The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 The company of holy men. Worldly people should listen to spiritual talk. They are in a state of madness, intoxicated with ‘woman and gold’. A drunkard should be given rice-water as an antidote. Drinking it slowly, he gradually recovers his normal consciousness.

A worldly person should also receive instructions from a sadguru, a real teacher. Such a teacher has certain signs. You should hear about Benares only from a man who has been to Benares and seen it. Mere book-learning will not do. One should not receive instruction from a pundit who has not realized the world to be unreal. Only if a pundit has discrimination and renunciation is he entitled to instruct.