Morton School. It is 5 p.m.; the sitting room on the second level.
M. is seated in the centre, facing east. Dr. E.M. Hummel (M.D.)
is before him, seated on a chair facing southwest. A devotee
attendant is standing behind M. This gentleman has come from Los
Angeles, a city in the State of California in USA A man of heavybuilt,
he is about 50, and a bachelor. He practises spiritual disciplines.
His family members say that he is crazy. He has come for M.'s
darshana. Once before, he had come in the morning at about 1130
for a little while. He has read the English version of the first
part of the Kathamrita (M.'s English Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
times without number. He knows the book by heart. His book is
marked with a variety of coloured pencils, almost the same way
as children do while reading their textbooks. With what
attention he has read the book! Even the difficult words occurring
in the songs have been marked by him with the intention of asking
M. to explain their meaning. Such devotees of foreign lands are
rare indeed-so peaceful, so thoughtful, so full of faith! Some
kind enquiries and the conversation begins.
Dr. Hummel (to M.)-When I set out for India, I made up my kind
to see you. I have read your book. A good many people in America
have benefited highly by reading it.
M. - It is a matter of great pleasure Well have you been to the Belur Math?
The Doctor - Yes sir. I have been there and also to Dakshineswar.
A young man has shown me all the holy places. I have some questions
to ask. May I?
M. - Yes, please do.
The Doctor-What are the signs of Godvision?
M. He who has seen God becomes like a child of five. He
is always in communion with God. Sometimes he laughs, sometimes
cries, sometimes he behaves like mad.
The Doctor-Why did you not write particularly about the passing
away of Sri Ramakrishna?
M. - That was too tragic an event. I didn't like to write about
it.
The DoctorHow many more records relating to him have you?
M. - Four parts of 'Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita' have already
been published in Bengali.[*]: I have written only one part of
it in English. Besides there are some more records.
The Doctor-Aren't you thinking of publishing the rest in English?
Or perhaps you do not wish to give it to the West.
M. No, no, I am unable to do so because of weak physical
health. If the Lord gives me strength, then alone it may be possible
.
The Doctor - Swami Abhedananda's book is different from yours.
M. Yes; he has published it after adding his own reminiscences.
The Doctor-Is there no criterion of jnana, spiritual knowledge?
M. No. He used to say so. He used to say) that it is transformation
of states-Now it's one state, now it changes! That's why there
is no criterion
The Doctor ~ ' Renounce Kamini-kanchan', this is his advice.
What exactly did he try to make people understand by giving this
_ _ _ _
[*]M.. wrote Part V later on.
advice? Did he mean to say: Give up their enjoyment-give up lust
and greed? Or was it something else?
M. (remaining silent for a while)-'...Mary hath chosen that good
part (love of God), which shall not be taken away from her.' (St.
Luke 10:42)
The Doctor-Did you hear from his lips that there lived somebody
like us by the name of Christ?
M. - Yes, he did say that one day Christ had merged into his body
in the garden-house of Yadu Mullick.
The Doctor-Were you present there at that time? M. - No, he told
us later on.
The Doctor-Did you hear it yourself from his lips? M. - Yes, I
did hear it from his lips.
The Doctor-Since you say so I believe it.
2.
"He said: 'I incarnated myself as Christ before.' We are
fortunate that we saw him. That's why we have some intimation
of Christ. Generally the Christians have not been able to understand
him."
The Doctor-For many it is just fashionable-they have not understood
him. If they hear the words of Sri Ramakrishna, they will understand
Christ better. You are blessed, for you have had the good fortune
of his company.
M. - Yes, the shastras say that it's by virtue of one's good deeds
of previous lives that man has the good fortune of the darshana
of the avatara and his company.
The Doctor - How many of those who sat at his feet were able to
have atma-darshana (self-realisation)?
M. - It is so difficult to give a definite answer to this question.
The Doctor-Well, what is avesha?
M. - Christ said to the Samaritan woman: 'Give me water from this
well and save me; in return, I will give you water that will give
you eternal life, amritatva.' + This is an example of avesha-to
get immersed in divine emotion-to be transformed into a godman
in a moment.
