The three paths...

"There are three different paths to reach the ideal, the path of 'I', the path of 'Thou', and the path of 'Thou and I'.

According to the first, all that is, has been, or ever will be, is I myself.

In other words, 'I am, I was, and I shall be, to all eternity.'

According to the second, 'Thou art, O Lord, and all is Thine.'

And according to the third, 'Thou art the Lord, and I am Thy servant or Thy son.'

In the perfection of any one of these three, God is realised."



Sri Ramakrishna
Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna
Calcutta: Advaita Ashram, 1997, p. 31