Devote yourself totally to God

Devotees would often ask Sri Ramakrishna to develop dependence on God.  Every now and then the ego asserts itself and in the face of problems and difficulties makes one run to innumerable sources seeking solace and solution.  Sri Ramakrishna would explain beautifully the idea of dependence on God using an analogy from daily life.

The young ones of a monkey try to cling to their mother thinking that it is the safest place to stay.  The mother also carries them along. 

But, supposing it steps on something very hot either by mistake or otherwise, it would place the young one on the hot surface and step over it protecting itself from the heat.  In the process, the young one often dies.  But, the kitten has a different kind of dependence.  The mother carries it in her mouth.

Sometimes she places it on a cozy bed, sometimes near the oven on ashes and sometimes at some other place where the ground may even be wet.  But, the kitten never complains.

The kitten knows that its mother keeps it in such places so that she is near at hand, that is within its calling distance, to be near it whenever it is in distress. 

Whenever it calls her, she rushes to its rescue.  Thus Sri Ramakrishna would say, our dependence on God should be like that of the kitten and not like that of the young one of a monkey.  

It should be such that we give all our responsibilities to Him, secure with the knowledge that He would always protect us and do what is really desirable or best for us.  

The dependence should not be one of choice according to situations.  It should be total and unquestioning.  Such an attitude alone can bring peace and joy to the life of a Sadhaka.