Before his death, Ramakrishna could neither eat nor drink. Seeing this suffering, Vivekananda fell at his feet and said:
“Why don’t you ask God to take away your illness?” At least you can tell Him: “At least let me eat and drink!” God loves you, and if you ask Him, a miracle will happen! God will set you free.
The other disciples also began to beg him.
Ramakrishna said:
- Okay, I'll try.
He closed his eyes. His face filled with light and tears flowed down his cheeks. All the anguish and pain suddenly disappeared from his face. After a while, he opened his eyes and looked into the happy faces of his students. Watching Ramakrishna, they thought that something miraculous had happened. They decided that God had freed him from his illness. But in reality the miracle was different.
Ramakrishna opened his eyes. For some time he was in ecstasy and could not speak. Then he said:
- Vivekananda, you fool! You ask me to do stupid things, but I am a simple person and accept everything. I told God, “I can’t eat, I can’t drink. Why won’t You let me do at least this?” And He replied: “Why are you clinging to this body? You have many students. You live in them: you eat and drink.” And it freed me from my body. Feeling this freedom, I cried.
Before his death, his wife Sharda asked:
- What should I do? Should I wear white and no jewelry when you're gone?
“But I’m not going anywhere,” replied Ramakrishna. - I will be here in everything that surrounds you. You will be able to see me in the eyes of those who love me. You will feel me in the wind, in the rain. A bird will fly and suddenly you will remember me. I'll be here.
Sharda never cried or wore mourning clothes. Surrounded by the love of her disciples, she did not feel empty and continued to live as if Ramakrishna was alive.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru