Ramakrishna Paramhans

 Pure knowledge and pure love

are
one and the same thing.
Both lead the aspirants to the same goal.
The path of love is much easier.

Who is the best devotee of God?
It is he who sees,
after
the realization of Brahman
that
God alone has become all living beings,
the universe,
and the twenty-four cosmic principles.

One must discriminate at first, saying ‘Not this, not this’,
and
reach the roof.

After that one realizes that the steps are made
of
the same materials as the roof, namely,
brick, lime,
and
brick-dust.

The devotee realizes that it is Brahman alone
that
has become all these —
the living beings, the universe,
and
so on.