Yugavani

Holy Company

When the Divine Mother was born as the daughter of King Himavan, She showed Her various forms to Her father. The king said, “I want to see Brahman.” Thereupon the Divine Mother said: “Father, if that is your desire, then you must seek the company of holy men.”

Sri Ramakrishna looked at the householder devotees seated around him and said with a smile: Why shouldn’t it be possible for a householder to give his mind to God? But the truth is that he no longer has his mind with him. If he had it, then he could certainly offer it to God. But, alas, the mind has been mortgaged—mortgaged to ‘lust and gold’. So it is necessary for him constantly to live in the company of holy men. When, he gets back his own mind, then he can devote it to spiritual practice. Either he should think of God in solitude day and night, or he should live with holy men.

Holy company begets yearning for God. It begets love of God. Nothing whatsoever is achieved in spiritual life without yearning. By constant living in the company of holy men, the soul becomes restless for God.

What are the spiritual disciplines that give the mind its upward direction? One learns all this by constantly living in holy company. The rishis of olden times lived either in solitude or in the company of holy persons; therefore, they could easily renounce ‘lust and gold’ and fix their minds on God. They had no fear nor did they mind the criticism of others.

It is good to live in the company of holy men now and then. The disease of worldliness has become chronic in man. It is mitigated, to a great extent, in holy company.

Whatever may be a householder’s profession, it is necessary for him to live in the company of holy men now and then. If a man loves God, he will himself seek the company of holy men.

Repeat God’s name and sing His glories, and keep holy company; and now and then visit God’s devotees and holy men. The mind cannot dwell on God if it is immersed day and night in worldliness, in worldly duties and responsibilities; it is most necessary to go into solitude now and then and think of God. — Sri Ramakrishna