Many good sayings are to be found in holy books, but merely reading them will not make one religious

Many good sayings are to be found in holy books, but merely reading them will not make one religious

Ramakrishna, the 19th-century Indian mystic and spiritual leader, emphasized the importance of personal experience and practice in spiritual growth. He believed that simply reading good sayings from holy books would not make one truly religious unless one internalized and lived by the teachings. Ramakrishna's teachings were deeply rooted in the idea of direct experience of the divine, rather than relying solely on intellectual understanding or blind faith.

Ramakrishna often spoke about the need for sincere devotion and selfless service as the true markers of religiousness. He believed that one must cultivate a deep connection with the divine through prayer, meditation, and selfless actions in order to truly understand and embody the teachings of holy books. Merely reading or reciting scriptures without putting them into practice was, in his view, a superficial and empty exercise.

One of the key teachings of Ramakrishna was the idea of "God realization" or experiencing the divine directly through personal spiritual practice. He encouraged his followers to seek out their own spiritual experiences rather than relying on second-hand knowledge or dogma. For Ramakrishna, true religiousness was not about following rituals or adhering to strict doctrines, but about cultivating a deep and personal relationship with the divine.

In the context of the saying "Many good sayings are to be found in holy books, but merely reading them will not make one religious," Ramakrishna would likely emphasize the importance of personal transformation and inner growth. He would encourage individuals to go beyond the words on the page and seek out their own direct experiences of the divine. For Ramakrishna, true religiousness was not about intellectual knowledge or adherence to external practices, but about a deep and personal connection with the divine that transformed one's entire being.