That's precisely the ultimate goal of all the religions, the rituals, the holy books, the sacred shrines are but various means and never the goal itself. Ultimately we have to go beyond all these symbols and means, these symbols and means too can prove to be stumbling blocks if we fail to realise the limitations of these external authorities and transcend them. As Swami Vivekananda, the disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa has said " We want to lead mankind to the place where there is neither the Vedas nor the Bible nor the Koran; yet this has to be done by harmonising the Vedas, the Bible, and the Koran." We can see this harmonisation and going beyond of all religions, in the life of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. In His life, the master traveled all the paths ( religions and sects ) and declared '' Joto moth, toto poth '', various paths lead to the same God !
The life and the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, becomes very relevant at this point in time when the religious fundamentalism is rising around the globe. The problem, if we bother to scrutinise it closely, is not the religions and faiths but it is the political manifestations of religions and political usage of faiths that is problematic. Religions and religious beliefs have produced great artists, politicians, thinkers, poets, authors and singers; Tagore's poetry was born out of his deeper mystical - realisations, Mahatma Gandhi's idea or if I may say his political weapon - nonviolence was the result of his spiritual understanding. Tolstoy's splendorous work was outcome of his compassion and believe ! The great ruler Ashoka's 'Just - State' came from his comprehension of Buddhism. So we can't blame religion for the mayhem across the globe, don't forget an atheist is equally capable of brutality.
Let us see some of the interesting events of the master's life, which is not only awe-inspiring but equally relevant for the spiritual seeker as well as one who is trying to understand the social fabric of a multi - religious society like India.
Ramakrishna and Islam: It was 1866, when the master was helplessly drawn toward the Sufism and Islam. A Sufi master, Govind Rai initiated Ramakrishna into Islam. Ramakrishna said that he "devoutly repeated the name of Allah, wore a cloth like the Arab Muslims, said their prayer five times daily ( Life of Ramakrishna by Swami Nikhilananda ). According to Ramakrishna, after three days of practice he had a vision of a "radiant personage with grave countenance and white beard resembling the Prophet and merging with his body" ( In Rollan Romain book on Ramakrishna's life )
Ramakrishna and Christianity: To this days, Ramakrishna Mission celebrates the Christmas Day with great gusto. Mid night prayers in front of the photograph of Mother Mary holding the infant Jesus is offered with utmost devotion.
This streak back to the life of the master himself. At the end of 1873 he started the practice of Christianity, when his devotee Shambu Charan Mallik read the Bible to him. Ramakrishna said that for several days he was filled with Christian thoughts and no longer thought of going to the Kali temple. Ramakrishna described a vision in which a picture of the Madonna and Child became alive and he had a vision in which Jesus merged with his body. In his own room amongst other divine pictures was one of Christ, and he burnt incense before it morning and evening. There was also a picture showing Jesus Christ saving St Peter from drowning in the water.
Today on the sacred land of India, where the master was born, walked, penance, meditated and experimented with His idea of inclusive religiosity; a violent obscurantism in the name of Hinduism is being propagated by a political ideology, in disguise of Hinduism. Hence reading and understanding of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa becomes extraordinarily important. If we could do a little to prevent and preserve the universality of Hinduism as propagated and demonstrated by Ramkrishna Paramahamsa, it would be the greatest homage to the master !
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