Vedanta Society of New York---Sri Ramakrishna on Solitude (2)</

--The Bhagavad-Gita,, XIII-10

Click on photo to enlarge Back to Photo Gallery	"The mind cannot dwell on God if it is immersed day and night in worldliness, in worldly duties and responsibilities; it is most necessary to go into solitude now and then and think of God. To fix the mind on God is very difficult, in the beginning, unless one practises meditation in solitude.... To meditate you should withdraw within yourself or retire to a secluded corner or to the forest... one must go into solitude to attain this divine love... you must put aside all other duties, sit in a quiet spot, and churn the curd. Only then do you get butter. Further, by meditating on God in solitude the mind acquires knowledge, dispassion, and devotion... So, practise spiritual discipline in solitude and obtain the butter of knowledge and love." --The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, pp. 81-83
"Householders should go into solitude now and then, to practise spiritual discipline in order to cultivate devotion to God; they should renounce mentally. But sannyasi should renounce both mentally and physically.... One doesn't really need to study the different scriptures. If one has no discrimination, one doesn't achieve anything through mere scholarship, even though one studies all the six systems of philosophy. Call on God, crying to Him secretly in solitude. He will give all that you need.... Devotees endowed with sattva meditate in a secluded corner or in a forest... One should first realize God through spiritual discipline in solitude, and then live in the world." --The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, pp. 291-293	Click on photo to enlarge Back to Photo Gallery
Click on photo to enlarge Back to Photo Gallery	"If you ask me how long you should live in solitude away from your family, I should say that it would be good for you if you could spend even one day in such a manner. Three days at a time are still better. One may live in solitude for twelve days, a month, three months, or a year, according to one's convenience and ability. One hasn't much to fear if one leads the life of a householder after attaining knowledge and devotion." -- The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 313 Translated by: Swami Nikhilananda Published by: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center New York