This book is not really a biography of M, but more of a story of him and the Gospel of Ramakrishna and the Gospel itself. We learn new details about M, but don't read about his childhood, or even learn his birthday. We see him as a troubled family man who discovers Sri Ramakrishna, someone so holy that he is simply amazed that such a person exists. Much of the material is about the Gospel itself, and the people in it. We learn that M's wife was a frequent guest of the Holy Mother and even traveled with her when she went on pilgrimage. We read M's own words taken from M: The Apostle and the Evangelist, but in much better English.You can thus get a clearer view of Ramakrishna and what he thought, what it was like to talk to him and see him in daily life. Includes much material previously not available in English. A must for lovers of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.
After every happiness comes misery; they may be far apart or near. The more advanced the soul, the more quickly does one follow the other. What we want is neither happiness nor misery. Both make us forget our true nature; both are chains--one iron, one gold; behind both is the Atman, who knows neither happiness nor misery. These are states, and states must ever change; but the nature of the Atman is bliss, peace, unchanging. We have not to get it, we have it; only wash away the dross and see it.
-Swami Vivekananda
Empty
