Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

These earthly ties are transitory.
Today they seem to be
the be-all and end-all of life,
and tomorrow they vanish.
Your real tie is with God.

TS74 Thus Spake the Holy Mother. Madras:  Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1971.

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"Besides, the children may be disobedient. There is no end of difficulties. Now, sir, what is the way?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "It is extremely difficult to practice spiritual discipline and at the same time lead a householder's life. There are many handicaps: disease, grief, poverty, misunderstanding with one's wife, and disobedient, stupid, and stubborn children. I don't have to give you a list of them. But still there is a way out. One should pray to God, going now and then into solitude, and make efforts to realize Him." P. 326 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

The happiness of the world is transitory.
The less you become attached to the world, the more you enjoy peace of mind.

TN226 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

The whole world is a dream; even this (the waking state) is a dream ... What you dreamt last night does not exist now.

TN302 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda.
Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations.
Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"But still there are the eight bonds."

Sri Ramakrishna: "They are not eight bonds, but eight fetters. But what if they are? These fetters fall off in a moment, by the grace of God. Do you know what it is like? Suppose a room has been kept dark a thousand years. The moment a man brings a light into it, the darkness vanishes. Not little by little. Haven't you seen the magician's feat? He takes string with many knots, and ties one end to something, keeping the other in his hand. Then he shakes the string once or twice, and immediately all the knots come undone. But another man cannot untie the knots however he may try. All the knots of ignorance come undone in the twinkling of an eye, through the guru's grace."
P. 298 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

In one word, one should desire of God desirelessness.
For desire alone is at the root of all suffering. It is the cause of repeated births and deaths.
It is the obstacle in the way of liberation.

TN369 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother;
Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.