Satchidananda Is Like An Infinite Ocean – Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa compares Satchidananda to an infinite ocean.

Bhakti is the one essential thing.

Satchidananda is like an infinite ocean. Intense cold freezes the water into ice, which floats on the ocean in blocks of various forms. Likewise, through the cooling influence of bhakti, one sees forms of God in the Ocean of the Absolute. These forms are meant for the Bhaktas, the lovers of God. But when the Sun of Knowledge rises, the ice melts; it becomes the same water it was before.

Water above and water below, everywhere nothing but water. . . But you may say that for certain devotees God assumes eternal forms. There are places in the ocean where the ice doesn’t melt at all. It assumes the form of quartz.

One obtains love of God by constantly chanting His name and singing His glories. . . God is unknown to the mind attached to worldly objects . . . Therefore it is necessary to seek the company of holy men, practise prayer, and listen to the instruction of the guru. These purify the mind. Then one sees God. Dirt can be removed from water by a purifying agent. Then one sees one’s reflection in it. One cannot see one’s face in a mirror if the mirror is covered with dirt. After the purification of the heart one obtains divine love. Then one sees God, through His grace.

Additional Information:

Sri Ramakrishna's teachings emphasize the profound concepts of Satchidananda, Bhakti, and the vision of God, all central to Hindu spirituality. Let's explore these ideas further with additional information, meaning, and relevant connections to other Hindu thoughts and their modern-day relevance.

Satchidananda as an Infinite Ocean

Satchidananda is a Sanskrit term that represents the highest reality in Hindu philosophy, composed of three aspects:

• Sat: Existence or Truth
• Chit: Consciousness or Awareness
• Ananda: Bliss or Joy

In Sri Ramakrishna's analogy, Satchidananda is likened to an infinite ocean, symbolizing the boundless and all-encompassing nature of the ultimate reality. This ocean is formless and formlessness itself. However, under the "cooling influence of Bhakti" (devotion), this formless reality manifests in various divine forms, like ice in the ocean, which are accessible to devotees.

The Role of Bhakti (Devotion)

Bhakti is the path of devotion, one of the key spiritual paths in Hinduism alongside Karma (action), Jnana (knowledge), and Raja (meditation). Bhakti focuses on loving devotion to a personal form of God. Sri Ramakrishna emphasizes that Bhakti has the power to manifest the formless into forms that devotees can relate to and worship.

• Ice Forming on the Ocean: This imagery suggests that the infinite and formless Satchidananda, under the influence of Bhakti, takes forms like different deities (Krishna, Shiva, etc.). These forms are perceived by devotees and are means to reach the ultimate reality.

• Sun of Knowledge: When the "Sun of Knowledge" rises, the ice (forms of God) melts back into the formless ocean. This represents the idea that ultimate knowledge or Jnana reveals the non-duality of existence, where forms dissolve back into the oneness of the Absolute.

Similar Thoughts and Quotes from Hindu Tradition

Sri Ramakrishna's teachings align with many other Hindu philosophies and texts:

• Bhagavad Gita: Krishna says, "In whatever way people approach Me, I respond to them in that manner; everyone follows My path in all respects" (Bhagavad Gita 4.11). This reflects the idea that the divine can be seen in various forms according to the devotion and understanding of the seeker.

• Upanishads: The Chandogya Upanishad states, "Sarvam khalvidam brahma" ("All this is indeed Brahman"). This aligns with the idea that everything, including the forms of deities, is ultimately an expression of the one reality, Brahman, which is Satchidananda.

• Adi Shankaracharya: In his text Vivekachudamani, Shankaracharya explains that realizing the oneness of Atman (soul) and Brahman (ultimate reality) is the highest knowledge, which is similar to Sri Ramakrishna’s analogy of the ice melting back into the ocean.

Modern-Day Relevance

Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings are profoundly relevant today as they offer a path of inclusivity and unity in diversity:

• Unity in Diversity: In a world of diverse beliefs and practices, the idea that all forms and paths ultimately lead to the same divine reality promotes harmony and understanding among different religious traditions.

• Inner Transformation: His emphasis on Bhakti and the purification of the mind through spiritual practices like prayer, chanting, and Satsang (company of holy men) is a call to inner transformation. This is especially important in today's fast-paced life where people seek deeper meaning and peace.

• Spiritual Practices: The analogy of the mirror covered with dirt points to the necessity of purifying the mind to perceive divine truth. In modern psychology, this can be likened to clearing mental clutter to attain a state of mindfulness and spiritual clarity.

Sri Ramakrishna's teachings provide a deep, symbolic understanding of the relationship between the formless absolute (Satchidananda) and the manifest forms of divinity, accessible through Bhakti. This concept encourages both personal devotion and the pursuit of ultimate knowledge, offering a holistic approach to spiritual life that is timeless and universally applicable.