Ramakrishna laughingly approved, and said to his disciples, 'Do not accept anything because I say so. Test everything for yourselves.'
The keen criticism of Naren, and his passionate arguments filled him with joy. He had a profound respect for his brilliant intellectual sincerity with its tireless quest for the truth; he regarded it as manifestation of Shivaic power, which would finally overcome all illusion.
Naren had no permanent employment, so that the fate of his family was never assured from one day to the next. He asked Ramakrishna to pray for him and his family.
'My child,' said Ramakrishna, 'I cannot offer up those prayers. Why do you not do so yourself?'
Naren went into the temple of the Mother. He was in a state of exalted fervour; a flood of love and faith coursed through him. But when he returned and Ramakrishna asked if he had prayed, Naren realised that he had forgotten to ask for the alleviation of his misery. Ramakrishna told him to go back. He returned a second time and a third time. No sooner did he enter the temple than the purpose of his prayers faded before his eyes. At the third attempt indeed he remembered what he had come to ask, but he was overcome with shame. 'What pitiful interests they were, for which to importune the Mother!' He prayed instead, 'Mother, I need nothing save to know and to believe.'
Naren-Master, I was happy in Samadhi. In my infinite joy I had forgotten the world. I beseech you to let me remain in that state!
"For shame!" cried the Master. "How can you ask such things? I thought you were a vast receptacle of life, and here you wish to stay absorbed in personal joy like an ordinary man!...This realisation will become so natural to you, by the grace of the Mother, that in your normal state you will realise the One Divinity in all beings; you will do great things in the world; you will bring spiritual consciousness to men, and assuage the misery of the humble and the poor".
The keen criticism of Naren, and his passionate arguments filled him with joy. He had a profound respect for his brilliant intellectual sincerity with its tireless quest for the truth; he regarded it as manifestation of Shivaic power, which would finally overcome all illusion.
Naren had no permanent employment, so that the fate of his family was never assured from one day to the next. He asked Ramakrishna to pray for him and his family.
'My child,' said Ramakrishna, 'I cannot offer up those prayers. Why do you not do so yourself?'
Naren went into the temple of the Mother. He was in a state of exalted fervour; a flood of love and faith coursed through him. But when he returned and Ramakrishna asked if he had prayed, Naren realised that he had forgotten to ask for the alleviation of his misery. Ramakrishna told him to go back. He returned a second time and a third time. No sooner did he enter the temple than the purpose of his prayers faded before his eyes. At the third attempt indeed he remembered what he had come to ask, but he was overcome with shame. 'What pitiful interests they were, for which to importune the Mother!' He prayed instead, 'Mother, I need nothing save to know and to believe.'
Naren-Master, I was happy in Samadhi. In my infinite joy I had forgotten the world. I beseech you to let me remain in that state!
"For shame!" cried the Master. "How can you ask such things? I thought you were a vast receptacle of life, and here you wish to stay absorbed in personal joy like an ordinary man!...This realisation will become so natural to you, by the grace of the Mother, that in your normal state you will realise the One Divinity in all beings; you will do great things in the world; you will bring spiritual consciousness to men, and assuage the misery of the humble and the poor".
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