This story has been adopted from ‘The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’. The excerpt denotes the final days of Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa Ji (Thakur Ji). He had proclaimed that He was about to leave His physical form.
Sometimes, several clinicians and practitioners visited Thakur Ji. One day, a doctor from Homeopathic regime and a vaidya (Ayurvedic physician) visited Him. He told them in His discourse that if they focused their attention on A Point, they could cure their physical ailments through mind. They listened the Divine words keenly and left the place. When they departed, Narendra (later called Swami Vivekananda) asked Thakur Ji if He could concentrate over His body for sometime, and cure Himself for His disciples. (Thakur Ji suffered from throat cancer). With a stern look, Thakur Ji said that it was shameful on his part to ask Him to portray His consciousness over an impermanent and filthy asset as the physical body. He scolded Narendra. Narendra bowed down.
Then, the last weeks arrived. Thakur Ji was in deep contemplation, the awful pains and pangs didn’t stir Him. When He used to take some bolus, bulk of sputum, pus and blood was expelled out. The pain was unbearable, for a layman, but a Divine being could not be entangled in the clutches of pain. The coughing and groaning brought tears in the eyes. The sight was tormenting. He often spitted out the sputum in a bowl, and disciples used to go and dispose it. The condition made some of the disciples hesitant to serve their Master. A thought of gathering infection and ailments pulled them back from Thakur Ji. In other words, they could not give their cent percent to serve Thakur Ji. Narendra saw and visualized the scene, and dropped to an eye-opening conclusion. One day, when Thakur Ji gave the bowl, full of ‘filthy’ sputum, to Narendra for disposing it, Narendra took the bowl and drank the content. The other disciples were shocked, seeing the incident. Narendra said that he was feeling hale and hearty, drinking the prasaad rendered. This act opened their eyes, and the hesitation vanished. They realized that the infection could not trouble them, as their Guru had taken their sufferings, and bore it, standing unstirred in “BRAHMA”.
Now, the interpretation by our Mentor- In Hanumaan Chalisa, a hymn of praise to Hanumaan Ji, their is a doha (a quote),
rama rasayan tumhre paasa|
sadaa rho raghupati ke daasa||
What does it mean? Let us go step-wise:
- Word-wise explanation–
1. rama- Lord Rama
2. rasayan- chemicals, or rather chemistry
3. tumhare paasa- to possess
4. sadaa raho- always remain in
5. raghupati ke- of Lord Rama
6. daasa- a servant - Meaning- Literally, it may suggest that Hanumaan Ji owned the chemicals of Lord Rama. How is this possible? This means that the devotion and surrender should reach the verge, that the difference between Guru and Shishya becomes more and more subtle, and finally diminishes to zero. The needs of Guru become so obvious for Shishya, that the aspects of joy for his Guru becomes congruent with his own (which are not the devotee’s anymore). The glorious equilibrium is set up between Guru and Shishya. Even, a slightest breathe flows through the Guru, the Shishya feels the needs of the Guru and serves Him with a noble heart. The body, mind and assets are rendered at the Divine feet of Lord, for He may use it for His purpose. Soon, the mind vanishes into oblivion. The chemistry is majestic, in a noble Guru-shishya relationship.
Now, another way of opening the windows of understanding by our Mentor-
- People might question the reason about the grand success and immortality of Swami Vivekananda, as a being who illuminated millions.
- In the texts, it is also seen that RakhalRaj, one of the intimate disciples of Thakur Ji, was always immersed in the state of Brahma.
- But, the glories were granted to Swami Vivekananda only? Was this a partial approach of his Guru?
- This is not the approach. When sun rises over the horizon, its rays fall on all the creatures and creations of the planet. It depends on our receiving end.
- The love and devotion, surrendered by the devotee, ensures the strength and capabilities of the receiving end, as well as the manifestations of the virtues being received.
- Same was in case of Ananda, shishya of Buddha, Arjuna, with Lord Krishna. The pot needs to be mended, rather than blaming the emanator, to stop rendering the virtues to the rest.
Some precious words, Thakur Ji once said, “When you will become incapable of differentiating water, picked up from gutter and that from the Ganga, then think that you have started understanding spirituality”.
Now, the parable again-
The last days were passing by. Thakur Ji often said to Narendra that the incarnations of Rama and that of Krishna was Ramakrishna Himself. That interpretation was not from the stand-point of Vedanta, but the Eternal Truth itself. He also said that Mother Kali was within Him, and He was Kali Himself.
Thakur Ji played a trick with Narendra, to prove His Eternity. One day, Thakur Ji left the room, in which He rested, and went in the temple garden, for some task. By the time He returned, Narendra mended His beddings and mattress. But, he also slipped a coin underneath the mattress. When Thakur Ji returned and sat on the bed, he felt a stinging pain. He asked Narendra to see if their was a scorpion, stuck to the beddings. Narendra realized his mistake, and felt shameful. He told Thakur Ji about the test he had hatched to test his Guru. Thakur Ji forgave him and asked him to follow the path of a true devotee, then onwards.
Money and muck never marred Thakur Ji. Even a penny behaved as a scorpion sting, for a Lotus-like being. The physical body becomes subtle, and a tactile stimulus of cash gave drastic reflexes in body and mind of the saint.
There was another scope left, to doubt Thakur Ji. Another trick was executed. This was the time of when Thakur Ji was about to leave the physical abode. Thakur Ji was resting and Narendra was sitting near Him. Narendra thought that if the last words of Thakur Ji comprised the notion of Oneness of incarnations of Rama, Krishna and Ramakrishna (He Himself), then the Eternity of Guru could be proved. Thakur Ji told Narendra that his doubts were prevalent at the last moments as well. And, Thakur Ji said the words that He was Rama, the Krishna and the holistic Ramakrishna.
Such was the chemistry between Thakur Ji and Narendra. The purity of Narendra was undoubtable. But, to prove the essence of Eternity of the Guru to all, the enactment was performed.
