Page:The Gospel of Râmakrishna.djvu/251

 Disciple: As regards eating, one should eat what one gets. Ramakrishna: That depends upon the spirit-ual state. In the path of Jnana that produces no harm; when a Jnani eats, he pours the food as an offering in the fire of Kunda-lini. But for a Bhakta it is different. A Bhakta should eat only pure food, such food as he can freely offer to his Beloved Lord. Animal food is not for a Bhakta. But at the same time, I must say, if a man loves God after eating the flesh of a pig, he is blessed, and wretched is the man who lives on milk and rice, but whose mind is absorbed in lust and gold. Once I took as mantram the name of Allah from a Mohammedan teacher and repeated the name for several days and ate their food.

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The Bhagavan then came back into the hall followed by His disciples and seated Himself. A pillow was placed for Him to recline upon. Before touching it, He said, "0m tat sat" (Brah-man is the only Reality). The pillow was, of course, one which had been used by the unholy men of the world, and the Bhagavan was purity itself. It was getting late, but no dinner was