Letter 001

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

I have received your letter. I may have initiated many persons but on initiating you I have got a relief or delight. My mind is filled up with pleasure having given Sannyasa or Brahmacharya, but rarely have I got such delight having initiated house-holders. Do know I keep faith on you. I expect sure success in your life.

Always remember the advice of Sri Sri Thakur (Sri Ramakrishna Dev). Try to remain brother and sister after having one or two children.

Try to spend your maximum time in spiritual practice, Saranam (Remembrance) and Manana (reasoning). Of course do office work sincerely and honestly. Give stress on meditation.

Always keep a care-free idea that Sri Thakur and Maa (Srima Sarada Devi) are behind you. Never still think ill of others even by mistake. Regard equally both enemy and friend.

Sri Thakur provides energy if one thinks honest thought. Patience and perseverance is a vital part in the life of a devotee. If you go on like this for six months you will find yourself entered the world of realization.

I am well by the benediction of Sri Sri Maa. Do let me know how you all are. Know my hearty affection.

Letter 002

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

I was in Janai from 13th July to 4th August. I have received your letter on 5th on coming back. Carry on strongly with meditation and analysis saving your body. Adopt the middle path between extreme austerity and comfort.

Your marriage is due to the wrong actions of your previous life. Do not regret, you have to fix your goal and the real path and proceed amidst this. Success in this field is impossible without tremendous Purushakara (self-exertion- as distinguished from grace).

Read Swami Vivekananda’s Jnanayoga* very gradually and meditate on its meaning. In case of any doubt, write immediately. The word Maya** denotes the imaginary bondage of time, space and causality. God is the only Truth i.e. Reality; all else are unreal. And our idea about this God develops gradually. There is no gradual development in God. God or Brahman is unchangeable, all else are changeable.

I'm well by the grace of Sri Sri Thakur. When you've registered your name in Sri Ramakrishna hospital then there’s no escape. Your disease will be cured. Hence there's chance of worry or dejection. Know my good wishes.

Letter 003

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

I received your news from your letter. Had Brahman been something separate from me then achieving of Brahman as described in Shastras (scriptures) would have been identical like achieving some matters, money, fame, wife, son etc. Is it so? By which the Shastras declare thus achieving which everything is achieved – then this does not come under the category of ordinary achievable objects. Our idea of God gradually develops as our intelligence gets purified through austerity and spiritual practice. Achieving (realizing) the Self or Atman is the greatest achievement. And thus we arrive at Jnana Yoga. Now understand what is the relation between Purushakara (self-exertion as distinguished from grace) and grace.

Purushakara is a side of grace. The Scriptures say, "The Atman cannot be achieved by the weak (Mundakonishad, 3.2.4)." "Only those few desire the Advaita who are blessed with the grace of God (Avadhuta Gita)." However, you go on with your spiritual practice. Success is inevitable.

I’m waiting for your letter which you will write after completing your tour. I’m well by the benediction of Sri Maa.

Letter 004

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

I've received your letter after a long time. A thing which is specially striking me in this letter is the statements arising from disappointing and dejected mentality. The ignorant jiva (individualized living being) never admit their lapse and shortcoming as offence, moreover they try to others in their creed. I know you do not belong to that class. Rectification is only possible when one thinks himself, "I must and should rectify myself." And rectification means Purushakara (self-exertion- as distinguished from grace) and that is austerity.

The chief means of austerity of house-holders is, "Not I", "Not I" – "Thou", "Thou". There is no other way than surrendering at the feet of Sri Sri Thakur and Maa.

Swami Vivekananda's message will be befitting for you. Read, Think, meditate and on repetition you will become. Such powerful is his words. He came to speak words of eternity and fearlessness. Hence Sri Sri Thakur said "Such a receptacle (great soul) never came before, nor will ever come after."

So shake off all mental shakles and weakness. "We are the sons of Sri Ramakrishna." It's by us and by us only that this will be possible. You’ve got my photograph. It's good. Know my best wishes.

Letter 005

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam My dear,

A grand celebration will be organized on the occasion of Guru Purnima on 9th July in Janai Ashram. You all are cordially invited to this celebration. I don't know whether it will be possible for you to come. Anyway, you send some money in my name before 2nd of July for this Puja. This Ashram was inaugurated on the occasion of the Guru Purnima.

There is no relation whatsoever between absolute truth and relative truth. What can be the relationship between the rope and the apparent snake? How can there be any relationship between what exists and what doesn't? Whatever remains in the past, future and present is the Truth or Existence. Advaitism is mainly established into the doctrine of Maya. The doctrine of Maya is said to be the doctrine of un-defined. You have to understand the essence of the word Maya. The one which cannot be classified is unclassified. You can't say Maya is truth because then you have to accept two different existences, Brahman and Maya, you cannot say it is false, because though being Brahman by nature we cannot perceive it. Again we cannot denote it as something which is independent to reality and un-reality. Thus, as it cannot be classified into any category, Maya remains un-classified. Read this doctrine of Maya very carefully, then only Advaitism will come into your comprehension. The meaning of Self-realization is destruction of ignorance, or liberation. The knowledge that we are already liberated is called the knowledge of Brahman. That is why Sri Thakur has said 'Knowing God is knowledge, and not knowing is ignorance'. Here, the meaning of God is the real nature of man. Read 'Jyana Yoga', 'The Science of Religion' and 'Talks with the Master' of Swami Vivekananda very carefully and think about them. And carry on with your chanting and austerities with the same sincerity. The sooner the religious superstitions goes, the better. I am fine. My best wishes to you and your family.

