Page:Ramakrishna - His Life and Sayings.djvu/120

102 even in the most wicked, but it is not meet that we should associate with the wicked

14. The manifestation of the Divinity must be under- stood to be in greater degree in those who are honoured, respected, and obeyed by a large following, than in those who have gained no such influence.

15. The Master said: 'Everything that exists is God.' The pupil understood it literally, but not in the true spirit. While he was passing through a street, he met with an elephant. The driver (mihut) shouted aloud from his high place, ' Move away, move away ! 7 The pupil argued in his mind, * Why should I move away ? I am God, so is the elephant also God. What fear has God of Himself?' Thinking thus he did not move. At last the elephant took him up by his trunk, and dashed him aside. He was severely hurt, and going back to his Master, he related the whole adventure. The Master said, 'All right, you are God. The elephant is God also, but God in the shape of the elephant-driver was warning you also from above. Why did you not pay heed to his warnings ? '

16. God, His scripture (the BhSgavata), and His devotee are all to be regarded as one, i.e. in one and the same light

17. Every being is NSiyaa. Man or animal, sage or knave, nay, the whole universe, is N&r&yaa, the Supreme Spirit

18. As many have merely heard of snow but not seen it, so many are the religious preachers who have read only in books about the attributes of God, but have not realised