The path to spiritual growth is much easier with the help of people who have already achieved perfection and can answer your questions about overcoming the many obstacles that come up. Back in print after many years, this is the original collection of the sayings of the disciples of Ramakrishna, 
arranged by subject. From the Table of Contents: Fundamental Tenets; External Behavior: The Guru and Holy Company; Service; General Advice; Food and Personal Habits; Pilgrimages; Moral Principles: Morality; Truth; Duty;Forbearance and Compassion; Purity; Continence and Self-Control; Mental Attitudes; Spiritual Practices: Ritualistic Worship; Pranayama; Prayer; Japa; Meditation; Realization..
There can be no[personal]welfare without brahmacharya,be one a student,a householder,a recluse in the forest,or an itinerant monk;neither can national wefare come without it,nor will the world know of peace.
Many people think that if one gets married and has a family,it is altogether impossible for him to practise self-control.This is utterly wrong.If he has the desire,what stands in the way of a householder controlling his senses?
Mere suppression of passions helps little.There must be a high ideal along with self-restraint.Whitout a high ideal the passions will find another outlet.You must give them a new direction;then you will automatically be rid of them.
Lust,anger,and avarice-these are but different forms of the same thing.They are the eternal enemies of the jnani,and destroyers of knowledge and wisdom.Join the senses to the Lord.That is the way to teach the senses a lesson.
To conquer lust or control the mind by studying books is a task as impossible as walking on air.
It is the nature of the mind to become restless and unsteady at times.But we must not allow ourselves to be upset or unsettled by this.When the mind is restrained,such occasional reactions will strengthen eather then weaken it.
Love and lust are two things very closely allied…It is lust if you have the idea of man,and love if you have the idea of God in your beloved.
…it is diffcult,even impossible,to practise absolute purity without love and faith in God,..and without continence,realization is impossible…It is not possible to practise continence without devting yourself to the practise of japam.
Can anyone altogether destroy lust?A little of it remains as long as one has the body,but it can be subdued as a snake can be subdued by charmed dust[dust into which,it is said,the snake charmer instills some peculiar power through repetition of a secret formula].
When you are in the society of holy men,you may think that your passions are dead,but do not be deceived.You are free from passions only after you have attained samadhi.Therefore be always vigilant until you have transcended the mind.
