Ramakrishna Quotes

Faith is a continuum, and we each fall on that line where we may. By attempting to rigidly classify ethereal concepts like faith, we end up debating semantics to the point where we entirely miss the obvious - that is, that we are all trying to decipher life's big mysteries, and we're each following our own paths of enlightenment.

Darkness is the only path to light. It is not our wonderful gifts that make us closer to God: it's using our garbage to transform ourselves. This is the key that unlocks the door that opens to God.

We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen.

Kabbalah is all about change. It isn't about being proud of our good qualities: the wisdom is about transforming our darkness into light.

The robe of flesh wears thin, and with the years God shines through all things.

My main goal is still for the books to minister in some way, to teach a spiritual truth, to enlighten people.

We use the vocabulary of light to describe a spiritual experience.

THE PATH IS exceedingly vast. From ancient times to the present day, even the greatest sages were unable to perceive and comprehend the entire truth; the explanation and teachings of masters and saints express only part of the whole. It is not possible for anyone to speak of such things in their entirety. Just head for the light and heat, learn from the gods, and through the virtue of devoted practice of the Art of Peace, become one with the divine.

God not only loves the obedient - He enlightens them.

A man may be the greatest philosopher in the world but a child in RELIGION. When a man has developed a high state of spirituality he can understand that the kingdom of heaven is within him.

Godliness is the fragrance of the man who has attained enlightenment.

Wilt thou, then, my soul, never be good and simple and one and naked, more manifest than the body which surrounds thee?

Seek for illumination of self, and then the world, through the simple, humble, almighty, supreme virtue of love.

The purpose and cause of the incarnation was that He might illuminate the world by His wisdom and excite it to the love of Himself.

The most divine light only shineth on those minds which are purged from all worldly dross and human uncleanliness.

Books cannot teach God, but they can destroy ignorance; their action is negative.

It is knowledge that ultimately gives salvation.

The path to enlightenment is really very simple - all we need to do is stop cherishing ourself and learn to cherish others. All other spiritual realisations will naturally follow from this.

God is your very being. So the first thing is, don't think about enlightenment as a goal.

The Holy Scriptures lead us to God and open the path to the knowledge of God.

If you endeavor to embrace the Way through much learning, the Way will not be understood. If you observe the Way with simplicity of heart, great indeed is this Way.

When the panting and thirsting soul first drinks the delicious waters of truth, when the moral and intellectual tastes and desires first seize the fragrant fruits that flourish in the garden of knowledge, then does the child catch a glimpse and foretaste of heaven.

We deserve to know light. And grow evermore lighter and lighter.

God can never be realized by one who is not pure of heart.