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Vol. XXXVI, 2013
The Philosophy of Ramakrishna Paramahansa
49
To explain the ineffability of the mystical experience his example of salt doll is very famous. He says, “Brahman is beyond mind and speech. A salt doll entered the ocean to measure its depth; but it did not return to tell others how deep the ocean was. It melted in the ocean itself.” (GSR: 358) Thus Ramakrishna says, “What Brahman is cannot be described. Even he who knows It cannot talk about it. (GSR: 268)
Though the mystical experiences can not be explained fully, one can explain it little. The explanation may not be the same as experienced, but it's poor, deem and imperfect expression may tells us something about that reality. Ramkrishna also tried to explain the nature of the Ultimate Reality.
He says that form and formlessness both qualities of Reality are recessary for different people. Because, the Reality is so pure that there can not be occur any change by different forms assumed by it. So, he explains, "The Reality is one and the same. The difference is only in name. He who is Brahman is verily Atman and again, He is the Bhagavāna. He is Brahman to the followers of the path of knowledge, Paramātman to the Yogis and Bhagavāna to the lovers of God." (GSR: 134) A devotee worships the form of God and a jñāni meditates on the formless Ultimate Reality. He gives an illustration of water and ice in this way: "Satcidānanda is like an endless expanse of water. The water of the great ocean in cold regions freezes into blocks of ice. Similarly through the cooling influence of divine love, Satcidānand assumes forms for the sake of the Bhaktas. The rishis had the vision of the super sensuous Spirit-form and talked with it. But devotes acquire a 'love-body, and with its help they see the spirit-form of the Absolute. (GSR: 217) "The heat of the sun of knowledge melts the ice-like form of the Personal God. On attaining the Knowledge of Brahman and communing with It in nirvikalpa Samadhi, one realizes Brahman, the Infinite, without form or shape and beyond mind and words. (GSR: 218) Ramakrishna and Western Philosophers' Position on The Omnipotence of God
J. S. Mill has tried to prove that God can not be said to be omnipotent, because He is required to work under limitations. (Mill J. S. 1855: 176-177) This is not acceptable to Ramakrishna, because he does not admit anything which can exist independently and in spite of God. Thus, Ramakrishna would not accept God's helplessness in any sense. Ramakrishna asserts that God possesses all powers (Sadaīsśvaryayukta) and hence, His sovereignty is absolutely unlimited.
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