GOSPEL OF RAMAKRISHNA
vessel. Similarly the Paramahamsa keeps silent except when his water of wisdom is poured out into the soul of the disciple. Thus he retains the ego of knowledge for the purpose of teaching others. Again, suppose a person digs a well. He is thirsty and drinks of the water of that well. Yet when his thirst is quenched it is not un- usual for such a person to keep the digging implements, — the hack, the shovel, the spade, — for the sake of others who may want them for the same purpose. In the same way a Para- mahamsa of the second class, who may have drunk of the waters of Everlasting Life and have thus quenched his spiritual thirst, is often anxious to do good to mankind. With this in view he retains the ego of Knowledge, the ego of Love, and the ego of the Preceptor. Some persons eat mangoes and then remove all traces of eating by wiping the mouth with a Helping others. napkin. They care only for their own pleasure. But there are others who let people know that they have eaten man- goes and are willing to share their pleasure with them. Similarly there are Jnanis who enjoy Divine Communion, and do not think of speak- ing about it to others; but it was different with
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