FROM THE GOSPEL OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA : Three yogas explained by Master

Three yogas explained by Master

"Innumerable are the ways that lead to God. There are the paths of jnāna, of karma, and of bhakti. If you are sincere, you will attain God in the end, whichever path you follow.

Roughly speaking, there are three kinds of

yoga: jnanayoga, karma yoga, and bhaktiyoga.

"What is jnanayoga? 

The Jnāni seeks to realize Brahman. 

He discriminates, saying, 'Not this, not this'. He discriminates, saying, 'Brahman is real and the universe illusory.' 

He discriminates between the Real and the unreal. 

As he comes to the end of discrimination, he goes into samādhi and attains the Knowledge of Brahman.

"What is karmayoga? 

Its aim is to fix one's mind on God by means of work. That is what you are teaching. It

consists of breath-control, concentration, meditation, and so on, done in a spirit of detachment. If a householder performs his duties in the world in a spirit of detachment, surrendering the results to God and

with devotion to God in his heart, he too may be said to practise karmayoga. 

Further, if a person performs worship, japa, and other forms of devotion, surrendering the results to God, he may be said to practise karmayoga. Attainment of God alone is the aim of karmayoga.

"What is bhaktiyoga? 

It is to keep the mind on God by chanting His name and glories. For the Kaliyuga the

path of devotion is easiest. This is indeed the path for this age.

- The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.

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FROM THE GOSPEL OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA

Sri Ramakrishna in his room absorbed in contemplation of the Divine Mother.  Now and then he chanted  Her hallowed name.  Adhar was sitting on the floor.  M.  and Niranjan , too , were there.  Sri Ramakrishna  began to talk to them.

MASTER : "  A devotee who has really and truly renounced all for God is like the chatak bird.  It will drink only the rain-water that falls when the star Svati is in the ascendant.  It will rather die of thirst than touch any other water, though all around there may lie seven oceans and rivers full to the brim with water.  An all-renouncing devotee will not touch ' woman and gold '.  he will not keep ' woman and gold ' near him lest he should feel attached."

 ADHAR: " But  Chaitanya , too , enjoyed the world."

MASTER ( amazed ) : " What ? What did he enjoy in the world ? "

ADHAR : " Scholarship ! Honour ! "

MASTER : " It was honour in the sight of others,  but nothing to him. Whether you -- a deputy magistrate -- or this youngster Niranjan  honours me, it is all the same to me.  And I tell you this truthfully : the idea of controlling a wealthy man never enters my mind.

FROM : THE GOSPEL OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA - PAGE 520

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