Bhakti · Indian Saints · 1836–1886
Ramakrishna
Bengali Vaishnavism · tantra · worship of Kali · The Gospel of Ramakrishna
A priest who loved the Goddess so dearly that a single utterance of her name would cast him into samadhi. Living proof of God.
The essence of the teaching: The absolute, indivisible reality (Brahman) and its living, acting face (Shakti, the Mother) are one. God can be loved as one's own Mother, and that love itself leads to non-dual samadhi.
Transmission
Ramakrishna served as a priest before the image of Kali, and one day, unable to live any longer without the living Goddess, he seized the temple sword to die. In that instant everything vanished – only an ocean of light remained, and he fell into samadhi. From then on the Mother was more real to him than people. He tried many paths – the Vaishnava, the tantric, the way of Christ and the way of Islam – and on each he reached God. From this came his word: as many faiths, so many paths, and all rivers flow into one ocean. To those who asked how to find God, he answered simply – weep for him as a child weeps for its mother, and he cannot help but come.
The full transmission — for members of the School. Here is its essence and its taste.
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