Devotees would often approach Sri Ramakrishna and seek clarifications on spiritual matters. Many of them would find it extremely difficult to reconcile God and the manifested world. If the world has been created by God, why are there such blatant inequalities, instances of injustice, etc. Sri Ramakrishna would give a patient hearing and slowly clarify the doubts using powerful analogies. He would reconcile God and the manifested world using the following example. The banana tree has several layers of skin or sheath. As one keeps peeling off the sheaths, one reaches deeper and deeper layers of the banana stem. Finally, after all the sheaths one finds the pith. Initially when one starts peeling off the sheaths one proceeds with the knowledge that the sheaths are not the pith. Finally, after getting hold of the pith, the knowledge that the pith is not the sheath also dawns on the person. But, slowly after a deep reflection one finally understands that although the sheaths and the pith are quite different from each other, yet the existence of one is deeply related to that of the other and the two are inseparable. Thus both the sheaths and the pith form inseparable parts of the banana tree. Similarly, when one strives intensely for the knowledge of the Ultimate or God, the manifested world is constantly negated. At the time of the realization of the Ultimate the distinction between the Ultimate Truth or God and the world is perceived very clearly by the spiritual aspirant. Sri Ramakrishna would say that there is also a stage beyond that knowledge when one coming down from the heights of supreme realization perceives the presence of God or the Ultimate Truth pervading in and through the creation or the manifested world. One realizes God alone pervades the entire universe.
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