The Doctor-Did he tell you of his passing away beforehand?
M. - Yes, he said that he wished to live in the body a little
longer. Thereby some more persons would be illumined. But it could
not be helped. The Mother was calling. So he had to go.
The Doctor-Were you present at the time of his passing away? Did
he quit the body in samadhi?
M. - 'Ma, Ma Kali': he uttered these words and immediately his
whole body got horripilated. The body was preserved in that state
for eight hours. Bhaktas from Calcutta started coming for his
darshana. The Captain, the representative of the Nepal Government,
also came along with others. The Captain had knowledge of these
matters. He declared, "Now the body can be taken away and
the funeral rites performed."
The Doctor-Do you have a copy of your photograph?
M. - Yes. (To the devotee attendant) Please bring that group photograph
of ours. (Girish, Daben, Gopal, Latu, M. and others are there.
M. shows them in the photograph to the Doctor.) All others have
departed; I alone am here.
The Doctor-Would you kindly give me a copy of your photograph?
M. (pointing to his son Prabhasa Babu) - You may please ask him
if there is one. Another photograph was taken about fifteen years
ago. (To himself) They are gone to the bourn from where no traveler
returns!
The Doctor-Have you read Shakespeare?
M. (most humbly, in spite of being so learned) - A little bit.
The Doctor-There were so many young men like Vivekananda
_ _
[+] Compare St. John 4:14
and others, but none of them kept a record of his (Thakur's) words.
How did you?
M. (politely) - Not I, he made me keep it. (To the Doctor) After
your safe arrival in America, do kindly write to us. I shall be
very happy.
The Doctor-I am not sure whether I shall go back or not. My parents
are not alive and I am a bachelor. So there is no attraction for
me to go.
M. (joyfully) - Oh! I see you are a sannyasin, a great bhakta
' A tree is known by its fruit.
The Doctor (humbly) - I don't yet have the qualities of a sannyasin.
The highest ideal of my life is sannyasa. Sir, I have another
question to ask you. What is samadhi?
M. - In samadhi, the external-consciousness is lost - one becomes
one with Ishwara. So, nobody can tell what one's internal state
becomes then. A saltdoll had gone to measure the ocean,
but got dissolved and itself became the ocean. So who would then
come back to report? The mind is uplifted completely from this
external world of ruparasa (form and taste). He who reaches
that state only knows what happens-it is not possible to make
others understand that state fully. That state is beyond senses,
beyond knowledge-it's the state of being beyond mind and speech.
Someone has seen the sea. He tries to explain it to another who
has not seen it. Just as this attempt is incomplete and hazy so
is that. Samadhi cannot be described correctly. It is not possible
to explain it by words of mouth. After the samadhi, one feels
a continuous flow of a particular ananda a never ending joy lingers-and
there is peace within. 'I am the Self of the Eternal Bliss' -
this jnana, this realisation, never disappears. Only a man of
samadhi lives alive and awakened in this mortal world, He lives
in the world but is not of the world-he is a jivan-mukta.
(After a momentary silence) 'Various are the states of jnana.
In a particular state, Thakur used to say: 'The plants and trees,
the fruits and flowers, the gardener and the entire garden, so
to say,
Dr. Hummel takes leave. He says he will come again tomorrow.
3.
M. (to the devotee attendant)- These persons are really sincere.
Just see from where he comes-from across so many seas. Thakur
said: "One who is sincere will have to come here." How
can they (the westerners, understand this country? If one wishes
to understand Christ, one will have to understand Thakur first.
Dr. Hummel too said the same thing today: that they have not understood
anything. So much glory of Thakur is now spreading. The Christians,
the Mohammedans, the Parsees, the Jews, the Hindus-all these people
accept it.
"We did not offer him (Dr. Hummel) anything to eat: l feel
so sorry for it. One should sincerely entertain such persons.
However, the book (The Gospel, Part I) has been given to him.
