Sri Ramakrishna's Encounter With Money

Sri Ramakrishna

oi-Staff

By Staff

Friday, May 8, 2009, 10:33

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says that the slightest contact with 'Women and Gold' by a sannyasi should be shunned. He further states that the rules are rather rigid for a sannyasi who should keep away from not only accepting money but also handling money.

Lakshminarayan Marwari, a Vedantist used to pay frequent visits to the master. Once on spotting a dirty sheet of Sri Ramakrishna on His bed, he offered to invest rupees ten thousand in the master's name for His personal expenses. The master at the very mention of the word 'money' fell unconscious to the floor as if struck by a stick. When He regained consciousness He chided Lakshminarayan Marwari that He better keep away from meeting Him if He dared to speak so. He also said that it was impossible for Him have money in His proximity.

Lakshminarayan Marwari, interested in the master's welfare tried to corner Him. He said that the master too fostered the dual ideas of acceptance and rejection. The great master answered that He still had not attained such an exalted state of going beyond actions. But Lakshminarayan Marwari, still insisted on leaving the money with Hriday.

The master turned down the suggestion and remarked that in that case Hriday would have to spend the money according to His instructions. He further said that He would get angry if Hriday did not comply with His instructions. In His opinion the very contact of money was bad. He said : "Won't an object kept near the mirror be reflected in it?"

The master thus kept.

Chat With The Devotees Of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa