--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The waves belong to the Ganges, not the…" description: "\"The waves belong to the Ganges, not the Ganges to the waves. A man cannot realize God unless he gets rid of all such egotistic ideas as \"I am such an i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/ramakrishna-2451_devotion_the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-g_2292697.jpg" --- # The waves belong to the Ganges, not the Ganges to the… ![“The waves belong to the Ganges, not the Ganges to the waves. A man cannot realize God unless he gets rid of all such egotistic ideas as "I am such an important man" or "I am so and so". Level the mound of "I" to the ground by dissolving it with tears of devotion.” quote by Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/ramakrishna-2451_devotion_the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-g_2292697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/ramakrishna-2451_devotion_the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-g_2292697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/ramakrishna-2451_devotion_the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-g_2292697.jpg) > “The waves belong to the Ganges, not the Ganges to the waves. A man cannot realize God unless he gets rid of all such egotistic ideas as "I am such an important man" or "I am so and so". Level the mound of "I" to the ground by dissolving it with tears of devotion.” [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The self-centered ego separates us from divine unity; humility and devotional surrender dissolve the illusion of personal importance. **In simple terms:** Ego blocks connection with God; humility restores it. Key Takeaway Practice selfless devotion to dissolve ego. Themes humility devotion spirituality ego divine unity Mood contemplative reverent Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - ritual worship - service to others - self-reflection - community gatherings Key Concepts non-dualism self-transcendence devotional practice Questions to Reflect On - How does humility change your perception of self? - What practices help you let go of ego? A Different Perspective Ego may resist surrender; devotion alone may not guarantee insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [The waves belong to the water. Does the water belong to the waves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-waves-belong-to-the-water-does-the-water-belong-to-the-waves/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [I picked up a bottle half buried in the wet sand, covered with barnacles, but stoppled tight, and half full ofred ale, which still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-picked-up-a-bottle-half-buried-in-the-wet-sand-covered-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [With sincerity and earnestness one can realize God through all religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/with-sincerity-and-earnestness-one-can-realize-god-through-all-2/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-must-be-very-particular-about-telling-the-truth-through-truth-one/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [He is born in vain, who having attained the human birth, so difficult to get, does not attempt to realize God in this very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/he-is-born-in-vain-who-having-attained-the-human-birth-so-difficult/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [All will surely realize God. All will be liberated. It may be that some get their meal in the morning, some at noon, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/all-will-surely-realize-god-all-will-be-liberated-it-may-be-that-some/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [With sincerity and earnestness one can realize God through all religions. The Vaishnavas will realize God, and so will the Saktas, the Vedantists, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/with-sincerity-and-earnestness-one-can-realize-god-through-all/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Too much study of the scriptures does more harm than good. The important thing is to know the essence of the scriptures. After that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/too-much-study-of-the-scriptures-does-more-harm-than-good-the/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Letting the last breath come. Letting the last breath go. Dissolving, dissolving into vast space, the light body released from its heavier form. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-levine/letting-the-last-breath-come-letting-the-last-breath-go-dissolving/) [Stephen Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-levine/) > [The denial of "self" challenges only the notion of a static self independent of body and mind-not the ordinary sense of ourself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/the-denial-of-self-challenges-only-the-notion-of-a-static-self/) [Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/) > [Nothing is as boundary dissolving, except for psychedelic compounds, as travel. Travel is up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/nothing-is-as-boundary-dissolving-except-for-psychedelic-compounds-as/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The human race has not devised any way of dissolving barriers, getting to know the other chap fast, breaking the ice, that is one-tenth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/the-human-race-has-not-devised-any-way-of-dissolving-barriers-getting/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [Time is a corrosive fluid, dissolving motivation, destroying novelty, and leaching the joy from life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/time-is-a-corrosive-fluid-dissolving-motivation-destroying-novelty/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Nostalgia keeps dissolving the ironic narratives in which I have contained my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/nostalgia-keeps-dissolving-the-ironic-narratives-in-which-i-have/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by Ramakrishna > [One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-must-be-very-particular-about-telling-the-truth-through-truth-one/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [It is very pleasant to scratch an itching ring-worm, but the sensation one gets afterwards is very painful and intolerable. In the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/it-is-very-pleasant-to-scratch-an-itching-ring-worm-but-the-sensation/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [By the mind one is bound; by the mind one is freed. ... He who asserts with strong conviction: "I am not bound, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/by-the-mind-one-is-bound-by-the-mind-one-is-freed-he-who-asserts-with/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [So long as the bee is outside the petals of the lily, and has not tasted the sweetness of its honey, it hovers around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/so-long-as-the-bee-is-outside-the-petals-of-the-lily-and-has-not/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [God had created the world in play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/god-had-created-the-world-in-play/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Sugar and sand may be mixed together, but the ant rejects the sand and goes off with the sugar grain; so pious men lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/sugar-and-sand-may-be-mixed-together-but-the-ant-rejects-the-sand-and/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [The world is impermanent. One should constantly remember