A MAN may not know the right path, but if he has bhakti and the desire to know God, then he attains Hint through the force of sheer bhakti.
Once, a sincere devotee set out on a pilgrimage to the temple of Jagannath in Puri. He did not know the way; he went west instead of south. He, no doubt, strayed from the right path, but always eagerly asked people the way, and they gave him the right directions, saying, This is not the path; follow that one.’ At last the devotee was able to get to Puri and worship the Deity.
So you see, even if you are ignorant, some one will tell you the way if you are earnest.
— Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
When I lived at Kamarpukur, Hriday’s son, a child of four or five years old, used to spend the whole day with me. He played with toys and almost forgot everything else. But no sooner did evening come than he would say, “I want to go to my mother.” I would try to cajole him in various ways and would say, “Here, I’ll give you a pigeon.” But he wouldn’t be consoled with such things; he would weep and cry, “I want to go to my mother.” He didn’t enjoy playing any more. I myself wept to see his state.
One should cry for God that way, like a child. That is what it means to be restless for God. One doesn’t enjoy play or food any longer. After one’s
experiences of the world are over, one feels this restlessness and weeps for God.
— Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
