Ramakrishna worshiped the mother goddess Kali. But one day he met Totapuri. This was a completely unusual person. He walked naked along the banks of the Ganges and was free from all rules and dogmas. In a conversation with him, Ramakrishna said that he could not achieve a state of merger with God. Totapuri said:
“Your attachment to the goddess Kali is bothering you.” You must destroy this mother goddess.
Ramakrishna protested:
“How can I destroy the mother goddess?” She is my soul and my very heart! Then I'll die.
Totapuri exclaimed:
- It's better to die! If you really want to be free; you must destroy all your connections and attachments. And this is your affection. You are not attached to your wife, to money. You are not attached to the world, but you are attached to the mother goddess. I know it is beautiful, but as long as it exists in you, it will obscure the Truth.
Ramakrishna sat in meditation before Totapuri. But when he closed his eyes, the mother goddess appeared in all her glory! He began to sway, and tears appeared in his eyes. He completely forgot about Totapuri and his intention. Totapuri shook him and said:
“You fell asleep again.” Take the sword and cut it in two!
This was repeated several times. Ramakrishna forgot about everything as soon as he saw his mother’s face inside him. It was so alive and beautiful, so full of light! This was the greatest vision of the divine as form, behind which there is only formlessness.
Totapuri said:
“I’m leaving today, but before I go, you’ll try again.” I brought a piece of glass with me. When I see that you begin to sway and that tears are appearing in your eyes, I will cut your third eye. Blood will flow, it will hurt, and you will remember that I am here. You will take the sword and cut the mother goddess in two.
Ramakrishna asked:
- But where will I get the sword?
Totapuri replied:
- From where you got your mother!
On this day Ramakrishna tried. When he began to sway and tears began to flow, Totapuri cut the skin on Ramakrishna's forehead with glass. In a single moment of realization, he cut his mother apart. She disappeared and the door to the Formless opened.
For six days Ramakrishna was in a state of samadhi. And when he came to his senses, the first words he uttered were: “The last barrier has fallen. I am eternally grateful to you Totapuri, eternally grateful.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru