Section XVI

Vijay, Narendra, M., Doctor Sarkar and other Bhaktas Converse and Make Merry with Sri Ramakrishna

Chapter One

M. with the Doctor to inform him of Thakur’s illness

Sunday today, 25 October 1885, 10th of Kartik, the second day of the dark fortnight. Sri Ramakrishna is living in the house in the Shyampukur locality of Calcutta. He has cancer of the throat. So he has come here for treatment. Doctor Sarkar is treating him these days.

M. is sent daily to the Doctor to inform him of the condition of the Paramahansa Deva. This morning at half past six M. paid obeisance to Sri Ramakrishna and enquired, ‘‘How are you feeling?’’

Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘‘Tell the Doctor that in the wee hours my mouth is full of water. I have cough and so on. Ask him whether I can take bath.’’

M. sees the Doctor after 7 o’clock and tells him all about him. Present with the Doctor are his
one or two friends and an old teacher. The Doctor says to the old teacher, ‘‘Mahashay, I began worrying about the Paramahansa since 3 o’clock in the night and could not have sleep later.  The Paramahansa is still in my mind.’’ (All laugh.)

A friend of the Doctor says to him, ‘‘Mahashay, I hear that some people call the Paramahansa as avatara. You do see him daily, what do you think of him?’’

The Doctor — As a man I have the greatest regard for him.

M. (to the Doctor’s friend) — The Doctor examines him with great kindness.

The Doctor — Kindness!

M. — Not to the Paramahansa but to us.

The Doctor — No brother, no! You do not know what is my actual loss. I miss two or three calls daily. The next day I go to the patients’ houses on my own and I don’t charge them fees. How can I charge them fees when I go to them on my own?

Now the talk turns to Mahima Chakraborty. On Saturday when the Doctor came to see the Paramahansa, Chakraborty was present there. On seeing the Doctor he said to Sri Ramakrishna, “Mahashay, it is to feed the vanity of the doctors that you have taken up the disease.”

M. (to the Doctor) — Mahima Chakraborty used to visit you earlier. You used to lecture on Medical Science in your house. He used to come to hear it.

The Doctor — O, is that so? How much tamas this fellow has! You see, I offered him namaskar as ‘God’s Lower Third’. God has all the three gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas) in Him. Did you mark his words, ‘You have taken up the disease to feed the vanity of the doctors?’

M. — Mahima Chakraborty believes that if the Paramahansa wants, he can cure him himself.

The Doctor — Oh, how is it possible? How can he cure himself ? We are medical men. We know what cancer is. Yet we cannot cure it. He knows nothing about it, how will he cure it? (To the friends) You see, though the disease is incurable they all are serving him as great devotees.

Chapter  Two

Sri Ramakrishna with his sevak (attendant)

M. requested the Doctor to visit Sri Ramakrishna and then returned. At 3 o’clock after lunch he again went to Sri Ramakrishna and humbly told him everything.
Said he, ‘‘The Doctor today humiliated me a lot.’’

Sri Ramakrishna — What happened?

M. — He heard yesterday when he came here that you had taken up the disease to add to the vanity of the wretched doctors.

Sri Ramakrishna — Who said so?

M. — Mahima Chakraborty.

Sri Ramakrishna — Then?

M. — He calls Mahima Chakraborty as ‘God’s Lower Third’. The Doctor now says, ‘God has all the three gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas).’  (The Paramahansa Deva smiles.) He also said to me, ‘My sleep broke off at 3 a.m., I was worried for the Paramahansa.’ At 8 o’clock he said, ‘Even now the Paramahansa is in my mind.’

Sri Ramakrishna (laughing) — He is an English educated person. One can’t say to such persons to meditate on me. He himself is doing it.

M. — And then he said, ‘As a man I have the greatest regard for him.’ It means that he does not take you as avatara. But as far as it is possible among men, he has reverence for you.

Sri Ramakrishna — Did you have any other talk?

M. — I asked him what arrangement is to be made for the patient today? The Doctor said, ‘Arrangement, my foot! I shall have to go to him today too. What else to be arranged for him!’  (Sri Ramakrishna laughs.) And he added, ‘You people don’t know how much money I am losing everyday. Everyday I have to miss two or three visits.’

Chapter Three

Sri Ramakrishna enjoys in the company of Vijay and other devotees

After a while Vijaykrishna Goswami comes to see the Paramahansa Deva. A number of Brahmo bhaktas are with him. Vijaykrishna was in Dhaka for several days. He has now returned to Calcutta after having visited the centers of pilgrimages in west (Punjab and Uttar Pradesh). He prostrates to offer obeisance to Sri Ramakrishna. A number of persons are there ­ Narendra, Mahima Chakraborty, Navagopal, Bhupati, Latu, M., the Younger Narendra and many other bhaktas.

Mahima Chakraborty (to Vijay) — Mahashay, you have been to pilgrimage and visited a number of places. Please tell us what you have seen there.

Vijay — What can I tell?  I see that everything is here where I am sitting.  It is no use roaming about. At some places there is one or two annas[1] of him, four annas at other places, that’s all. Only here I see full sixteen annas.

Mahima Chakraborty — Quite right. And again it is he who sends you around. And it is he who makes you stay back.

Sri Ramakrishna (to Narendra) — See, what a state of mind Vijay has developed. All his characteristics are changed as if he has been boiled. Just by examining the shoulder, the neck and the forehead I can recognize a paramahansa ­ I can tell whether one is a paramahansa or not.

Mahima Chakraborty — Mahashay, you are taking less of food.

Vijay — Yes, it seems so. The quantity has gone down. (To Sri Ramakrishna) I heard of your disease, so I came to see you. And then from Dhaka…

Sri Ramakrishna — What?

Vijay did not answer. He kept quiet for a while.

Vijay — Unless one is helped in catching hold of Him it is very difficult to do so. Only here it is sixteen annas (hundred per cent).

Sri Ramakrishna — Kedar[2] says that at other places one does not get any food but here I have got to my fill.

Mahima Chakraborty — To one’s fill! It is oozing out.

Vijay (to Sri Ramakrishna with folded hands)— I have now recognized who you are! You have not to tell me any more.

Sri Ramakrishna (in bhava) — If that is what you have seen then that is right.

Vijay — I have known now.

Saying so, he falls at the feet of Sri Ramakrishna and takes his feet on his chest. Sri Ramakrishna sits unaware of the outer world like a statue.

Witnessing this wonderful scene and the flood of divine love some devotees sitting there begin to weep. Some others sing a hymn of praise. Everybody is gazing at Sri Ramakrishna in his own bhava. Some of them see him as a great devotee, others as a sadhu and yet some others as avatara, God assuming a human body ­ all according to their own bhava.

Mahimacharan begins to sing, his eyes filled with tears: ‘Behold, behold the image of love.’ And side by side he is as if having a glimpse of Brahman. He says, “The Transcendental, Beyond the One and the many, Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute.”

Navagopal is weeping. Bhupati, another devotee, sings ­

Victory, victory to Para Brahman! Infinite, incomprehensible Thou art. Higher than the highest, the essence of all essences.

Thou art the light of truth, the fount of love and its ground. Thou art the main support of all-good.

This solemn creation of Yours is impregnated with various rasas (modes). It is full of splendour.

Thou art the Poet, great and primeval. The sun and the moon are born of Your poetry. And in Thy poetry again, they move towards the Mount Ast[3] to set there.

With the golden brush of the stars Thou have written songs with beautiful words of clouds on the expanse of skies.

The six seasons of the year and the whole creation filled with happiness are singing Thy glory.

The flowers reveal Thy beauty and the waters Thy serenity. Thou art the terrific Rudra[4] in the thunderclap.

Thy mystery is so deep. What can a fool know of it? Infinity has been worshipping Thee since ages.

Millions of suns, moons and stars filled with joy bow at Thy feet.

Seeing Thy creation men and women overwhelmed in bhava wonder and shed tears from their eyes.

Gods, men and supermen worship Thy pervading divinity; Thou, the home of all-good.

Pray bestow knowledge and love, bestow devotion and grant preservation. Grant, do grant shelter at Thy feet.

Bhupati sings again ­

 

Jhijhit (an Indian musical mode) ­ community singing

The waves of love and bliss are rising high in the sea of Chidananda (Knowledge and Bliss Absolute). How enthrallingly sweet is the play of mahabhava!

So many waves of new bhavas are rising as a mark of various plays of love. They fall and they rise
and they take new shape every time. (Repeat the name of Hari.)

The whole world has become one in the mahayoga (great communion). The distinction between time and place has vanished; so has vanished the very existence of distinction.

(I say, my wishes have been fulfilled. All my desires have disappeared.)

Now, O my mind, raise both hands and repeat Hari Hari in joy.

 

Jhamp Tal (an Indian musical measure)

Delusion, fear, righteous action, good work, piety ­ all have vanished. The pride of race and caste has vanished.

Where am I and where is Hari (the Lord)! You, friend, have stolen my heart and soul and fled away.
(Why did I come to this shore of the sea of love?)

It is already dawn while I am in bhava (spiritual emotion). Not yet has my heart regained its consciousness.

Says Premadasa as he laughs, ‘Hear sadhu, hear all denizens of the world! Such is this new system.’
(No fear! Fear not!)

After a long while Thakur Sri Ramakrishna regains outer-consciousness.

 

Brahmajnana and ‘strange arithmetic’ ­ purpose of avatara

Sri Ramakrishna (to M.) — I do not know what happens to me when I am emotionally surcharged. Now I am feeling ashamed. It is as if possessed by a ghost. And both ‘my’ and ‘mine’ vanish in that state.

“All calculations vanish after attaining this state. One counts one, seven, eight ­ in this manner.’’

Narendra — All is one, isn’t it?

Sri Ramakrishna — No, beyond one and two.[5]

Mahimacharan — Yes sir, beyond the dvaita (duality) and advaita (non-duality).

Sri Ramakrishna — All calculations begin to rot. One can’t attain Him through learning. He is beyond the scriptures ­ Vedas, Puranas and Tantras. When I see even a jnani holding a book in his hands, I call him a rajarshi[6]. No outer mark can be found in a Brahmarishi[7]. Do you know what is the use of scriptures? Somebody wrote a letter asking for five seers of sandesh (a kind of sweetmeat) and a dhoti. The addressee read the letter, remembered about ‘five seers of sandesh and a dhoti’ and threw away the letter. What use of the letter now?

Vijay — ‘Sandesh’ has been sent, I understand.

Sri Ramakrishna — God incarnates taking up a human body. He is certainly present in all places, in all things, but unless He comes as an avatara the man’s desire is not fulfilled. His needs are not met with. Do you know how is it? Touch the cow anywhere on its body, you have touched the cow. Even if you touch its horn, you have touched the cow. But you can take the milk only from its udders. (All laugh.)

Mahima — If you want milk, what will it avail if you suck the horn of the cow? You have to suck the udders. (All laugh.)

Vijay — But in the beginning the calf does jostle its mouth here and there.

Sri Ramakrishna — And then perhaps seeing the calf doing so, someone helps its mouth on to the udders. (All laugh.)

Chapter Four

Merriment with the devotees

Such like conversation was going on when the Doctor came in to see Thakur and sat down. Says he, ‘‘I suddenly woke up last night at 3 a.m.; I was thinking only of you.  I thought you may not catch cold. And
I also thought of many other things.’’

Sri Ramakrishna — I had cough and sore throat. In the later part of the night my mouth was full of water. I feel as if a thorn is pricking me.

The Doctor — I got this news in the morning.

Mahimacharan goes on talking about his visit to different places in India. He says, “In the Island of Lanka (Sri Lanka now) there are no ‘laughing men’.”  Doctor Sarkar says, “There must be one. I shall have to enquire about it.”

 

Doctor’s profession and Sri Ramakrishna

Now the topic of conversation is profession of the doctors.

Sri Ramakrishna (to the Doctor) — Many people think of the doctor’s profession as very high. Only if they were to treat their patients without charging any fees and only out of compassion for the sufferings of others, it is the highest of the high professions. But one becomes hardhearted by charging fees in such a profession. To examine faeces and urine etc. in a profession is mean.

The Doctor — If one does only that, it is certainly bad. Talking of myself before you is egotism.

Sri Ramakrishna — Yes. If one practises the doctor’s profession in a selfless manner to help others, it is very good.

“Even so, whatever work man may do he must keep the company of sadhus from time to time. If a man has devotion for the Lord, he himself looks and finds out the sadhu’s company. I usually give this illustration ­ the smoker of hemp keeps the company of hemp smokers. On seeing others he lowers his face and leaves, or hides himself. But seeing another hemp smoker he is full of joy.  (All laugh.) And again, the vulture keeps the company of vultures.’’

 

Sadhu has compassion for all living beings

The Doctor — And the vulture flees in fear of the crow. I say, ‘Why man alone? One should serve all living beings.’ I often throw little pills of fine wheat flour to sparrows. And flocks of sparrows come to the roof.

Sri Ramakrishna — Good! This is very good. They who feed other living beings are sadhus. Sadhus feed ants with sugar.

The Doctor — Will there be no song today?

Sri Ramakrishna (to Narendra) — Do please sing a little.

Narendra sings in accompaniment with the tanapura. Besides some other musical instruments are also played upon.

Sweet is Thy name, O refuge of the lowly! It rains like nectar in our ears and comforts us,
O the beloved of our souls!

