If you desire to be pure, have firm faith, and slowly go on with your devotional practices without wasting your energy in useless scriptural discussions and arguments. Your little brain will otherwise be muddled.
RamakrishnaRead
You see many stars in the sky at night, but not when the sun rises. Can you therefore say that there are no stars in the heavens during the day? Because you cannot find God in the days of your ignorance, say not that there is no God.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Just because you cannot perceive something does not mean it does not exist.
This quote by Ramakrishna highlights the idea that the absence of sensory evidence does not equate to the absence of existence. Just as stars are still present in the sky even when they are not visible during the day, the divine may also exist beyond our current understanding or perception, especially when clouded by ignorance. It encourages a deeper exploration of faith and existence beyond immediate observation.
Themes
StarsGodIgnoranceExistenceFaith
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about belief and spirituality, one could use this quote to illustrate the idea that faith can exist without visible proof.
More from Ramakrishna
All quotes →The winds of grace are always blowing, but you have to raise the sail.
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A man develops a subtle power as a result of the strict observance of celibacy for twelve years. Then he can understand and grasp very subtle things which otherwise elude his intellect. Through that understanding the aspirant can have direct vision of God. That pure understanding alone enables him to realize Truth.
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Bondage is of the mind; freedom too is of the mind. If you say 'I am a free soul. I am a son of God who can bind me' free you shall be.
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Whoever wants God intensely, finds Him. Go and verify it in your own life.
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One day, it was suddenly revealed to me that everything is pure spirit.
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