Letter 006

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

I received the postcard and M.O.(Money Order) of rupees 10 and the few lines written on the M.O. by you.

Four of us went from Purulia to Janai Ashram on the 5th of July and returned on the 15th of July after completion of the festival. The festival was carried out beautifully and in a organized way by the grace of Sri Thakur and Sri Ma.

I will stay here for one and half months and then go back to Janai again. Let's see what the divine wish of Sri Thakur is.

This world which is perceptible by the senses - does it have its existence outside? Or -its existence is in the mind? Because in the dreaming state the mind is divided into two parts: subject and object. The subjective mind becomes the observer of the objective mind. The observer is more true than the observed, the observed may be many but the observer is one and undivided.

'I know the pot'. In this phenomena, the knower of pot is 'I', but that 'the pot is known to me', is also what I know. That means, my knowledge about the pot is also known to me. Then who is this second 'I', the observer or the self-manifested Brahman? In this way, while discriminating 'not this, not this' we find the real 'I'. This is called the discrimination between the Self (real) and non-Self (the unreal). With this, where and how does the existence of the unreal 'I' remain while you are in deep sleep?

I am well. Know my best wishes.

Letter 007

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

I didn't receive your news for a long time. But there is a very subtle relationship between the master and the disciple. You might be definitely sensing some of this. Isn't it true?

I suffered a carbuncle for three months and I am fully cured just before two days. I went to Janai Ashram on the occasion of Guru Purnima on the 4th of July with this carbuncle from here. I was accompanied by a Brahmachary disciple, a married woman disciple and a married woman sister disciple of mine (whose inlaw's house is in Bankura) to Janai. The Guru Purnima celebration was nicely celebrated on 9th of July last. I returned to Purulia on the 15th of July accompanied by three of them, and was completely bed-ridden. Anyway, with the grace of Sri Sri Thakur I am completely cured now.

You write all your news after reading this letter and send it to Janai Ashram.

I hope that you have managed some time for your japa and meditation now. Read the books 'the science of Religion' and 'Jyana Yoga' by Swamiji carefully and think about them. Write to me whenever you have any doubt.

Does the mind remain in deep slumber? And if it remains, how does it stay? And how is the place where it stays? -think about this. What is the difference between deep slumber and death? What is unconsciousness?

In the dreaming state the objects of dream, though are true, yet after the dreaming state (that is, when you become conscious) why does the dream and the objects of the dream seem to be false? Then who is the witness of this three states -conscious, dreaming and dreamless sleep? Doesn't this witness observe these three states? The witness observing or within this three states remains always one, because He is manifesting the three states but doesn't undergo any change. This means He is unmodified in all states and that is 'I' or the Self.

Try to meditate on the witness slowly and chant the name of God or meditate as you have been doing.

I am also going to Janai within eight days accompanied with a new Brahmachary. If you happen to come here during the Durga Puja let me know.

Know my best wishes.

Letter 008

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

I received the news of your exact mental condition through your letter. The impossible becomes possible only if you have faith in God.

You have to rotate the key exactly in the opposite direction in which it was locked - then only it will be unlocked. Remaining as a householder you have to practice inner renunciation - that is influencing your mind with God.

I am well by the Grace of Sri Thakur. Know my best wishes.

Letter 13

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam

Purulia
25/08/1980

Dear,

I've come to know your details receiving your letter sent in the envelope. I've returned here on the 1st of August after two months stay at Janai.

I myself have sent you from Janai the invitation letter of Guru-Purnima. You surely have not get it. I am writing a poem on Advaita Vedanta (meditate upon it):

Only by study or deliberation
In happiness or in dejection
Can thou attain Brahmanjana
Can that be attained by act
Or is the object of intellect
Can be ascertained by inference
Or is Prameya or Praman
What do thy see, hear, and discriminate
Form, taste, sound, light and darkness
Self-conceited of being bounded and deliverance
Thyself on thy doth meditate on thyself.

To attain the Self, means the emancipation of the illusion that the Self cannot be achieved. The Self cannot be achieved or realised - all these are western doctrines such as Spencer's Agnosticism or unknown and unknowable. Hence Sri Thakur said, "Attainable by through pure mind." Know my well-wishes.

Yours,
Father

Letter 35

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam Dear,

Our soul i.e. the Self is always constant. We cannot deny our Self because it is non-imaginable, that without 'I' others are existing. At every moment we first accept or feel me, and then we feel others.

