Understanding The Brahman

Sri Ramakrishna

oi-Staff

Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 17:49

We are all in the pursuit of the Brahman or the ultimate truth. Is it within one's reach? It is a well known fact that it is beyond the body, mind complex. An understanding of it does help in one's spiritual pursuit. However it is paradoxical as it is even beyond the very understanding of it, as the knowledge comes within the ambit of the mind.

To experience it goes beyond the understanding. However can it be experienced? It is again a paradox as it can also not be experienced as the very person experiencing, merges with the truth with no trace of his identity. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, through a short story, points out that no degree of understanding the Brahman can help grasp it. As it is beyond the mind, the mind is incapable of grasping it. The part of knowledge played, limits itself as only pointers of the truth and not the mighty truth itself.

Once an ant went on a hill of sugar. A grain of sugar filled his stomach and it went homewards with another grain in its mouth. On its way home it reflected, “Next time I shall carry home the whole hill" The Master says that so does the shallow mind of men think. They are unaware of the fact that the Brahman or the ultimate truth is beyond words and thoughts. However great a man may be, how much can one know about the Brahman? Great sages like Sukadeva with vast knowledge may be termed as 'big ants' However even they could only carry at the most eight to ten grains of sugar says the Master. It can be understood that however great one's knowledge may be, it falls short on being unable to grasp Brahman itself!

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