We will entertain him tomorrow. He asked for a photograph. What
is the need of it-when this body will not last? It is different
that Thakur let his photograph be made. It was because it would
do good to people. So many people are now being benefited by looking
at him in the state of samadhi. In foreign countries, they take
the photographs of those whom they love. Dr. Hummel will come
tomorrow at 5.30 p.m. He said he would bring Thakur's photograph
which he has got made nicely."
Sadananda comes and salutes M. The young men, Sadananda and Lakshmana,
are from Orissa. They are in service here. They are bhaktas. Lakshmana
has a job in the Advaita Ashrama. Recently a branch of that Ashrama
has been opened in Shankar Ghose Lane.
M. (to Sadananda) - Please tell him (Lakshmana) that people; want
to remain at such places without any monetary consideration. Some
remuneration however is accepted for helping the parents at home.
However, he does not want to stay on at such a place.
Sadananda-He says he longs to come to Master Mahashaya (M.) but
gets no time.
M. - If he comes to the Master Mahashaya, he will ask him, to
do the same-to be in the company of sadhus and serve them. (After
a pause, to Jagabandhu) There is no way other than holy company
and serving sadhus. But strange are the ways of Mahamaya! She
tries to lead astray. For (ordinary) people that's a centre of
attraction where the sadhus are vilified. So amusing it is! A
certain monk was speaking ill of two sadhus of the Math. I called
a babu and asked him to take him away to the terrace. If someone
speaks to me such things it is different. But if others are told
these things, where will they stand? When great men (Mahapurushas)
are vilified, people are all attention to it. Men is made of both
good and evil. > On assuming a body, all this will be there."
It is dusk. M. is seated on the terrace. Part I of the Gospel
of Sri Ramakrishna: 'Thakur at the Cossipore Garden House' is
being read. The Younger Amulya., Shachi, the Elder Jiten, Shanti,
Jagabandhu and others are present. The devotee attendant reads;
while absorbed in meditation, M. listens with his eyes closed.
Nobody utters a word. After a hot spell, a little cool breeze
is blowing, dark clouds overcast the sky. The city is flooded
with light. The reading is in progress in the Eight of a hurricane
lamp-only the voice of the reader and the account of Thakur's
divine play are audible. Everybody is silent as though absorbed
in meditation. The reading is now over. M. has, as if, lost outward
awareness-he remains sitting in this way
- Calcutta, 31 March 1924
- 17th of Chaitra 1330 (Bengali Year), Monday. Chapter 9 M. with Dr. Hummel of America-II
1.
It is 5 p.m. Dr. E. M. Hummel, an M. D. of America, has come again
today. Yesterday too he had come. M. and Dr. Hummel are seated on chairs in the
sitting room on the second level-M. is facing east, and the guest (Dr. Hummel)
south. Mani, the Younger Amulya and Jagabandhu are also present. Prabhasa Babu
and his sons also come in sometimes. Dr. Hummel takes out of his pocket a new
watch named 'Yankee Radio Light'. He has brought it from America. Then he takes
out two pictures of Thakur from his pocket. He has got these two pictures made
to his own liking. They are in a good colour combination-they look beautiful.
Holding the watch and the pictures in both hands, he humbly presents them to M.
with great reverence. He says,I shall feel obliged if you kindly accept them. I
have some more pictures. And please accept this also-a copy of the 'Gospel'
printed in America."
M.-Many thanks! I already have some copies of this book. They sent me fifty
copies from the San Francisco Ashrama -that's how I have them. You may please
keep the copy.
The Doctor-By looking at this photograph, we doctors can tell that there was an
apprehension of cancer (in Thakur). The sight is affected. That's why he looks
in this way.
M.-Is it so?
The Doctor - Do you know which of Thakur's parables is my favorite? The Parable
of the Dyer. 'A customer comes - he dyes his cloth yellow, another's cloth red
and yet another's black. No one returns without his cloth being dyed.' I like
this parable very much.