The body and the soul cannot be the same. Because whatever we use cannot be the user. So, the Soul uses the body and that is why, the Soul is entirely separate entity. As in the case of a coconut the Real essence is quite separate from either the water or the outer periphery.

So, Soul is the only Absolute Reality. Horns of a Dilemma begins from the inception; "Who am I?" – it should be a question and must be solved, if we try to answer that "I am such and such", then I can only point out my body or the mind or the intelligence which is not at all the real explanation of "I" or the Soul. Because in reverse we do not use the body at all. Then in Deep Slumber we become ignorant of our body, mind, intelligence i.e. every thing which we use in our so called conscious state. So this sort of conscious state is no consciousness. Consciousness is always consciousness and cannot be felt. What we feel, that is state. We feel these states as conscious - it is maya or illusion. Absolute Consciousness i.e. Consciousness cannot be a state. State is a passing phenomenon. The real Consciousness i.e. Atman which is one without second is always without any state either Dynamic or Static. Relativity or Non-Relativity is applicable only to one Reality i.e. the Subject. Consciousness, Soul and Real ‘I’ are one and the same.

Try to meditate in this line.

Letter 52

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam

Purulia
16-02-1985

Dear,

I have received your letter in envelop dated 06/2/85 and the M.O. of Rs. 40/-.

I am going with medicines, discipline and controlled diet. The improvement is being very slow. It seems that it will take quite some time to become completely normal. Whatever the wishes of Sri Maa let that be or that must be.

I am not going to Janai on the occassion of the birth anyversary of Sri Thakur on 21st February.

I am very pleased to hear that you have wished to visit me around the months of April or May. There must be some arrangements for your fooding and lodging here so that you do not have any trouble. You shall book your railway ticket without anxiety.

The solution of your question is: (1) The feelings of only bliss during the awakened state - it is not considered as self realization. "I am blissful" - in this kind of feeling the mode of I is shaped like bliss but there remains a difference between I and bliss. (2) Toad and Tadpole - the deeper meaning of these are Self and Ego. Pure self is without waves, inactive, all pervading consciousness - as soon as this very pure self or consciousness is illusioned, it can be termed as ego or it qualifies with ego, that means, from the mode of self or from establishment in self it gains the mode of non self or it deviates from the self or it gains motion. It is the becoming of the toad to the tadepole. Self + shape is ego, the 'shape' of it is the impure tail of the pure toad.

Therefore, the meaning of the words of Sri Thakur stands as the 'self-realized' person never deviates from the self, whether he is in inaction or action, that means, in all situations. On upland, that means, self-contented, that means, in the state of Nirvikalpa where there is no discourse about creation, so there is mere companionless oneness. In water, that means, in the divine sport or remaining with devotion and the devotees. (3) Witnessing the self and realization of the self are same. Yes, this is the realization of oneness of the self with brahman. Removing my smallness or individuality, the absoluteness is "realization of oneness of the self with brahman". (4) As soon as the knowledge of self is firm, the mode of brahman becomes easy. Acceptance is nothing but love that is the state of an all devouring self realized person primarily of righteous love. (5) Though there is no superficial change after self realization but there is an internal change which is the attainment of the devotee. Although the others cannot understand that but it becomes clear to oneself - "He realizes who attains".

Stick to your path. Success i.e. kingdom of Heaven will soon be vouschafed in your own Self.

Take my sincere love.

Yours,
Father

Letter 53

Sri Ramakrishna Saranam

Purulia
13-03-1985

My dearest and dearer than life,

Having received your letter of attainment of 27-2-85 my eyes brimmed with tears and whenever I am remembering you then I am being charmed in the causeless mercy of Sri Thakur and Sri Maa. There is no credit of mine, everything was manipulated by them. Because the successful householder devotee of Sri Ramakrishna - Maa Sarada - Vivekananda Organization has also a special role to part in this world.

Making only the sannyasi and sannyasins (monks) is not their aim. Moreover they will surely make men. Our self and its manifestation is the truth and the transparency of truth.

What is the sun, that is the sunlight. What is knowledge that is the light of knowledge.

Though the stairs are left first yet touching the roof is the acceptance of the stairs in the self, i.e. the roof and the stairs are made of same materials. Then the mind, heart, body, everything of the self realized person becomes full of consciousness i.e. it is devoted to others interest. This is the living for other's interest of the liberated person in this very life; depending upon love comes then. It is then neither a dry wise person nor the frothy or bigoted devotee, then what? The harmony of knowledge and love is in the mode of pure 'I' or in the self. The wise is the true devotee and the best devotee is profoundly wise.

There will be a long term treatement of my body - said by the doctor. Whatever Sri Maa wishes that will happen. You should come by the train at 9:50 at night. Let me know the exact date you are comming.

Best wishes.

Yours,
Father
I have received both the M.O.
(This is the last letter written by Swami Pavitrananda to his disciple. After that he left this mortal world on 20th April of the year 1985.)