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Original Visionary Experience Of Sri Ramakrishna Passed On To Swami Vivekananda

One day the Master (Sri Ramakrishna) told Narendra (former name of Swami Vivekananda) various things regarding the oneness of jiva and Brahman according to non-dualistic philosophy. Although he listened attentively, Narendra did not understand. When the Master finished speaking, Narendra went to see Hazra. While smoking and discussing the topic again, Narendra said, ‘Can it ever be possible that the water pot is God, that the cup is God, that everything we see and all of us are God!’ Hazra joined Narendra in ridiculing the idea, and they both burst into laughter.

The Master was in an ecstatic mood, and when he heard Narendra laughing he came out of his room, holding his cloth under his arm like a boy. ‘What are you talking about?’ he asked them. Smiling, he touched Narendra and went into Samadhi.

Narendra later related this to us: ‘That day my mind underwent a complete revolution at the marvellous touch of the Master. I was aghast to realize that there really was nothing whatsoever in the entire universe but God. I remained silent, wondering how long this state of mind would continue. It didn’t pass away all day. I got back home, and I felt just the same there: Everything I saw was God. I sat down to eat, and I saw that everything -the plate, the food, my mother who was serving it, and I myself - everything was God and nothing but God.’

Thus it was that Sri Ramakrishna’s original visionary experience was passed on to Narendranath in such a dramatic fashion.