SHUNNING OF VANITIES.
Hindu and Mussalman holy men resolutely discard all earthly vanities regarding them as shackles to the soul in its upward progress. Ramkrishna Paramahansa of Dakshineswar, one of the holy men of the last century, whose life Max Müller has written in reverent regard and whose chief disciple, Swami Vivekananda, speaking in the parliament of religion at Chicago revealed to the western people the sublimity of the Hindu faith—this Ramkrishna cared absolutely nothing for "the good things" of this world. Once upon a time a disciple presented him with a piece of valuable silk cloth to wear at worship, silk being considered purer than cotton or linen stuff. Ramkrishna put it on as desired, and at worship that day he felt inclined to dispose it about his person in such a way that it might not be damaged in his squatting or rising or prostrating himself in his devotional process. The thought of this inclination sent a shudder through his soul. Was he going to care more for a piece of showy rag than for the proper performance of the rites? Here was a loop-hole for the power of evil to get in through and possess him. He tore the cloth off his body in breathless trepidation and cast it into the river flowing close by his temple.
