GOSPEL OF RAMAKRISHNA
other works. You have risen above Karma. When the fruit appears, the blossom drops off. The true Bhakti is the fruit, while work is the blossom. When the daughter-in-law of the house is with child, she cannot do much work; so the mother-in-law daily reduces the number of her duties. As the time of her delivery draws near, the mother-in-law seldom allows her to do any- thing; and when the child is born, she fondles and caresses it and ceases altogether to work. Sandhya merges into Gayatri; Gayatri into Om, and Om ultimately loses itself in Samadhi. All rituals end in Samadhi. As the sound of a bell — Ding, dong — gradually fades away into the Infinite, so the soul of a Yogi gradually rises with the Nada (the sound of Om) and becomes merged in the Absolute Brahman in Samadhi. Into this Samadhi eventually enter all Karma, — Sandhya, Gayatri and other works. In this manner the Jnanis are freed from all rituals and religious exercises.
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As the Bhagavan was talking of Samadhi, a strange heavenly expression came over His sweet, radiant face. He lost all outward consciousness.
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