How to grow in devotion to Sri Ramakrishna? - Ms. Reshma, Chennai.
Answer: We have to ask ourselves this question very often.
If you pose this question to Sri Sarada Devi, she will reply thus: Sri Ramakrishna is God Himself with infinite compassion. Pray to Him with a simple heart even if you do not have faith in Him. He will certainly shower his Grace and your devotion will increase.
If you ask Swami Vivekananda, he will say that one who sees Siva in the poor, the weak and the sick truly worships Him. But his worship is preliminary who sees Him only in images and sculptures in temples.
Similarly a person who sees Sri Ramakrishna only in pictures or in shrines is a mediocre devotee. But if anyone who performs one’s family and social duties with a deep religious faith realising it to be a service rendered to God, his devotion will spring like a fountain. That will later turn into torrents due to Swamiji’s blessings.
If this question is posed to Sri Ramakrishna himself, he will say, ” Wait a little, I will ask my Divine Mother and tell you Her reply”.
By praying thus to Sri Ramakrishna he will increase our devotion and take us nearer to God. While reading this if the great utterance of Tamil Saint “Bowing to His feet by His Grace alone” cross your mind, know that you are a good devotee.
Let us not break our head on how to grow in devotion. Sri Ramakrishna will turn his Grace within us into blossom of devotion. He is the Sun of spirituality and we blossoms. The only purpose of our lives is to keep looking at Him with intense love. Rest is His.
Swami Vimurtananda
25 January, 2021
Ramakrishna Math, Thanjavur