GOSPEL OF RAMAKRISHNA
came back to life. The saint was amazed at the sight and again exclaimed: "How wonderful in- deed are thy powers! But let me ask thee one question. Thou hast killed the elephant and brought him back to life; what hast thou gained ? Hast thou realized God?" Thus saying, the saint disappeared. Most subtle is the path of spirituality. God cannot be realized so long as there is the least desire for powers in the heart. You Desire for powers prevents realization. cannot thread a needle so long as there are fibres at the point of the thread. Krishna said to Arjuna: "Brother, if thou wishest to realize Me "(God), thou must not desire any psychic powers. The possession of psychic power brings pride and egotism, then one easily forgets God. So long as there is egotism, Divine realization does not come."
There are four different stages in the path of realization. First, that of a beginner, a Pra- Four stages of realization. vartaka, or one who has just begun to worship God. Those who belong to this class begin to wear the sign of their creed , such as the rosary or the mark on the forehead, and they are very particular about the external forms of their sect. The second stage is that
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