Focus on the Almighty

The only purpose of human existence is to seek revelation of the Divine within oneself, says Sri Ramakrishna. Such revelation, he says, happens only by the grace of the Brahmn, without which it is not possible to cast aside the veil of Maya that enshrouds the Supreme. To achieve divine grace, one must renounce negative emotions, namely Kamini, sensuality, and Kanchan, wealth. Figuratively, these two words mean lust and greed - the never-ending craving for more.

Apart from these two, Ramakrishna says, the other destructive instinct is our ego; it leads one to think of oneself as the doer, rather than merely the means of any achievement. Ego leads to bigotry and self-delusion - gazing at the world through the lens of one's narrow convictions. And when ego is thwarted, it leads to hatred - the most corrosive emotion. What was required was a constant, unceasing focus on the Almighty, while going through the humdrum of daily existence.

He would give the example of an ordinary village woman, who suckles her newborn, while helping grind grain at a pedal mill, and minding the family store as well. Her attention, though, is focused on her infant, the others being only reflex action, incidental to sustenance.


Of the different approaches toward God, he would say, most suitable for common folk were daas bhav - to think of oneself as a servant of the Master, or santaan/maatri bhav, as a child of the Mother.