For some background on the Indian mystic Sri Ramakrishna, see this post. Since Sri Ramakrishna probably spoke exclusively to male students, his reference to ‘woman and gold’ was his habitual way of referring to sensuality and materiality.

Goswami* : Sir, the chanting of God’s name is enough.

Master : Yes, there is no doubt about the sanctity of God’s name. But can a mere name achieve anything without the yearning of the devotee behind it? One should feel great restlessness of soul for the vision of God. Suppose a man repeats God’s name mechanically while his mind is absorbed in ‘woman’ and ‘gold.’ Can he achieve anything?

Suppose a man becomes pure by chanting God’s holy name, but immediately afterward commits many sins. He has no strength of mind. He doesn’t take a vow not to repeat his sins. A bath in the Ganges undoubtedly absolves one of all sins, but what does that avail? They say that the sins perch in the trees along the banks of the Ganges. No sooner does the man come back from the holy waters than the old sins jump on his shoulders from the trees. (all laugh). The same old sins take possession of him again. He is hardly out of the water before they fall upon him.

Therefore I say, chant God’s name, and with it pray to Him that you may have love for Him. Pray to God that your attachment to such transitory things as wealth, name, and creature comforts may become less and less every day.

*Goswami = a Vaishnavite priest