The knowledge of Brahman cannot be realized if the aspirant is worldly-minded even in the slightest degree. He succeeds in acquiring this knowledge only when his mind is totally free from ‘woman and gold’. Weep for God with a longing heart. Tears shed for Him will wash away the clay. When you have thus freed yourself from impurity, you will be attracted by the magnet. Only then will you attain yoga.
(p.343-4, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna’s advice to Mukherjee on 16 December 1883)
To cast the image means to meditate and contemplate on the Master, to think of the various incidents of his life. By meditating on him, one gets all the spiritual moods. He used to say, “One who remembers me never suffers from want of food or from other physical privations.” These are the very words from his mouth. By remembering him one gets rid of all sufferings.
(p.154, The Gospel of Holy Mother, Mother’s words on 16 December 1912)