M.-That's good! This parable explains the state of the Supreme Brahman with form
and attributes. Ishwara is without form and without attributes. He is a]so with
form and with attributes. He is only in His state of 'form and attributes' that
He assumes different names and forms-avatara and others included therein.
Whichever be the faith that a man practises, he has a place here. A Christian
has a place here, a Mohammedan also has a place here-all faiths have a place in
him. This is the moral of this parable. There are no bounds here-no room for
dogmatism-no rejection, all acceptance.
M. opens Part I of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, in English, printed in San
Francisco, and shows a group photograph to the Doctor. There are twelve devotees
in that group. M. names them one by one. The Doctor now discusses the
photographs of Thakur.
The Doctor-How many authentic photographs of Thakur .are there?
M. - Three-we have so far three different photographs of Thakur. (Showing one)
This one was taken at the residence of Keshab Sen - Hriday, the devotee
attendant, is holding him. This, in his standing posture, was taken between 1870
and 1875. His mind had then risen to a very high state, beyond the range of the
senses. (Showing another photograph) And this one too is his standing posture.
Thakur has one of his hands resting on a pedestal. This is also suggestive of a
very lofty state. It was taken in a studio in Radhabazar in 1881. Thakur had
come to Sri R. Mitra's residence in Jhamapukur close by, on that day. (Showing
another photograph) This one is worshipped in all the Maths. Pointing to this
photograph, Thakur had said one day: "Hereafter this photograph will be
worshipped in every house." In this one, his mind is completely absorbed in
the Supreme
122 M., The Apostle And The Evangelist
Brahman-the knowledge of the external world totally erased- e his mind
meeting the ocean of Satchidananda and completely merged with the Supreme
Being- one with God-in total samadhi. This one was taken sometimes between 1882
and 1885. Thakur was seated on the steps of the Shiva Mandir in Mother Kali's
Temple. A bhakta, Bhavanath, had brought a photographer who took the
photograph.
The Doctor-If anyone in the West calls on God, everybody says he has gone mad.
When a relative or a friend dies, they put on (a black band) as a sign of
mourning for a week. Anyone not putting on this sign of mourning is also called
mad. All of them have lost themselves in Kamini-Kanchana.
M. - Christianity has come to be regarded as a fashion. The main concern of this
country is God; in the West, it is matter- the world. That is why this country
is called theistic, and that one materialistic.
2.
M. has been feeling sad that the Doctor was not served any~~
refreshments yesterday. They have been arranged for him today
in advance. M. treats the Doctor to Indian food. Putting the plate
on a high bench, the Doctor is eating with his fingers like an
Indian. The ladies of the house have prepared luchis, fried parawal
(a vegetable), milk, chutni with raisins and cheese payas. The
famous sweets of Bengal- sandes and rasogolla-are also served.
Prabhas attends. M. is helping the Doctor, saying, "Please
take this first and then that"-like this. He himself puts
two more fried parawals on his plate, also a little more of chutni,
and then oranges. The Doctor sips iced water in between. Last
of all, before drinking the green coconut water, he takes out
a glass pipe from his pocket, puts it into the green coconut and
starts drinking the water. While drinking the green coconut water,
he says, "I had heard a lot about this drink. So, in India
I have always been taking the green coconut water using this pipe.
I do not drink any other water. This, indeed, is very invigorating,
refreshing and delicious."
Eating over, the Doctor is still seated. It is a little dark inside
the room. In spite of it, M. opens Part I of the 'Gospel' and
reads out to him the last chapter: Thakur in the Cossipore Garden
House.'
M. is reading: '...Thakur says, "Amongst them (different
avataras) I behold also this (his own) form. The Lord has manifested
Himself in this body too."
M.-This 'form' means his own body. This is an absolutely clear
declaration that he was an avatara. There can be no doubt about
it.
"He had a great desire to illumine some more persons by opening
their spiritual eye. But the Divine Mother willed that he returned.
