Knowledge cannot be communicated all at once

Knowledge cannot be communicated all at once. Its attainment is a question of time.

Suppose a fever is of a severe type. The Doctor cannot give quinine under such circumstances. He knows that such a remedy would do no good. The fever must first leave the patient, which depends upon time, and then the quinine would be useful. Sometimes the fever would go off without you having to give the patient quinine or any other medicine.

Precisely the same is the case with man, who seeks for knowledge. To him religious precepts often prove useless so long as he is immersed in worldliness. Allow him a certain period for the enjoyment of the things of the world; his attachment to the world will gradually wear off. This is exactly the time for the success of any religious instructions that may be given to him. Till then they would be as good as entirely thrown away.

Many come to me; and I have observed how some of them are anxious to listen to my words. But one or two of the company appear to be restless and impatient in my presence. They say to their friends in whispers: “Let us go, let us go… Well, if you mean to stay, we had better go into the boat and wait for you”.

It is difficult to drive nails into a (pucca) brick wall. It will break the head of the nails sooner than make any impression upon the wall. It is idle to strike the crocodile with the sword. The chances are that the sword will not make a cut.

Therefore, I say that the element of time is an important factor in all these matters. Spiritual awakening is very much a question of time. The teacher is a mere help.
The fact is, a great deal of all this Karma desire for knowledge or for freedom depends upon one’s Karma in one’s previous incarnations... ❤️

By Sri Paramahansa Ramakrishna