Naren (Swami Vivekananda) and Ramakrishna were two different poles altogether. It was an intellect vs rationality, educated vs uneducated, wealthy vs poor, logic Vs heart and no God Vs God. Naren went on to ask bountiful of questions before accepting Ramakrishna as his Guru.
Conversation between Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna
A rare conversation between Shree Ramkrishna Paramahansa & Swami Vivekananda
1. Time is a Running Deer
Vivekananda Questions – I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic.
Ramakrishna Answers – Activity gets you busy. Productivity makes you free.
2. Life’s Complexity
Vivekananda Questions – Why has life become complicated now?
Ramakrishna Answers – Stop analyzing life, it gets complicated. Just live it.
3. Slipping Happiness
Vivekananda Questions – Why are we then constantly unhappy?
Ramakrishna Answers – Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy.
4. Good V/s Bad
Vivekananda Questions – Why do good people always suffer?
Ramakrishna Answers – Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer. With that experience, their life becomes better, not bitter.
5. Importance of an Experience
Vivekananda Questions – You mean to say such experience is useful?
Ramakrishna Answers – Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons.
6. A Confused Path
Vivekananda Questions – Because of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading…
Ramakrishna Answers – If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Eyes provide sight. The heart provides the way.
7. Pain of Failures
Vivekananda Questions – Does failure hurt?
Ramakrishna Answers – Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.
8. Not-so-motivating instances
Vivekananda Questions – In tough times, how do you stay motivated?
Ramakrishna Answers – Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.
9. Mindset of People
Vivekananda Questions – What surprises you about people?
Ramakrishna Answers – When they suffer they ask, “why me?” When they prosper, they never ask “Why me?”
10. Life Results
Vivekananda Questions – How can I get the best out of life?
Ramakrishna Answers – Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.
11. Prayers Unanswered
Vivekananda Questions – One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.
Ramakrishna Answers – There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.
This is one of the gem conversations that happened between the two greats. Hope you found this motivating and interesting.
