SriM: Introduction by the Author - 7 mins
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By the grace of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna Deva, the second part of Sri Ma Darshan is being published. Like the first part, the second part also contains some new talks of Paramahansa Deva and the Holy Mother and also those of Swami Vivekananda and other intimate disciples of the Master, and, it is a commentary of the ' Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna" by the writer of the Gospel. Besides, it is a commentary of the Upanishad, the Gita, the Bhagavata, the Purana, the Bible and other scriptures in the light of the life of Sri Ramakrishna.
The scene of the First Part is laid in the Forest of Mihijam. Like the lion in a forest, free from all obstacles - it is the picture of M there. Full of joy, he roams freely in the regions of his noble and lofty ideas. Sometimes even while coming down to the world}y plain, he engages his intellect and mind to commenting upon the Gita, the Upanishad and other holy books.
Establishing the life of the sadhus and brahmacharis on a firm footing formed also another function of M at Mihijam. That is why M's image in Mihijam is that of a teacher-full of bliss, vigour and robust holy optimism.
On the other hand, the stage of action of Part II is the great city of Calcutta. Here M is surrounded by all kinds of devotees. The mind of the devotees is restless due to the undulations of pleasures and pains. Identifying himself with their feelings, M is self-surrendering and prayerful-like the maid in a big house-hold. By showering the 'Kathamrita'-the Nectar of the Gospel, day and night, he is infusing life into the minds of the lifeless devotees. Breaking the fiery nest of despair, he is leading them on to the happy abode of joy and peace.
ii. M says. "Sri Ramakrishna is God incarnated in a human body.' Assuring fearlessness to the devotees fallen into the burning fire of the world, Sri Ramakrishna says, "Hold on to me. meditate on me and me alone and that will do." And again he declares in a loud voice his promise, "Verily, verily, I swear unto you, whosoever will think on me shall inherit my wealth even as a son does inherit his father's wealth, and my wealth consists of , jnana-bhakti, viveka-vairajya, shanti-sukha, prema-snadhi, (knowledge and devotion, discrimination and dispassion, peace and happiness, deep love and realisation of God.)
M shows the path to the bhaktas and promising hope says: Sri Bhagavan came down in a human body only the other day. What fear ? Establish a relationship of love with Him and live in the world. Decide by imagination one suitable relationship-such as father, mother, friend, the lord and the like - and begin the work. Later on this very relationship of imagination will assume the form of reality which will take possession of the mind and the heart of the devotee. Then the devotee will have two personalities-one the worldly man and the other the illumined man of God. When this man of the world, falling into the various whirlpools of pleasure and pain, will get drowned, his divine counterpart, the illumined man in him being awakened will transform this drowning weakling into a mighty hero.
In spite of the repeated entreaties of M, Sri Ramakrishna, the avatara of this age at the instance of the Mother of the Universe, had commanded M to live in the household and teach the 'Bhagavata' to the humanity, afflicted with the fire of the world. Like Prahlada, Janak and others having attained perfect sannyasa within, M distributed day and night the Bhagavata, the nectar of the words of Sri Ramakrishna. the dispeller of worldly troubles and tribulations. for a long time, close upon half a century.
For God' s work, even though unable to embrace the Vedantic Sannyasa, M was blessed with the Tantric Sannyasa by Sri Ramakrishna. M said, "Thakur endowed Baburam and myself with Tantric Sannyasa on the same day."
The desire for Vedantic Sannyasa kept itself awake in the mind of M throughout his life. Thus we see that M. four or five times during his active life, having renounced all work, like a sannyasi, spent time in practising tapasya now in Kamarpukur and Jayrambati, now in Puri and Kashi and now in Haridwar and Rishikesh. The forest-stay of M in Mihijam is also the result of his secret inner urge for the Vedantic Sannyasa .
It is Sri Ramakrishna as God who has dispensed sorrow and pain in the world. It is again He as God incarnate who shows the path to the Life Eternal. Reading this book and accepting the dispensation of Sri Ramakrishna, may the Humanity, broken down by worldly pains, attain the illumined state-the children of Immortal Bliss-is the prayer of the author of this book.
May Sri Sri Thakur bless those whose help has made it possible for the book to be published-this too is the hearty prayer of the author.
Swami Nityatmananda
Sri Ramakrishna Math,
(Tulsi Math), Rishikesh.
Akshay Tritiya 1370 (Bengali Year) 1962 A.D.