Sri Ramakrishna

Today is the 172nd anniversary of the birth of the Great Swan, the incomparable Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886). If you are not yet familiar with this man, do yourself a favor and take the time to become acquainted.Even at this distance, he will make you laugh and open your heart, inspiring and deepening your practice, no matter what path you tread. Be delighted and enlightened by his magnetizing presence, and please do so with my full encouragement. He is one of a handful who I recognize as a fully enlightened Buddha; a true gem.

"Suppose a thorn has pierced a man's foot. He picks another thorn to pull out the first one. After extracting the first thorn with the help of the second, he throws both away. One should use the thorn of knowledge to pull out the thorn of ignorance. Then one throws away both the thorns, knowledge and ignorance, and attains vijnana.[1] What is vijnana? It is to know God distinctly by realizing His existence through an intuitive experience and to speak to Him intimately."

- The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

[1] S. vijnana translates as consciousness