One day, Guru and the disciples were sitting at the banks of Ganga. Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa Ji (Thakur Ji) asked Narendra (later called Swami Vivekananda) the way he would opt if he gave him a cup full of nectar, and Narendra was a fly in that case. Narendra replied that he would occupy the rim of the cup, protrude its proboscis out, and lick the nectar. Listening to the logical reply, Thakur Ji laughed out loudly and said to Narendra that he was fool. He continued that the nectar was nothing, but the ambrosia of Eternity, the ocean of Transcendental consciousness. Then, Thakur Ji asked him the reason for not jumping into the cup. Narendra replied that if would sit on the meniscus of the nectar, he would surely drown. Thakur Ji said that it was the Rasaamrita, the ocean of Divine consciousness. He continued that if he leaped into the seas, he would become more conscious, rather than being unconscious. He said that if he ventured the waters, he would become awake from the long sleep of delusion. Narendra understood the context.
Thakur Ji was not pursuing his disciples to jump into the waters, in reality, rather was asking them to search for the answers about Self, from the deeper segments of the Eternal Ocean. The pearls are not found at the shore but in the deepest of the trenches. If we are asked to describe the scenic beauty, at the bank of a serene river, we shall explain the bounties of nature with the limited vocabulary, viz, about the sun, the terrains, the touch of the waters and the rest. But, if we are told to take a dip into the waters, we will describe different arena of nature, viz the touch of waters, the coral views, the bioluminescence, the refraction and the rest. Similar experiences descend unto a devotee, when he finds the answers within. And once, he merges with the composition of the waters, he will no longer remain in a condition, to elucidate the experience. Guru can show and illuminate the path, but the goal is to be achieved by the disciple himself. A salt doll went to measure the depths of the seas, and as it placed its foot in the waters, it mingled with Infinity.
Another parable to prove it-
One day, Narad Ji, a great celestial sage was passing through the heart of a forest. He saw two ascetics, practicing meditation. The hermits saw the sage, and paid the respects to him. They asked him that if he had come from the Vaikuntha (dwelling place of Lord Vishnu). Narad Ji agreed. Then, they asked his destination after crossing the jungle. He replied that he was returning to Vaikuntha. Eagerly, they asked him to ask Narayan about the time they would find Lord. Narad Ji agreed and asked Narayan the deputed question, in Vaikuntha. He brought the answers to them. To one of them, he said that he would take three more births to attain the State. Listening the reply, he became very sad, and gravest gloom conquered his existence. To the second one, Narad Ji said that he would take the same number of births, as were number of leaves on the neighboring tree. Listening to the reply, the man pranced with joy, and jumped with happiness. Narad Ji was perplexed seeing the diverse emotions. The happy man decoded that he was happy as he was ensured that he would attain Lord, some day. The joy made him realize the Self, that very moment. And, the other man was left in gloom.
Thus, the title of the write up, is commendable reading these stories.