The Atma Jyoti Blog

Words of Mahendranath Gupta, also known as “M”, the author of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

With indrawn eyes, M addressed all here present:

“People think they have taken their whole meal (of knowledge) as a monkey does. If food is placed before a monkey he quickly puts it all in his mouth. But actually he does not eat – he keeps it stored in the bag of his throat.

“Likewise many people think that they have eaten a lot – so much of divine talk they have heard. But they have not digested it. They have heard it all right but have not made use of it – they have not tried to live it in life. That’s why it does not show. That’s why one wants to eat other things. The mind runs after sensory enjoyments.

“What is it  merely to hear? Nothing will happen even if it is kept in the brain when there is no strong effort to practice it one’s life. No work is possible by going slow. Tremendous effort is needed after hearing: let my life ebb out, I shall not give up effort. Then alone the real ‘food” is taken, the alone knowledge is acquired.”

This quote is taken from the book M, the Apostle and Evangelist, much of which can be found online at Kathamrita.org.

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