Granting liberation is the greatest gift of God-lest out of compassion,
he should have granted it to all and sundry, the Lord called him
back. See, Thakur himself said: "Had this. body stayed on
in this world a little longer, some more people would have been
illumined." Later, a young devotee sits dejected beside Thakur's
bed. Thakur encourages him saying: "Why, why, are you so
depressed? Shake this dejection off. Rejoice." The Bible
also says so: When the bridegroom comes, the whole family rejoices.
Can those who accompany the bridegroom ever be grief stricken
so long as they are with the bridegroom?
"Thakur says: 'Within this body, there are two persons. One
is the Divine Mother, the other is Her bhakta. It is the second
person who has been taken ill." In these words also he hints
that the Lord has manifested Himself in this human form."
M. (remaining silent for a while)-Thakur now says that one can
have His darshana by following any one of the paths of jnana or
bhakti. How? Because, as he also says, shuddha jnana and shuddha
bhakti are one and the same. Brahman is without form and without
attributes. Even after darshana, some retain devotion for Him
in His manifestation with form and with attributes. Thakur says
so.
(To the Doctor) "Now listen, Thakur is saying, 'I see, I
clearly understand, that the whole world, every visible thing
in this
124 M., The Apostle And The Evangelist
world, comes out of this (he points to his body).' These great
words from his mouth are another indubitable declaration and a
clear announcement."
3.
M. (to the devotees)-Do you know the story of two friends in a
mango orchard? Directly upon entering the orchard, one of them
begins to eat mangoes. The other, however, begins counting the
number of trees, their varieties, their branches and the millions
of their leaves. When the time is over, the gardener drives both
of them out. One of them is full of joy, the other who could not
eat mangoes very sad.
"The moral of this parable is: O Jiva, forsaking all other
things, proceed towards the goal of life: How to see Him first.
No tone knows when death will come-everything will then be over
in a moment. As soon as the bell rings, one will have to come
out of the orchard-it won't be possible for one to tarry for a
moment. Before this great journey we should keep ourselves in
readiness. Eating mangoes means attaining jnana and bhakti by
means of constant prayer-this effort."
The Doctor-This is indeed a fine parable.
M.-Thakur said to his bhaktas: "You will not have to do much.
Who T am and who you are, knowing this will do." That
is to say, "I am Bhagavan, manifesting Myself in a human
form, and all of you My children. " This knowledge is enough.
This is the essence of what we have read so fat in the Gospel.
He who believes in this great saying of Thakur, will certainly
be saved.
The Doctor-I express my heartfelt thanks to you. I have another
special question to ask. One finds in the Gospel that women are
placed differently from men in the field of religion. What does
it imply? Where does a woman stand in the field of religion?
M.-Thakur used to say: "There are two classes of women, one
vidyashakti and the other avidyashakti. Vidyashakti helps in God-realisation
and avidyashakti takes one away from God, binds one in sensory
pleasures." Rare indeed are women with vidyashakti-they can
be counted on finger tips. Thakur said: "Even if a woman
rolls on the ground with bhakti, a male aspirant must not mix
with her." Women cannot live without men. Perhaps this is
the reason why they are called abala (weak).
The Doctor-There is no distinction between man and woman in the
west-both have equal rights. Many women have asked me whether
they have no right to Godrealisation.
M.-They certainly have - if they are vidyashaktis. Let them love
Him, they will have His darshana.
The Doctor-Here is a song, I have a question to ask.
Dr. Hummel opens the 'Gospel', at the chapter entitled, "Steamer
trip with Keshabchandra Sen" and reads the song: "Come,
o my mind, let us go out for a walk. Let us gather the four fruits
* at the foot of the Kali, the Kalpa Tree." Its third line
reads, 'O when shalt thou lie down in the abode of the Blessed
with Shuchi (purity), and Ashuchi (impurity) both by thy side.
The Doctor (to M.)-The feeling of purity and impurity no longer
survives after Godrealisation. Is this the meaning of this
line?
M.-Yes. In a certain state, it happens like this. Then the mind
feels that everything is pervaded by Brahman. So the question
of purity and impurity does not arise then.
The Doctor - Did you ever see Thakur in that state?
M.-Yes, at times all such distinctions disappeared in him?
