"In India there is a tree lizard called a Chameleon . It has the capacity to change colour in order to blend in to its surroundings . A sage sent three disciples to see the creature and report back what they saw. The first said "I have seen it on the grass. It is green". The second said" I have seen it on the tree. it is brown.' The third said ' I have seen it sitting on a rock. It is grey' The sage replied 'Yes --it appears as all these colours ; but only a person who is constantly with it knows its true colour.'"

"With sincerity and earnestness one can realize God through all religions. All will certainly realize God if they are earnest and sincere.
One can rightly speak of God only after one has seen God. One who has seen God knows really and truly that God has form and is formless as well. God has many other aspects that cannot be described."

"Once some blind men chanced to come near an elephant. They were asked what the elephant was like. The blind men began to feel its body. One of them said that the elephant was like a pillar; he had touched its leg. Another said it was like a winnowing -fan; he had touched only its ear. In this way the others, having touched its tail or belly, gave their different versions of the elephant. Just so, one who has seen only one aspect of God limits God to that alone. Do you know what I mean? God is like an infinite ocean.Intense cold freezes the water which floats in various forms. Likewise the love of the infinite allows one to see the formless God in a form as the Incarnation. Therefore one of our scriptures says
'O Lord Thou hast form and yet Thou art also formless. You walk before us in the shape of a man and yet you are also beyond word and thought. My mouth is totally incapable of saying what thou art!."

"Can one find God in the sacred books? By reading the scriptures one may feel at the most that God exits. But God does not become a living reality unless one dives deep in the search. Only after such a plunge , after the revelation of God through the Grace of God, is one's doubt destroyed. You may read scriptures by the thousands and recite thousands of texts , but until you plunge into God with yearning of heart, you will not comprehend God. Scriptures and books--what can one achieve with these alone? Nothing can be realized without God's Grace. Strive with utmost yearning for God's Grace. Through God's Grace you will see God and God will talk to you!!"

To see on line translations of the original book of Conversations of Sri Ramakrishna go to;

www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info http://www.kathamrita.org

Using parables told by the Indian sage Sri Ramakrishna, we will discuss how religions can be simultaneously, all unique and yet all true.
After the talk , at noon, Debbie Aliya will lead an interactive Interfaith Worship incorporating music, meditation and prayers from several world religions.
All are welcome.