We are taught to take the essence from the lives of the Revered.
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in simple terms enlightened us certain things. A couple of things :
1. a HATAYOGI walking on the Ganges Water reached revered Ramakrishna. He smiled and said: you could have paid one ana and used a boat.
USE KNOWLEDGE / SADHANAs for Public uplifitment.
2. a Follower stood on the road worshipping a Maddened Elephant in the form Ganesa inspite of Mauth telling him to move away. Got thrown out, Follower complains to Ramakrishna : I was seeing God in the Elephant.
Ramakrishna quipped : Why did you not see the God in the Mauth too ?
Acharyas - Azhwars - Naayanmars / revered like Thirumoolar / Arunagiri / Swami Vivekananda / Ramakrishna and/or Siddhars and the alike - teach us by talking / silence / deeds or whatever.
There is a difference between Knowledge and Vision.
One may have a road-map by knowledge.
One may stand on a roof top and see several things with better clarity - by Vision.
In all our Literature / Religeous works there are apparent informations and inner meanings hidden too.
Let us focus on learning more from the lives of the Revered ...
ramakrishna mission has a "thus spake" series - pocket size edition, costing around Rs. 5 .
The series contains the essence of teachings/practices by various saints like ramakrishna,vivekananda, confucious, zoraster,jesus,budhdha,mahavira,sarada devi,guru nanak etc.,
they even have thusspake series extended to great books like bhagavad gita ....
good books at a very low cost giving the essence.. good reads also ..