The Gospel of Râmakrishna (ed. Swami Abhedananda, 1907) · 14 · 1

​CHAPTER XIII

A DAY AT SHAMPUKUR

Sri Ramakrishna was living at Shampukur at the request of His householder disciples, who had hired a house for Him there. It was about half-past five in the afternoon of a day in October. Vivekananda, Brahma-nanda, Ramakrishnananda, Saradananda, Abhe-dananda and other disciples were with Sri Ramakrishna. The great national festival Dur-gapuja had been celebrated only a few days back, but it was difficult for the disciples to take part in the festivities with their whole heart. How could they rejoice when their Master was suffering from a serious malady? Their one thought was to serve Him, to nurse Him, to attend to His smallest wants day and night This devoted and unparalleled service of the Master led the way for the younger dis- ciples (Vivekananda and others) to the great ​renunciation of the world of which Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna was the ideal example. Through their intense love for the Master they left their homes and sacrificed the duties and pleasures of life that they might give their whole soul to His service. Notwithstanding His illness, hundreds of people came every day to pay reverential homage to Him. They were eager to receive His blessing and to sit in His presence if only for a few minutes; for His presence brought peace and celestial happiness in the hearts and souls of all. Who had ever seen such un- bounded compassion? He was anxious for the welfare of all those who came to Him and was ever ready to help them by removing their doubts and opening their spiritual eyes. This was the time when Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna showed to the world that He was not a man of this earth, but an embodiment of Infinite Love Divine. His charm and fascination were so great that everyone who came into His presence would lose the consciousness of time and place. Even men like Dr. Sircar,[1] who was the busiest phy​sician in Calcutta and who usually spent a few moments only with each patient, would remain with the Bhagavan hours together and some- times the whole day. He had just now been paying Sri Ramakrishna a long visit. Rising to go, he said to the Bhagavan, who was con- versing with Syam Babu:[2] "Now that you have Syam Babu to talk to, I will bid you good-bye." Sri Ramakrishna: Would you not like to hear some songs? Doctor: I should like it very much; but your feelings will be too much worked upon and you will go off into a state of ecstasy. The doctor took his seat once more, and Vivekananda sang to the accompaniment of instruments:

​God and His Works

1. Wonderful, infinite, is the universe made by Thee! Behold it is the repository of all beauty.

2. Thousands of stars do shine — a necklace of gold studded with gems. Innumerable are the moons and suns.

3. The earth is adorned with wealth and corn: full indeed is Thy storehouse. O Great Lord! Innumerable are the stars which sing, "Well done, Lord! well done!" They sing without ceasing.

Kali, the Mother of the Universe

1. In the midst of the dense darkness, O Mother, breaketh forth the light of Thy formless beauty. For this the Yogi meditateth in the moun- tain cave.

2. In the lap of darkness infinite and borne on the sea of great Nirvana, The fragrance of peace everlasting floweth without ceasing.

3. O Mother! who art Thou, seated alone within the Temple of Samadhi, assuming the form of the Great Consort of the Lord of Eter​nity, and wearing the apparel of dark-ness? The lotus of Thy feet keepeth us from fear, in them doth flash the lightning of Thy love for Thy children; And loud laughter adorneth Thy spiritual face.

Doctor (to Vivekananda): It is dangerous for Him — this singing. It will work upon His feelings with serious results. Sri Ramakrishna (to Vivekananda): What does the doctor say? Vivekananda: Sir, the doctor is afraid lest this singing bring on ecstasy (Bhdva-Samddhi). Sri Ramakrishna (to the doctor, with folded hands): No, oh no; why should my feelings be worked upon? I am very well. But as soon as these words were uttered, the Bhagavan, who was already losing sense-con-sciousness, went into deep Samddhi. His body became motionless. The eyes moved not. He sat speechless like a veritable figure of wood or stone. All sense-consciousness had ceased to be. The mind, the principle of personal iden-tity, the heart, had all stepped out of their wonted course towards that One Object, the Mother of the Universe. ​Again did Vivekananda pour forth with his sweet, charming voice melody after melody. He sang:

The Lord, My Husband

1. How glorious is the beauty! How charming is the face! The Lord of my heart hath come to my (humble) abode.

2. Lo! the spring of my love is running over (with joy)!

3. O Lord of my soul! Thou who art pure love, what riches can I offer to Thee? O, accept my heart, my life, my all. Yes, Lord, my all deign to accept!

Nothing Good or Beautiful Without the Lord

1. What comfort can there be in life, O gracious Lord! If the bee of soul doth not always linger on Thy lotus-feet!

2. What use can there be in countless wealth, If Thou, the most precious gem, art not kept with care!

3. The tender face of the child I will not look upon, If in that face, lovely as the moon, I see not Thy loving face! ​4. How beautiful the moonlight! Yet I see darkness alone, if at moonrise the moon of Thy love doth not also rise in my soul.

5. Even the pure love of the chaste wife will seem impure, if the gold of her love be not set with the gem of Thy love Divine.

6. Lord, like the sting of a poisonous snake is doubt of Thee, the offspring of ignorance.

7. Lord, what more shall I say to Thee! Thou art the priceless Jewel of my heart, the Abode of joy everlasting!

Vivekananda sang again:

The Ecstatic Love of God

When shall Love Divine enter my heart! Having all desires fulfilled, when shall I chant the Name of the Lord (Hari) while streams of love-tears flow from my eyes!' When shall my heart and soul be pure! O, when shall I go to the Vrindavan of love! When will the fetters of the world drop off, and the darkness of my eyes be dispelled by the collyrium of wisdom! When shall the iron of my body be changed into gold by Thy touch Divine! ​When shall I see the world pervaded by God alone, and prostrate myself in the path of Love Divine! When shall my religious works and daily duties be a thing of the past' When shall my sense of caste and family be gone! O, when shall I rise above fear, anxiety and shame! When shall I be free from pride and social customs! With the dust of the feet of true Bhaktas rubbed over my body; With the script of renunciation placed on my shoulders, when shall I drink in both hands the water from the river of Love Divine!

Sri Ramakrishna had a special liking for this hymn from the Hindustani of Zaffir, the Sufi poet:

Hymn

Thou art the refuge and joy of my heart. All that is Thou art, all in all Thou art; Only in Thee have I found my Beloved, All that is Thou art, all in all Thou art.

Thou art the dwelling of all Thy creatures. Where Thou abidest not can there be one heart, ​In each heart surely Thy Presence has entered; All that is Thou art, all in all Thou art.