PRACHIN SADHUDER KATHA

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Here is the bullet-point gist in English:

• At Belur Math, a place alive with spiritual inquiry and daily practice, a conversation once took place between a young monk and an elderly monk.

• The young monk asked the elder:
  “Maharaj, I never see you doing long hours of japa and meditation, nor going on long pilgrimages or severe austerities. Then what is the main spiritual practice that keeps you progressing constantly on the path?”

• The elder monk, without the slightest irritation, replied with a smile.

• He said there are two things to always remember:

  • One: Strive to make the Vedantic truth “Brahman alone is real; the world is illusory” a living realization in your life.

  • Two: Surrender yourself completely to Sri Ramakrishna like a simple, helpless child.

• The moment he understood the impermanence of the world, two things became absolutely clear to him:

  • What his life’s goal was.

  • And the path he must follow to reach it.

• Although the goal and path were clear, he knew he could not progress faster than the capacity of his body and mind allowed.

• Therefore he advanced at his own natural pace, relying on Sri Ramakrishna, without impatience yet without losing sight of progress.

• The secret, he said, is this:

  • Fully dedicate yourself at the feet of Sri Ramakrishna.

  • Allow him to use your body, mind, and abilities exactly as he wishes.

  • Rely on him always, remember him constantly, and keep working for him.

  • Then he will take responsibility for everything else.

• This elderly monk was Swami Smaranananda Ji Maharaj, the 16th President of the Ramakrishna Order.

• He lived his entire life embodying this ideal with simple, unpretentious dedication, becoming a guiding example for future generations.

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Influenced by Gandhiji’s practice of chanting Ramanam whenever he felt mentally weak, I too became drawn to repeating the divine name.

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Here is the bullet-point gist:

• One day, while sitting on the upper deck of a double-decker bus, he was deeply absorbed in thoughts about his life’s ideal and purpose.

• Suddenly, an inner voice clearly said: “I must become a monk.”

• His life’s aim became instantly fixed, and he began preparing to become a monk.

• Later, he told a young monk that this moment was his “First Awakening.”

• From that point onward, he never looked back or wavered.

• He developed an unshakeable faith in both his life’s goal and the path leading to it.

• Because of this deep conviction, no doubt or hesitation ever disturbed him.

• He would often say that his faith was so firm that no major spiritual questions ever arose for him—his purpose and path had become permanently clear.

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