The Doctor - Thakur used to say: "One should weep and
* 'The four fruits are Dharma (good action), Artha (wealth), Kama
(desire), Moksha (liberation of the soul).
126 M., The Apostle And The Evangelist
earnestly call on Him secretly in solitude. But how is this to
be done by one who has to work for his livelihood?
M. - No, this is not enjoined upon all for all times. Retire into
solitude now and then-this is what he said to all people.
The Doctor - People in the West love to work for money. What is
the way for them to realize God?
M. - There certainly is a way, provided they do everything as
service to God, that is to say, without any selfish motive. It
is their nature to work-they work because they can't help it.
If one works for one's bodily comforts or the enjoyment of sensory
pleasures, it won't do
The Doctor (sadly) - I think it's education that colours the mind
differently. Thakur was not educated to earn money. I would be
saved if I could forget all I have learnt.
M. - 'Is not this the carpenter's son...?' (Matthew 13: 55)- Christ
never had any education. But what a wonder-never did any one speak
such words of wisdom! * After Godrealisation there is no
dearth of knowledge. 'The Mother pushes forth heaps :(of knowledge)',
Thakur used to say.
The Doctor-While studying medical science, I had also to read
a little of psychology. Afterwards when I read the teachings of
Thakur that Shuddha-jnana and Shuddha-bhakti are one and
the same-I was so amazed-a super psychological statement this.
It conforms to Plutarch and some other authors of Greek Philosophy.
M.-Yes, but Thakur did not say so after deliberation as the pandits
do. He had direct vision of it-the Mothor showed it to him in
a flash. Where he reached by the path of jnana, there too, he
reached by the path of bhakti. After it, he said these great
words. This is an eternal truth. It was clearly revealed to
him-it was not the result of deep meditation.
"Thakur said: "Verily, verily I swear unto you that
whosoever will think on me shall inherit my wealth, even as a
son does
.* Compare St. Mark 6:2&3
inherit his father's wealth. And my wealth consists of jnana-bhakti,
viveka-vairagya, shanti-sukha, and prema-samadhi."
Dr. Hummel asks for leave to depart. Lovingly M. accompanies him
downstairs and walks with him along the Amherst Street. Entering
the Machhua Bazar, when M. is in front of the Nabavidhan Mandir,
he stops and says to the Doctor, "Look at this. This is Keshab
Babu's Brahmo Samaj. Thakur visited this place." When asked
by the Doctor whether everyone could enter it, M. says, "Yes."
Saluting M., the Doctor departs. Before leaving, however, he leaves
his address with the devotee attendant and takes M.'s address.
M. looks compassionately at the departing devotee and utters,
"Durga, Durga, Sri Durga!"
5.
The Morton School terrace on the fourth level. It is the dark
fortnight, about 9 p.m. Countless stars are shining like gems
on the bright dark sky. The terrace is somewhat lighted by their
glow. Down below innumerable strings of electric lights can be
seen in the great city of Calcutta. The flash of these lights
is also reflected on the terrace. M. paces up and down, in long
strides northsouth, on the terrace. Dr. E. M. Hummel of
America has left only a short while ago. Some of the bhaktas are
with M., while the others are seated on the southern side of the
terrace. It appears from the face of M., in the thin glow of the
light, that he is wonderstruck by some extraordinary scene.
After some time, he talks to himself as he paces.
M. (to himself, wonderingly)-Where does this kartagiri, (that
I am the doer) come from? Just as the fish cannot live without
water- and if one keeps it out of water it tosses about- Similarly
we cannot also live without air. Where is kartagiri (doership)
in this? Don't you see Mr. Dunn is gone?
"The child drinks the mother's milk. So it lives. We also
do the same. The Big Mother's milk (Jagadamba's) we are always
drinking. Air, water, food- everything is Her milk. During
128 M., The Apostle And The Evangelist
the winter, She is Herself on the body, in the form of cotton
and wool, protecting the body. That's also drinking Her milk."
