The Parables of Sri Ramakrishna -- Lessons from His Gospel

Asim Chaudhuri has added to each of the forty parables in this collection a short introduction, or preamble, which depicts the circumstances and the conversations that led to the parable. Thus, the parable’s hidden lessons become clearer once the context is known. The parables are listed at random, rather than grouped under different headings according to the nature of their core messages. This has been done purposely to avoid compartmentalizing them into a rigid perspective, many of the parables expressing several ideas at once. This allows readers the opportunity to expand their thinking horizons while trying to absorb both the obvious and not-so-obvious message embedded in the parables. A commentary by the author is added to each parable.

The author has translated the parables directly from M’s Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita as literally as possible, with little or no paraphrasing. Page references to Swami Nikhilananda’s The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna are given as well.