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| (Sri Ramakrishna) |
According to Swami Nikhilananda, Sri Ramakrishna’s “first experience of spiritual ecstasy” occurred out in nature rather than within a particular religious setting.
The young Gadadhar (Ramakrishna’s birth name, which is an
“epithet of Vishnu”) was walking in some rice fields near his home when he noticed some white cranes flying past a dark thundercloud. Gadadhar was so overwhelmed by the beauty of this scene that he “fell to the ground, unconscious…” After being carried home by some villagers, Gadadhar explained that “he had experienced an indescribable joy.”
Nikhilananda goes on to describe Ramakrishna’s attitude towards
different religions. Ramakrishna is quoted as saying: Wherever I look, I see men quarrelling in the name of religion – Hindus,
Mohammedans, Brahmos, Vaishnavas, and the rest. But they
never reflect that He who is called Krishna is also called Siva, and bears the name of Primal Energy, Jesus, and Allah as well – the same Rama with a thousand names.
This reflects interspiritual – even more than interfaith – thinking. Kurt Johnson points out that “interfaith” generally refers to “a horizontal discussion among various religions, beliefs and creeds in the hope for more tolerance, peace and mutual understanding,” whereas “interspirituality” is so deeply rooted in an experiential
sense of spiritual oneness “that any creed, belief, background, history, indeed anything that could cause separation between beings becomes secondary if not irrelevant.”
Swami Adiswarananda offers this Ramakrishna quote: “As many faiths, so many paths.” Adiswarananda then explains: “The paths vary, but the goal remains the same… communion with God.” Ramakrishna’s view of different religions was often based on his direct experience with them. Wikipedia reports that he was initiated into Islam by Govinda Roy, “a Hindu guru who practiced Sufism...” Ramakrishna embraced Islam fervently and practiced it intensely. He afterwards also embraced Christianity and experienced visions of Jesus and the Madonna.
Resources
http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/gospel/introduction/introduction_frame.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramakrishna
http://www.ramakrishna.org/rmk.htm
http://www.namastepublishing.com/blog/compassionate-eye/what-interspirituality
Copyright February 27, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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