CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SHYAMPUKUR HOUSE,—OCTOBER, 1885

1 P. M., Saturday, the 24th of October, 1885. The Master is sitting in his room on the first floor with Narendra, Mahimacharan, M., Doctor Sircar and other devotees. He says to Dr. Sircar, "This treatment of yours is very nice!"

Doctor: According to this system I am following, I have to consider the symptoms in the light of descriptions given in the text. It is like English music,—singing from the chart.

"Where is Girish Ghosh?—Never mind, do not trouble him; he was kept awake last night."

Sri Ramakrishna: Well, when I am in Bhava, I am overpowered by a sort of intoxication, as if I were drunk with Siddhi. What can it be?

Doctor: The nervous centres cease to act; hence the limbs become inert, and the legs totter. All energies rush towards the brain. Life consists in this nervous system. There is a nerve centre in the neck called Medulla Oblongata; if that is hurt, life may become extinct.

Mahimacharan speaks of Kula-Kundalini, the 'Serpent Power,' which lies within the Sushumna nerve. He says, "The Sushumna nerve lies within the spinal cord in a subtle and invisible form. Mahadeva has said so."

Doctor: Mahadeva examined man in his maturity. But the Europeans have studied man in all stages, from the embryonic stage to maturity.

"It is good to know Comparative History. The history of the Sonthals shows that there once lived a woman amongst them whose name was Kali: she was a valiant fighter! [All laugh.]

"Don't you laugh! Let me tell you how greatly the study of Comparative Anatomy has benefitted mankind. The distinction between the functions of the pancreatic juice and the bile was formerly unknown. But Claude Bernard examined the stomach, liver and other parts of a rabit and proved that the bile and pancreatic juice are different in their action.

"All this shows that we must study not only man, but also the lower animals.

"The study of Comparative Religion is likewise highly beneficial. Why do his (the Master's) words go straight to our heart? Because he knows all religions—Hinduism, Mohammedanism, Christianity, Shaktaism, Vaishnavism,—all these he has himself practised.

"A hive becomes perfect only when the bees gather honey from various kinds of flowers."

M.: (to Doctor) He (Mahimacharan) has made an extensive study of science.

Doctor: (smilingly) What science,—'Max 'Muller's Science of Religion'?

Mahima: (to the Master) What can the doctors do to cure you? When I learnt that you were ill, I knew it meant the pampering of the doctor's pride.

Sri Ramakrishna: He is a very excellent doctor. He is also very learned.

Doctor Sircar folds his hands in humility.

Mahima: But here, all are equal.

The Master asks Narendra to sing; Narendra sings:

"I have made Thee the pole star of my life, I shall not lose my way any longer in this sea of life.

"Wherever I go, Thou art present. And Thou drivest away the tears of my troubled soul with Thy light serene.

"In the secret closet of my heart, the vision of Thy face ever comes before me. If it is absent even for a moment, I am overwhelmed with grief.

"Even if my mind would go astray, the vision of Thy face makes me feel ashamed."

And:

"O Lord, Father of the universe, sitting on Thy mighty throne, Thou art enjoying the music of the worlds, as they sing the glory of Thy creation.

"Lo, born of mortal clay, I too have come to Thy door with my small voice!

"Thee I want to see, nothing else I seek. And I have come to sing a song unto Thee.

"O Lord, Thy servant's soul yearns to sing in the same assembly where the suns and the moons sing Thy glory!"

And he sings:

"O King of kings, vouchsafe me Thy vision!

"I dedicate my life at Thy feet. But, alas, it is seared in the world's furnace.

"My heart, alas, is deeply stained with sin. And bound in Delusion's heavy chains, lifeless I lie. O Lord, most merciful, sanctify me, grant me life by the life-giving balm of Thy gracious look!"

Sri Ramakrishna: And sing that one,—'Thou art all that be!'

Doctor: Aha!

The Doctor is very much charmed by the music. After some time, he says to Sri Ramakrishna with folded hands, "Allow me now to take my leave; I shall come again to-morrow."

Sri Ramakrishna: Wait a little; Girish Ghosh has been sent for.

"(Pointing to Mahimacharan) He is a scholar. But he dances in the name of the Lord; he has no egotism. He came to Konnagore, only because we went there. He is rich and independent and he has not to serve anyone.

"(Pointing to Narendra) What do you think of him!"

Doctor: Oh, he is excellent!

Sri Ramakrishna: And he?

Doctor: Ah, very nice!

Mahima: A study of philosophy, leaving aside the philosophy of the Hindus, is no study at all: Europe is ignorant of the Sankhya doctrine of the Twenty-four Principles, nor has she the capacity to grasp it.

Sri Ramakrishna: (smiling) What are the three paths you speak of?

Mahima: The Path of Sat, which is the path of knowledge. Next, the Path of Chit,—the path of Yoga,—of Karma-yoga, which necessarily subsumes all the different duties of the four Ashramas. And then the Path of Ananda,—the path of love and devotion. You are adept in all these three paths, and you can speak of them with authority.

Hearing this, the Master is laughing.

Dr. Sircar departs.

It is after evening and the moon has risen. The Master is standing, lost in Samadhi! Nityagopal is waiting beside him in a reverential attitude.

The Master has come down to the normal plane of consciousness and seated himself. Nityagopal is stroking his feet. And Devendra, Kalipada and many other devotees are sitting near him.

Sri Ramakrishna: My mind tells me that the present state of Nityagopal will undergo a change. His whole mind will be gathered on me; that is to say, on Him who dwells in me.

"Don't you see Narendra, how his whole mind is being drawn towards me?"

What Japam is.

Many of the devotees are taking leave. The Master is standing giving directions to a Bhakta about 'Japam'. He says, "Japam is nothing but repeating His name secretly and silently. By Japam, by repeating His name with a concentrated mind, you can have His vision, you can realise Him. Suppose a log of wood is immerged in the waters of the Ganges, fastened with an iron chain, the other end of which is fixed on the bank. Now, if you follow the chain, holding it link by link, you can gradually dive into the waters and thus trace your way along the course of the chain to the log. In the same way, if you become absorbed in the repetition of His holy name, you will eventually realise Him."

Kalipada: (smilingly to the devotees) Our Thakur is very nice! We have not to make any Japam, Dhyana or Tapasya!

The Master suddenly exclaims, "This is troubling me!"

The disease of the Master's throat is becoming aggravated. Devendra says, "This cannot hood-wink us!" He thinks the Master is only feigning illness to the devotees.

The devotees depart. Some of the boy disciples will attend on the Master at night. M. also will remain.