THE farther you advance, the more you will see that there are other things even beyond the sandalwood forest — mines of silver, gold and precious gems39. Therefore go forward.
But how can I ask people to go forward? If worldly people go too far, then the bottom will drop out of their world. One day Keshab40 was conducting a religious service. He said, "O God, may we all sink and disappear in the river of bhakti!" When the worship was over I said to him: "Look here. How can you disappear altogether in the river of bhakti? If you do, what will happen to those seated behind the screen?41 But do one thing: sink now and then, and come back again to dry land." (183)
39
Reference is to the parable 'Go Forward!'.
40
The celebrated Brahmo leader, Keshab Chandra Sen.
41
The master referred to the ladies.