Page:The Gospel of Râmakrishna.djvu/214

 kinds of worship and offerings were mental de-lusions; that God was the one changeless Entity; and that a man should only meditate upon his Atman (Self), and do nothing else. Bhagavan (laughing): What are you talking about ? Narendra: We are discussing themes all too big for ordinary mortals. Bhagavan (laughing): But however you may talk, know that pure selfless devotion (Bhakti) and Pure selfless knowledge (Jnana) are both one; their goal is the same, Smooth and easy is the path of de- votion leading to God. Narendra: There is no use in reasoning like a philosopher; make me, O Mother, mad with Thy love. I have been reading Hamilton's Philosophy, and he writes: "A learned ig-norance is the end of philosophy and the be- ginning of religion." Bhagavan : What does that mean ? Narendra explained it in Bengali. Sri Rama- krishna laughed and thanked him in English, saying, "Thank you!" Everyone laughed at this, for the Bhagavan's knowledge of English was confined to a few such expressions.