When Sri Ramakrishna returned to his room, he found that other devotees had arrived, among them Ram, Nityagopal, and Kedar. They all saluted Sri Ramakrishna, who greeted them cordially.
He asked Nityagopal, "Will you eat something now?" "Yes", the devotee answered. Nityagopal, who was twenty-three or twenty-four years old and unmarried, was like a child. His mind was always, soaring in the spiritual realm. He visited Sri Ramakrishna sometimes alone and sometimes in Ram's company. Sri Ramakrishna had observed the spiritual state of his mind and had become very fond of him. He remarked now and then that Nityagopal was in the state of a paramahamsa.
After Nityagopal had finished eating, Sri Ramakrishna took him aside and gave him various instructions.
A certain woman, about thirty-one years old and a great devotee, often visited Sri Ramakrishna and held him in high respect. She had been much impressed by Nityagopal's spiritual state and, looking upon him as her own son, often invited him to her house.
Sri Ramakrishna (to Nityagopal): "Do you go there?"
Nityagopal (like a child>: "Yes, I do. She takes me."
Sri Ramakrishna: "Beware, holy man! Go there once in a great while, but not frequently; otherwise you will slip from the ideal. Maya is nothing but 'woman and gold'. A holy man must live away from woman. All sink there. 'Even Brahma and Vishnu struggle for life in that whirlpool.'
Nityagopal listened to these words attentively.
M.(to himself): "How strange! This young man has developed the state of a paramahamsa. That is what Sri Ramakrishna says now and then. Is there still a possibility of his falling into danger in spite of his high spiritual state? What an austere rule is laid down for a sadhu! He may slip from his ideal by associating intimately with women. How can an ordinary man expect to attain liberation unless such a high ideal is set by holy men? The woman in question is very devout; but still there is danger. Now I understand why Chaitanya punished his disciple, the younger Haridas, so severely. In spite of his teacher's prohibition, Haridas conversed with a widow devotee. But he was a sannyasi. Therefore Chaitanya banished him. What a severe punishment! How hard is the rule for one who has accepted the life of renunciation! Again, what love Sri Ramakrishna cherishes for this devotee! He is warning him even now, lest he should run into danger in the future."
"Beware, holy man!" These words of Sri Ramakrishna echoed in the hearts of the devotees, like the distant rumbling of thunder.
Sri Ramakrishna went with the devotees to the northeast verandah of his room. Among them was a householder from the village of Dakshineswar, who studied Vedanta philosophy at home. He had been discussing Om with Kedar before Sri Ramakrishna. He said, "This Eternal Word, the Anahata Sabda, is ever present both within and without."
Sri Ramakrishna: "But the Word is not enough. There must be something indicated by the Word. Can your name alone make me happy? Complete happiness is not possible for me unless I see you."
Devotee: "That Eternal Word itself is Brahman."
Sri Ramakrishna (to Kedar): "Oh, don't you understand? He upholds the doctrine of the rishis of olden times. They once said to Rama: 'O Rama, we know You only as the son of Dasaratha. Let sages like Bharadvaja worship You as God Incarnate. We want to realize Brahman, the Indivisible Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute.' At these words Rama smiled and went away."
Kedar: "Those rishis could not recognize Rama as an Incarnation of God. They must have been fools."
Sri Ramakrishna (seriously): "Please don't say such a thing. People worship God according to their tastes and temperaments. The mother cooks the same fish differently for her children, that each one may have what suits his stomach. For some she cooks the rich dish of pilau. But not all the children can digest it. For those with weak stomachs she prepares soup. Some, again, like fried fish or pickled fish. It depends on one's taste.
"The rishis followed the path of jnana. Therefore they sought to realize Brahman, the Indivisible Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. But those who follow the path of devotion seek an Incarnation of God, to enjoy the sweetness of bhakti. The darkness of the mind disappears when God is realized. In the Purana it is said that it was as if a hundred suns were shining when Rama entered the court. Why, then, weren't the courtiers burnt up? It was because the brilliance of Rama was not like that of a material object. As the lotus blooms when the sun rises, so the lotus of the heart of the people assembled in the court burst into blossom."
As Sri Ramakrishna uttered these words, standing before the devotees, he suddenly fell into an ecstatic mood. His mind was withdrawn from external objects. No sooner did he say, "the lotus of the heart burst into blossom", than he went into deep samadhi. He stood motionless, his countenance beaming and his lips parted in a smile.
After a long time he returned to the normal consciousness of the world. He drew a long breath and repeatedly chanted the name of Rama, every word showering nectar into the hearts of the devotees. Sri Ramakrishna sat down, the others seating themselves around him.
Source: Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
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