31
March 1894 : Letter to Swami Akhandananda : Try to develop spirituality
and philanthropy amongst the Thakurs in the different places of
Rajputana. We must work, and this cannot be done by merely sitting idle.
Make a trip now and then to Malsisar, Alsisar, and all the other "sars"
that are there. And carefully learn Sanskrit and English. Gunanidhi is
in the Punjab, I presume. Convey my special love
to him and bring him to Khetri. Learn Sanskrit with his help, and teach
him English. Let me have his address by all means. . . .
Go from door to door amongst the poor and lower classes of the town of Khetri and teach them religion. Also, let them have oral lessons on geography and such other subjects. No good will come of sitting idle and having princely dishes, and saying "Ramakrishna, O Lord!"--unless you can do some good to the poor. Go to other villages from time to time, and teach the people the arts of life as well as religion. Work, worship, and Jnana (knowledge)--first work, and your mind will be purified; otherwise everything will be fruitless like pouring oblations on a pile of ashes instead of in the sacred fire. When Gunanidhi comes, move from door to door of the poor and the destitute in every village of Rajputana. If people object to the kind of food you take, give it up immediately. It is preferable to live on grass for the sake of doing good to others. The Gerua robe is not for enjoyment. It is the banner of heroic work. You must give your body, mind, and speech to "the welfare of the world". You have read--"Look upon your mother as God, look upon your father as God"--but I say "The poor, the illiterate, the ignorant, the afflicted--let these be your God." Know that service to these alone is the highest religion.
Go from door to door amongst the poor and lower classes of the town of Khetri and teach them religion. Also, let them have oral lessons on geography and such other subjects. No good will come of sitting idle and having princely dishes, and saying "Ramakrishna, O Lord!"--unless you can do some good to the poor. Go to other villages from time to time, and teach the people the arts of life as well as religion. Work, worship, and Jnana (knowledge)--first work, and your mind will be purified; otherwise everything will be fruitless like pouring oblations on a pile of ashes instead of in the sacred fire. When Gunanidhi comes, move from door to door of the poor and the destitute in every village of Rajputana. If people object to the kind of food you take, give it up immediately. It is preferable to live on grass for the sake of doing good to others. The Gerua robe is not for enjoyment. It is the banner of heroic work. You must give your body, mind, and speech to "the welfare of the world". You have read--"Look upon your mother as God, look upon your father as God"--but I say "The poor, the illiterate, the ignorant, the afflicted--let these be your God." Know that service to these alone is the highest religion.
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