M. sits down on the north side of the terrace. Overwhelmed
You are Tara. Though you have assumed the three gunas,. You are
even beyond the limitless. I know You, merciful Mother! You are
the one to free me from all trials and tribulations. You live
on sea, You live on land and you are at the root of the Beginning.
You live in bodies, in all hearts, both with form and without
form. You are Sandhya, you are Gayatri. You are the nurse of the
Universe, O Mother! You enable one to cross the ocean of the world,
You, the Ever-Beloved of Shiva.
O Ma, the Controller of the hearts! You are ever awake within.
Night and day I live in your lap. Why have you so much. . affection,
love for this mean child? You are, as though mad in Your Love.
Sometimes lovingly, sometimes with all Your force, You make me
drink Your nectar and tell me sweet tales. How You love me! It
cannot be calculated. Again and again You redeem me, You the Redeemer
of the fallen,! Oh! I have found the secret now: Ma is mine and
I Hers. I must walk the path of virtue, listen to You. Sucking
at your breast I must be strong and brave, And sing joyfully,
"Victory to You, Mother Eternal!"
M. remains silent for a while. He resumes his talk.
M.-It's just like a puppet dance. The wire drops, immediately
it's the end.
M. again sings a song:
Song 3
Ever blissful Kali, the Charmer of the mighty Mahakala. You dance
alone, You sing alone clapping Your hands. 0 Mother! You are the
First Cause Eternal, of the form of the Void, wearing the moon
on Your forehead. When the
M.-That is why the rishis, in their search for the Real found
Him alone-[Sanskrit] | Thakur also said: "What more shall
I think of? I see, that the Mother alone pervades all."
"It is like the pulling of the string of the handpulled ceiling
fan through a hole-a man sitting outside pulls at its string,
but as the puller is not visible one may say there is nobody.
Likewise, people say that the creation is automatic. They cannot
see its predisposition. That's why they say that God does not
exist."
While talking, M. moves to his usual place to the south and takes
his seat on a chair facing north.
6.
"There are three bodies within. The gross, the subtle and
the causal. Thakur used to refer to the causal body as Bhagavati
Tanu (the spiritual body). The food for the gross body is all
this: eatables, drinks and so on; the subtle body comprises the
mind and the intellect-which also need food. And the causal body-
[+] Varuni is a bathing festival held on the eve of the 14th lunar
day of the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra.
130 M., The Apostle And The Evangelist
its food is the effort to attain God. It also needs food. That's
why people were carrying water in search of that food.
"It was that body which was asking for food. So they were
going in search of it."
M. is silent. He resumes his talk.
M.-A man chooses association according to what he is. Thakur cherished
the desire to see some bhaktas sitting together and doing japa.
Noting that Latu had woken up late in the morning, Thakur reprimanded
him one day and said that if he was not well he could get up,
repeat the name of God for a while, after washing his hands and
mouth, and lie down again.
"Wayward people could not stay with him. Those who stayed
with him had always to engage themselves in some godly pursuit
such as japa etc."
Dharmapada Babu (to M.)-Can one remain without meditation on God
(which is the food for the causal body)? One should meditate on
God.
M.-Where is the question here of what one can do or cannot, what
one should do or should not? It is He who makes us do. Do people
act after thinking? He makes us do, there is no way out. It's
prakriti, one's nature-there s no question of 'should' - it does
not arise at all.
Dharamapada Chattopadhayaya is a teacher in the Morton School.
M. sings a song:
Song 1
Blessed by Thy vision, when, O Lord Hari, the embodiment of Love,
the wave of blissful knowledge will swell up in my heart? (When
will that day dawn on me?) When will the body be thrilled and
the mind and soul enthralled, with tears of joy flowing down the
two eyes (beholding Thy enchanting beauty)? When shall I see from
the depth of my heart (drowned deep in emotion) thy loving face
aglow with purity and light divine? When shall I fulfill my heart's
cherished desire and have Thy touch of embrace?
Song 2
Thou hast removed all my sorrows and charmed my mind with Thy
vision. Having Thee, the woes of the seven worlds are forgotten.