death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-world-is-impermanent-one-should-constantly-remember-death/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Meditate upon the Knowledge and Bliss Eternal , and you will also have bliss. The Bliss indeed is eternal, only it is covered and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/meditate-upon-the-knowledge-and-bliss-eternal-and-you-will-also-have/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [As for me, I consider myself as a speck of the dust of the devotee's feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/as-for-me-i-consider-myself-as-a-speck-of-the-dust-of-the-devotee-s/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [We laugh at the efforts of the musk deer to find the source of the scent which comes from itself and despair at our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/we-laugh-at-the-efforts-of-the-musk-deer-to-find-the-source-of-the/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Too much study of the scriptures does more harm than good. The important thing is to know the essence of the scriptures. After that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/too-much-study-of-the-scriptures-does-more-harm-than-good-the/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [God has created the world in play, as it were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/god-has-created-the-world-in-play-as-it-were/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [One cannot completely get rid of the six passions: lust, anger, greed, and the like. Therefore one should direct them to God. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-cannot-completely-get-rid-of-the-six-passions-lust-anger-greed/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [It's enough to have faith in one aspect of God. But never get into your head that your faith alone is true and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/it-s-enough-to-have-faith-in-one-aspect-of-god-but-never-get-into/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [The supreme purpose and goal for human life... is to cultivate love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-supreme-purpose-and-goal-for-human-life-is-to-cultivate-love/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) [Explore all 165 Ramakrishna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## More Devotion quotes > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Devotion required by the Gita is no soft-hearted effusiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/devotion-required-by-the-gita-is-no-soft-hearted-effusiveness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In freedom can be found many devotions: a devotion to love, a desire to believe, a willingness to be happy, a perseverance to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-freedom-can-be-found-many-devotions-a-devotion-to-love-a-desire-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can remember coming downstairs before school every day and my mom would be reading her Bible and doing her devotion and praying. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/i-can-remember-coming-downstairs-before-school-every-day-and-my-mom/) [Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/) > [I have fallen in love with you my angel. I sought nothing of you but only to see that dazzling smile of yours once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-el-hallab/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-you-my-angel-i-sought-nothing-of-you-but/) [Mahmoud El Hallab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-el-hallab/) > [The discipline of daily devotion to God undergirds decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/the-discipline-of-daily-devotion-to-god-undergirds-decisions/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [I’d never known it was possible to love as he did— with complete devotion yet devoid of promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/i-d-never-known-it-was-possible-to-love-as-he-did-with-complete/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [Every Holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we, ourselves, do not know...It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/every-holy-mass-heard-with-devotion-produces-in-our-souls-marvelous/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Daily simple, sincere, and mighty prayers lift our lives to a higher spiritual altitude. In our prayers we praise God, give thanks to Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/daily-simple-sincere-and-mighty-prayers-lift-our-lives-to-a-higher/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [True love is like religion. It is full of devotion and free of doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/true-love-is-like-religion-it-is-full-of-devotion-and-free-of-doubt/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Never despise a drink because it is easy to make and/or uses commercial mixes. Unquestioning devotion to authenticity is, in any department of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/never-despise-a-drink-because-it-is-easy-to-make-and-or-uses/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [“It didn’t break the trance. She wasn’t sure that anything could, and briefly wondered if they’d stay like this until flesh rotted away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-morgan/it-didn-t-break-the-trance-she-wasn-t-sure-that-anything-could-and/) Ashton Morgan > [“Godliness is a devotion to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/godliness-is-a-devotion-to-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Devotion is when your involvement with life is so absolute that you yourself do not matter anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/devotion-is-when-your-involvement-with-life-is-so-absolute-that-you/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [The general public have a warped view of the speed at which an investigation proceeds. They like to imagine tense conversations going on behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-general-public-have-a-warped-view-of-the-speed-at-which-an/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Browse all 1,481 Devotion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The waves belong to the Ganges, not the Ganges to the waves. A man cannot realize God unless he gets rid of all such egotistic ideas as \"I am such an important man\" or \"I am so and so\". Level the mound of \"I\" to the ground by dissolving it with tears of devotion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ramakrishna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-ganges-to-the-waves-a-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devotion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-ganges-to-the-waves-a-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/ramakrishna-2451_devotion_the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-g_2292697.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/ramakrishna-2451_devotion_the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-g_2292697.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/ramakrishna-2451_devotion_the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-g_2292697.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The waves belong to the Ganges, not the Ganges to the waves. A man cannot realize God unless he gets rid of…” — Ramakrishna", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ramakrishna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The waves belong to the Ganges,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-ganges-to-the-waves-a-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-waves-belong-to-the-ganges-not-the-ganges-to-the-waves-a-man/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```