Sri Ramakrishna Quotes and Sayings

• How long should a man perform his duties? As long as he has not
  attained God. Duties drop away after the realization of God. Then one goes beyond good and evil. The flower drops off as soon as the fruit appears. The flower serves the purpose of begetting the fruit.
   

• At the beginning the aspirant should go into solitude now and then.
  Spiritual discipline is necessary. You want to eat rice; suppose you sit down somewhere and say, 'Wood contains fire and fire cooks rice.' Can saying it cook the rice? You must get two pieces of wood and by rubbing them together bring out the fire.
   

• One should always discriminate to the effect that God alone is real and the world unreal. And one should pray with sincere longing.
   

• One should keep pictures of holy men in one's room. That constantly
  quickens divine ideas.
   

• A true lover does not seek anything from God. He prays only for pure love. He doesn't want any powers or miracles.
   

• It is true that one's spiritual feelings are awakened by looking at the
  picture of a sadhu. It is like being reminded of the custard-apple by looking at an imitation one, or like stimulating the desire for enjoyment by looking at a young woman. Therefore I tell you that you should constantly live in the company of holy men.
   

• One cannot realize God if one has even the least trace of desire. A thread cannot pass through the eye of a needle if it has the smallest fibre sticking out.
   

• One must love all. No one is a stranger. It is Hari (god) alone who dwells in all beings. Nothing exists without Him.