Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

June 20, 1884 M: "It is great luck to be able to renounce everything." MASTER: "That is true. But people act according to their  inherent tendencies. You have a few more duties to perform. After these are over you will have peace. Then you will be released. A man cannot easily get out of the hospital once his name is registered there. He is discharged only when he is completely cured. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Chapter 23, Festival at Surendra's house

May 25, 1884 MASTER (to Vijay and the others): "The musician sang rightly: 'A sannyasi must not look at a woman.' This is the sannyasi's dharma. What a lofty ideal!" VIJAY: "Yes indeed, sir." MASTER: "Others learn from the sannyasi's example. That is why such strict rules are prescribed for him. A sannyasi must not look even at the portrait of a woman. What a strict rule! The slaughtering of a black goat is prescribed for the worship of the Divine Mother; but a goat with even a slight wound cannot be offered. A sannyasi must not only not have intercourse with woman; he must not even talk to her" VIJAY: "Young Haridas talked with a pious woman. For that reason Chaitanya banished him from his presence." MASTER: "A sannyasi associated with 'woman and gold' is like a beautiful damsel with a bad odour. The odour makes her beauty useless. "Once a Mārwāri ...

March 23, 1884 MASTER: "There are two signs of knowledge.  First, an unshakable buddhi.  No matter how many sorrows, afflictions, dangers, and obstacles one may be faced with, one's mind does not undergo any change.  It is like the blacksmith's anvil, which receives constant blows from the hammer and still remains unshaken.  And second, manliness-very strong grit.  If lust and anger injure a man, he must renounce them once for all.  If a tortoise once tucks in its limbs, it won't put them out again though you may cut it into four pieces".   Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Chapter 20, Rules for Householders and Monks

May 25, 1884 MASTER: "Do your worldly duties with a part of your mind and direct most of it to God. A sādhu should think of God with three quarters of his mind and with one quarter should do his other duties. He should be very alert about spiritual things. The snake is very sensitive in its tail. Its whole body reacts when it is hurt there. Similarly, the whole life of a sādhu is affected when his spirituality is touched." Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Chapter 22, Advice to an Actor