The treasure of Thy name is the abode of immortality. He who chants Thy name becomes immortal.

The deep anguish of our hearts is instantly erased, when the nectar of Thy name touches our ears.

The sweet music of Thy name fills our heart with sweetness. O, the Master of our hearts, the Soul of our souls.

Narendra sings another song —

O Mother, make me mad with Thy love (the All-Blissful Mother). What need have I of knowledge or reason? (The All-Blissful Mother, make me mad.)

(O Mother) the wine of Your love makes one mad. O Mother, You steal the hearts of the bhaktas!

Drown me in the sea of Thy love. In Your mad house of the world some laugh, some weep, some dance full of joy.

Jesus, Buddha, Sri Chaitanya, O Mother, are all dead drunk with Thy love. When, O Mother, shall I be blessed by joining their company?

It’s the fair of the mad in heavens, the Guru and the disciple both the same. Who can understand this play of love?

Thou art mad with love. Nay, Thou art the glory of the mad. Mother, make me rich with the wealth of love, this slave is so poor in love.

And another amazing sight after the song! All are mad surcharged with bhava. Shaking their pride of scholarship the pundits (scholars) stand up. They say, “Mother, make me mad with Thy love. What need have I of knowledge or reason?” Vijay is the first to rise from his seat and stands there intoxicated in bhava. After him rises Sri Ramakrishna. He forgets the serious incurable pain of his body in a moment. In front of him is the Doctor. He also stands there. He is not conscious of the patient (Thakur) even. The Younger Narendra is also in the state of bhava-samadhi. So is the case with Latu. The Doctor has been a student of science but he stands there wonder-struck with this amazing scene. He sees that those who are in bhava have no awareness of the outside world. They are all still, motionless. As their bhava subsides some cry and some laugh. It seems as if it were a group of so many drunkards.

Chapter Five

With the bhaktas ­ Sri Ramakrishna and
controlling anger

Everybody takes his seat after this event. It is 8 p.m. The conversation resumes.

Sri Ramakrishna (to the Doctor)— The bhava you have seen just now, what do they call it in your science? Do you think that it is all pretence?

The Doctor (to Sri Ramakrishna) — When so many persons are in this state, it appears to be natural, not a pretence. (To Narendra) When you were singing, ‘O Mother, make me mad with Thy love. What need have I of knowledge or reason?’ I too could not control myself. I at last stood up. How could I help it? It was with great difficulty that I could control my bhava. I thought that one must not make a display of it.

Sri Ramakrishna (to the Doctor) — You are firm, immovable like the mount Sumeru. (Everybody laughs.) You are a deep soul. None could recognize the depth of Rupa Sanatana’s bhava. If an elephant goes into a small pond, everything goes topsy-turvy.  But if it goes into a deep pond, there is no topsy-turvy. Nobody perhaps even comes to know of it. Srimati (Radha) said to her sakhi, ‘Sakhi, you are weeping so bitterly because of your separation from Krishna. But see, how hard I am! There is not a tear in my eyes.’ Then Vrinda said, ‘You have no tears in your eyes ­ it has many meanings. A fire of separation is always burning in your heart. As soon as there is a tear in your eyes, it dries up with the heat of that fire.’

The Doctor — I cannot beat you in arguments. (Laughter.)

Gradually they talk of other things. Sri Ramakrishna begins to describe his first ecstasy and how to control lust, anger and so on.

The Doctor — You were lying in bhava. A wicked fellow came and kicked you. I have heard all this.

Sri Ramakrishna — You must have heard it from M. This man was Chandra Haladar of Kalighat. He often visited Sejo Babu (Mathur Babu). I was lying on the ground emotionally surcharged with God. It was dark. Chandra Haladar thought that it was all my habitual pretence. To win the favour of the Babu he came in that darkness and began to kick me. My body got scars. Everybody said that Sejo Babu should be told about it. I forbade it

The Doctor — This too is the Lord’s sport. People will learn from it too how to overcome anger. People will learn what is forgiveness.

 

Vijay and Narendra have a glimpse of God’s form

In the meanwhile the devotees have a long talk with Vijay in the presence of Thakur Sri Ramakrishna.

Vijay— Somebody is always, ever, with me. Even if I am far away, he tells me what is happening at a particular place.

Narendra — Like a guardian angel.

Vijay — In Dhaka I saw him (the Paramahansa Deva) and touched his body.

Sri Ramakrishna (laughing) — He must be somebody else.

Narendra — I have myself seen him a number of times too. (To Vijay) So how can I say that I don’t believe you.