“Do not make a mistake and bring up Buddhism to anyone for three thousand leagues!”
He is saying, “As far as you can go – three thousands leagues – do not make a mistake and bring up buddhism to anyone, because you don’t have it.” So his three suggestions are, first: don’t become a missionary, because it is not your experience. That which is not yours, don’t repeat it to people like a parrot. Only your experience of ultimate, eternal consciousness enables you to point others towards the same route. You cannot teach Buddhism, because Buddhism is not a philosophy, it is a living experience. So if you have lived it, help others to join in living it. Share your life, your love, your compassion, your meditation, but don’t teach principles. Buddhism is not interested in principles.
And second, don’t stay in a place where there is no buddha, because what will you gain in a place where there is no buddha? You can gain some insight only by the side of an awakened one. You can start moving towards your center if you see someone who has reached the center, and you see the glory and the beauty and the majesty of the person. Otherwise there is no evidence that anybody has ever reached to the ultimate.
Once a great logician of Bengal, Keshav Chandra, went to see Ramakrishna. Keshav Chandra was a very great scholar, and he had founded a religion also. So he was the founder of a religion, he had thousands of followers. But he was always amazed: “Why do people go to this stupid, uneducated Ramakrishna?”
Keshav Chandra lived in Calcutta, and just a few miles away from Calcutta is Dakshineshwar where Ramakrishna lived. Thousands of people would go there. Keshav Chandra could not believe it: “What has that man got?” Finally he decided to go and put the man right.
Ramakrishna’s followers were very much disturbed, worried, because Ramakrishna does not know any reason, any logic. He is just like a child, so innocent, and Keshav Chandra is known nationwide as a logician, philosopher. What will Ramakrishna do in a discussion with him?
They were worried that it was going to be a very critical moment. But Ramakrishna said, “Why are you worried? It is good that he is coming.” Ramakrishna waited. Keshav Chandra came with many followers. He was determined to finish this man forever so that no followers would gather there at Dakshineshwar.
Ramakrishna danced in welcome when Keshav Chandra arrived. Keshav Chandra became a little shaky: “This is not a man to discuss with; he seems to be crazy.” Ramakrishna hugged Keshav Chandra and said, “I have been waiting for so long! Now, start the dialogue to finish me.”