It's a good research question. But, I'm not sure how is it related to HSE? It's more of asking about the personal lives of eminent acharya. How it might help us to understand anything within the Hinduism theology?

@Vivikta why ? Aren't Ramakrishna and his Sadhna part of Hinduism? Just search for tag of 'Ramakrishna' there are countless questions regarding his sadhna of Tantra/Advaita etc. Also this site is not just dedicated to Hindu theology, afaik even questions about Sanskrit,Hindu architecture and art are allowed here. So it certainly belongs here :)

My point is, when you explicitly mention conjectures about "other religions" , then the question comes under the umbrella of "religion (in general)" and is thus not just limited to our "Hinduism". And Sanskrit, Shilpa Shastras are very much purely Hindusim concepts. But, one cannot ask general questions on Sanskrit as a language, only those in relation with Hinduism as a religion. But, this Question is more about personal practices of Ramakrishnan which he (even IF practiced them,) didn't preach to his Hindu followers, I guess.

Whenever I ask a genuine question about Ramakrishna Mission, it gets downvoted or if some sensible people see it, it get upvoted again but people here claim it to be "off topic" for no reason at all and even close it sometimes. I think question will be no exception. But at least people should tell why they are downvoting.

I rarely downvote any Question or answer and definitely didn't for this question. I personally find it feasible to close vote. In any case, if your question seems genuine by everyone else, it won't be closed generally

@Vivikta i am not talking about you Vivikta Ji. It happened with my past questions too. One was closed until it was reopened. It's just that if people downvote they should also clarify why they did so I can change my question accordingly.

@Vivikta I still don't know why you consider this offtopic. It's asking about a Hindu saint's sadhna. Yes it even include other religions tag but there have been many such questions and it's clearly related to Hinduism. I guess you might have different views though.

I'm definitely with you on the downvoting part issue. Reasons for downvoting must be mentioned explicitly. Maybe a META discussion can happen for that.

We won't agree with each other, I guess, on why this question might be considered OFF TOPIC or not. And that's absolutely fine. Both are "respectfully disagreeing". ;))

Related: hinduism.stackexchange.com/q/41122/647

@TheLittleNaruto that's my own question :) I even linked that here in this question.

I’m voting to close this question because it is a trivial question defaming a great Guru

This question has to be deleted a.s.a.p as it accuses a major mutt of fabricating stories with internet-nitpick type nonsense.

@SK how did it defame Ramakrishna? It's about his life sadhna. How can it be defaming?

Elst is suggesting that Ramakrishna realizing muslim/christian truths was fabricated by the mutt's biographers @rishx

@SK internet nitpick nonsense? Do you even know who is Konoerad Elst and Ram Swarup? There's a reason former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee called Ram Swarup "Modern Rishi". He studied Ramakrishna and other saints thoroughly. Just because this question doubts if RKM changed Ramakrishna biographies doesn't mean it's defaming Ramakrishna. Further questioning maths and organisations is done all the time here. Your vote for closing the question is more personal/emotion than logical one

@SK so? How is he defaming Ramakrishna? Both Elst and Ram Swarup respect Ramakrishna utmost. If you really bothered by this question you should answer it quoting other early bengali biographies thus proving them wrong. That's what I want. Closing a question is just because it questions a particular math while others are questioned, is not a good thing.

Elst has already muddied the waters ("have you stopped beating your wife"?). with "friends" like him, Hinduism will be destroyed. @rishx

@SK what do you mean?

sorry, @rishx can't say more. your motives may be pure but the question must come down.

This question is unnecessarily too long. I don't know what this part has anything to do with your question: "Elst then elaborated how this is negatively affecting Hindu community....". Better to keep the question simple & straightforward without all the preaching.

@SK i beg your forgiveness if anything offended you or any other Ramakrishna devotee. My intention were never to offend anyone here. Infact one of the first questions I asked here was about Ramakrishna books recommendations only. And If I remember, it was you who replied too. Since then I have been studying Ramakrishna. If anything is wrong with my question plz tell me so I can improve it.

I WAS offended, but not by you - but by how EVERYTHING is polluted by revisionism. I call it the "tomato is not a vegetable" syndrome. There might be an agenda to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims which is reprehensible. My advice - if you ABSOLUTELY GOTTA know the answer more than anything else in the world, leave the question be. Otherwise, delete it. @rishx .

@sv. I wanted to summarise two articles in one post...maybe that's why.

@SK the practice of islam and christianity by Ramakrishna has always intrigued me, since a bigger question is if the realization of both is in line with actual beliefs of islam/christianity. If the response of this question is such by other Ramakrishna devotees too, i think i will act accordingly.

@SK plz read this archive.org/details/Identity_201605/mode/1up?view=theater this is by Ram Swarup who had less blunt/political views than Elst. I don't think it's an issue to divide Hindus-muslims, but this issue started with RKM trying to legally seprate themselves from Hinduism even claiming their beliefs in muhammad/koran and jesus/bible.. showing how Ramakrishna practiced both religions and how they even celebrate xmas etc

Sorry @RishX - this is an absolute - nothing negative about Ramakrishna.

@SK nothing negative about Ramakrishna but what about RKM??

RKM can be discussed on a case-by-case basis @rishX. but in this case, all the evidence points to his realization of Allah and Jesus were very much real, totally consistent with Advaita. Elst has made a serious mistake with this calumny. I am sure Ramakrishna didn't realize islamic/christian theology. he experienced Allah and Jejovah as Ishwara.

'I wanted to summarise two articles in one post' - again, why can't you keep the question simple? You should probably keep the first blockquote and the last line. The rest of the post is a distraction, propaganda, preaching, etc.

@SK that's why I asked you to read Ram Swarup who was more spiritual and personally studies Ramakrishna and Aurobindo. Elst is more interested in political/social aspect. Either way what about these incidents being absent in early talks by Ramakrishna himself?

@SK so you want to say allah=jehova=ishwara?

I don't want to be like Sankaracharya's foolish disciple in Ramakrishna's parable "THE great Sankaracharya had a foolish disciple who used to imitate his Master in all matters. Sankara uttered 'Sivoham' (I am Siva); the disciple also repeated „Sivoham’. To correct his disciple's folly, Sankara one day, while passing by a smithy, took a potful of molten iron and swallowed it; and he asked that disciple also to do the same. Of course, the disciple could not imitate this act of his Master, and thence forward he left oil saying „Sivoham’.@rishx it is only my guess.

"Either way what about these incidents being absent in early talks by Ramakrishna himself? " - this is a futile onion-peeling game. @rishx . If it is very important for you to know - leave the Q there. The question is dead to me.

Watch this video it will help

@RishX - Its interesting that you brought up this topic and that you have done a lot of research. However,I am of the opinion that Konoerad Elst's arguments are biased due to the nature of his works which are very controversial and which have been rejected by scholars.

Although he may have studied Indian philosophies, he is not the best person to be quoted as an authority in this field as the interpretations of westerns philosophers regarding Indian philosophies are normally distorted and they usually give elucidations which will fit the context of the western school of thoughts. Thus it is insignificant to give justifications to his arguments.