Chapter (অধ্যায়): CONVERSATIONS AND DIALOGUES PAGE-456Page: 456 of 519
In the evening Swamiji called the disciple and asked him, "Have you got the Katha Upanishad by heart?"
Disciple: No, sir, I have only read it with Shankara's commentary.
Swamiji: Among the Upanishads, one finds no other book so beautiful as this. I wish you would all get it by heart. What will it do only to read it? Rather try to bring into your life the faith, the courage, the discrimination, and the renunciation of Nachiketa.
Disciple: Give your blessings, please, that I may realise these.
Swamiji: You have heard of Shri Ramakrishna's words, haven't you? He used to say, "The breeze of mercy is already blowing, do you only hoist the sail." Can anybody, my boy, thrust realisation upon another? One's destiny is in one's hands-the Guru only makes this much understood. Through the power of the seed itself the tree grows, the air and water are only aids.
Disciple: There is, sir, the necessity also of extraneous help.
Swamiji: Yes, there is. But you should know that if there be no substance within, no amount of outside help will avail anything. Yet there comes a time for everyone to realise the Self. For everyone is Brahman. The distinction of higher and lower is only in the degree of manifestation of that Brahman. In time, everyone will have perfect manifestation. Hence the Shastras say, " कालेनात्मनि विन्दति -In time, That is realised in one's self."
Disciple: When, alas, willl that happen, sir? From the Shastras we hear how many births we have had to pass in ignorance!
Swamiji: What's the fear? When you have come here this time, the goal shall be attained in this life. Liberation or Samadhi-all this consists in simply doing away with the obstacles to the manifestation of Brahman. Otherwise