Page:The Gospel of Râmakrishna.djvu/353

 calmly, without anxiety. Whatever He has given you to do, do that. A kitten has no self- reliance. It mews and mews and stays where the mother cat places it. She may put it on a soft bed or on the hard floor of the kitchen; the kitten is always content and depends entirely on the will of the mother. Sub-Judge: We are householders with cer-

tain duties; how long shall we have to perform these? Ramakrishna: Of course you have your duties. You will have to bring up your chil- dren, sustain your wife, save enough to maintain your family after your death. If you did not do this you would be heartless and cruel. Even great sages like Sukadeva practised loving-kind- ness. He is not a man who has neither heart nor kindness. Sub-Judge: How long shall we maintain our children ? Ramakrishna: Until they have passed the age of minority. When the young bird is able to take care of itself, it pecks at the parent bird, if she tries to come near it. Sub-Judge: What is the duty towards the wife? Ramakrishna : As long as you live you should