Kathamrita Volume II - Swami Vivekananda

Sri Ramakrishna looks at Baburam and speaks.Baburam is in the entrance class (tenth) in theschool where M. is teaching.Sri Ramakrishna (to Baburam) — Where areyour books? Don’t you want to study? (To M.)He wants to cling to both the worldly and thespiritual.“This is very difficult. What use is it to knowGod only a little? Even Vaishishtha, though arishi, suffered at the death of his son. Seeingthis, Lakshmana was surprised and asked Ramaabout it. Rama said, ‘Brother, what is strange?He who has knowledge also has ignorance.’When a thorn is embedded in your foot, youhave to look for another thorn to pull out thefirst one. Having done that, you should throwaway both thorns. The thorn of jnana is neededto get rid of the thorn of ignorance. And thenyou should go beyond both.”Baburam (laughing) — That’s what I want.Sri Ramakrishna (laughing) — But my boy,can you do it while holding to both? If youreally want that, come away.Baburam (laughing) — Pull me away.Sri Ramakrishna (to M.) — It was differentwhen Rakhal was here. His father had agreed to