What of me, so very mean and unworthy?
M.-Vivekananda sang these songs at the Cossipore Garden after
he heard Thakur say: "But I feel very clearly that there
is the One within." Thakur had also said, "So long as
there is 'I', the master-and-servant relationship is only good."
Vivekananda was full of these feelings. Coming down he, therefore,
sang these songs.
M. again sings a song.
Song 3
O mind, you do not know how to farm. Fallow lies the rare field
of man's life. Had you cultivated it well it would have yielded
gold. Hedge it with the name of Kali; no harm would come to the
harvest. The hedge of Goddess Kali with flowing hair is the stoutest
of all- Death does not come near it. Now or a hundred years later,
you have to forfeit this land. Concentrate, O mind! do your utmost
to reap a rich harvest. Sow the seed your Guru bas given you and
irrigate it with the water of love. And if you cannot do it alone,
O mind, take Ramprasad with you for help.
After singing this song, M. sits in silence for a long time. Now
he resumes his talk.
M. (to the bhaktas)-We are drinking milk from Her breast, through
different channels, day and night. At the Goldighi, we saw birds
taking a bath in the water, one after the other. On seeing it,
it came to my mind: Lo! for them also He has provided water beforehand.
(To Gadadhar) "One should, therefore, practise tapasya in
solitude- and constantly pray to Thakur: 'Lord, reveal Thyself,
reveal Thyself, reveal Thyself! "
M. (in a musical tone)-O Mother, seeing Your strange antics, O
the Playful One, I am struck dumb.
132 M., The Apostle And The Evangelist
"Why, see Christ was crucified. Rama was drowned in the River
Sarayu. Krishna cast off his body when an arrow from a fowler's
bow hit him. According to one version Chaitanya Deva was drowned
in the sea. Ramakrishna Deva suffered from cancer for a year.
"Why this suffering even in the case of the avatara? So that
people may have hope and courage.
"Again, see Shankaracharya had anal fistula, the Buddha colic
pain. The latter was very old. It was as if a cart with a broken
wheel was being dragged along, its body being immobile.
' Why did such a thing happen to Thakur? So that, 'Seeing me,
the bhaktas may have hope and courage.'
"The Buddha sent for Ananda and told him this z 'The cart
is without one wheel. This body is pulling along like this;' "
M. is looking upwards. He sings this tune of the song: 'O Mother,
seeing your strange antics, O the Playful One, I am struck dumb.
M. (to the bhaktas)-Only to bring courage to man-lest one should
forget Him in suffering-He who is the giver of the body. Said
Thakur: "Look, I am also suffering. It has to be so, as long
as the body lasts."
"Chaitanya Deva was drowned in water. The first time, the
fishermen picked him up. The second time, no news of him. This
appears to be the most reliable version of his passing away."
[+]
M. is standing on the terrace. All bhaktas have left. It is 4
p.m. M. is pensive as before. He sends for Jagabandhu, Vinay and
the Younger Jiten and converses with them on the terrace standing
near the tank.
M.-That makes it clear: that one-what is it called?- that which
rolls along above the train-that which conducts the electric current?
[+] Dr. Dineshchandra Sen has recorded in the Brihat Banga that
Chaitanya Deva was suffering from septic fever and quit his body
in Goondicha Mandir at the time of the Rath Festival.
Vinay-The trolley.
M.-Please find out what it is technically called. Just as the
tram-car is moved by it so does our life go on, joined on to Him
through these things. See, the air I breathe. It stops and everything
stops just as the tramcar would. This illustration does
make it clear. We are always in communion with Him. So this is
a very apt illustration. All people are just like marionettes
in His hand. There's no place for 'I am the doer.) [Sanskrit]
(Gita 18.62)-Seek refuge in Him alone with your heart, O Arjuna.
Live under His shelter - there is no other way.
Calcutta, 1st April 1924
18th of Chaitra 1330 (Bengali Year), Tuesday.
appear to be made of wax-all made of Satchidananda." This
state is called visishtadvaitavad - qualified nondualism."
