The question was put to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa by his disciples. “Swamiji,” they said to him, “You tell us that each of us is alone, that we cannot call anyone our own. Tell us then, how we may live in this world, how we may move with the members of our family?”
Sri Ramakrishna narrated a beautiful parable in answer to their question. “Think of a maidservant – an ayah – who works in the house of a wealthy man. It is her job to care for his children. Her own family, her own children, live far away in her native village. She is working in the city to earn some money for her family. She cares for the master’s children lovingly; she bathes them, feeds them, plays with them and puts them to sleep. She carries the children in her arms, she gently swings them on her lap. But all the while, her thoughts are with her own children, far away in her native village. Conscientiously, she does her duty by the master’s children, but not for a moment does she regard them as her own. And never, ever does she forget her own children.”
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