world. But they must live in the world as a maidservant lives in her master's house.' Referring to her master's house, she says, 'That is our house.' But her real home is perhaps in a far-away village. Pointing out her master's house to others, she says, no doubt, 'This is our house', but in her heart she knows very well that it doesn't belong to her and that her own house is in a faraway village. She brings up her master's son and says, 'My Hari has grown very naughty', or 'My Hari doesn't like sweets.' Though she repeats, 'My Hari' with her lips, yet she knows in her heart that Hari doesn't belong to her, that he is her master's son. "Thus I say to those who visit me...

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. ...