He is formless and with form and many are His forms which no one knows - Sri Ramakrishna Thoughts

Sri Ramakrishna Thoughts


Two persons were hotly disputing as to the color of a chameleon. One said, ‘The chameleon on the palm tree is of a beautiful red color.’ The other, contradicting him, said, ‘You are mistaken, the chameleon is not red but blue.’ Not being able to settle the matter by arguments, both went to the person who always lived under that tree and had watched the chameleon in all its phases of color.

One of them said, “Sir, is not the chameleon on that tree of a red color?’ The person replied ‘Yes, it is.’ The other disputant said, ‘I am sure it is not red, it is blue.’ The person said ‘Yes, it is.’ The person who resided under the tree knew that chameleon is an animal that constantly changes its color.

The Sat-Chit-Ananda likewise has countless forms. The devotee who has seen God in one aspect only, knows Him in that aspect alone. But he who has seen Him in manifold aspects is alone in a position to say, “All these forms are of one God and God is multiform.’ He is formless and with form and many are His forms which no one knows.
- Sri Ramakrishna