Ramakrishna was a revered saint, deeply devoted to the goddess Ma Kali. While meditating, he often conversed with her and experienced profound moments of connection and love.
However, many people, including the great Swami Vivekananda, initially thought of him as mad because of his intense spiritual experiences.
Ramakrishna’s state of meditation was known as a ‘trans-state,’ in which he would become completely absorbed in the divine presence of Ma Kali, losing touch with the physical world.
A trance state is a semi-conscious state that can occur during meditation.
In this state, he felt immense joy and love, believing it to be the ultimate stage of meditation.
Whenever he called upon Ma Kali, she would appear before him, filling his heart with bliss.
As Ramakrishna’s fame as a saint grew, a renowned ascetic named Totapuri visited his ashram.
Totapuri was a wandering faqir. People knew him for his deep spiritual wisdom and unconventional ways. He observed Ramakrishna’s devotion to Ma Kali and noticed that he was often lost in meditation, experiencing both ecstasy and sorrow in her presence.
“This is not the final stage of meditation,” Totapuri told Ramakrishna. “You are still far from true enlightenment. Ma Kali is a creation of your mind and soul’s imagination. To reach the highest level, you must transcend her image.”
Ramakrishna, deeply attached to his beloved goddess, was puzzled. “But whenever I meditate, my divine mother appears before me, and IÂ always get lost in her love. What should I do?” he asked.
Totapuri explained, “Whenever Ma Kali appears during your meditation, imagine a sword and cut off her head. She will then disappear.”
Ramakrishna was shocked. “How can I cut the head of my goddess? And where will I find this sword?” he questioned.
“Create the sword just as you have created the image of Ma Kali,” Totapuri replied. “But I forget everything when I meditate. I do not remember anything,” Ramakrishna confessed.
Totapuri then brought a piece of glass and said, “I have a solution. Start your meditation. When you are in deep meditation, I will strike your head with this glass to remind you to cut the head of Ma Kali.”
Following Totapuri’s guidance, Ramakrishna entered deep meditation. Totapuri struck his head with the glass, jolting him back to awareness.
Remembering Totapuri’s instructions, Ramakrishna visualized a sword and cut off Ma Kali’s head. At that moment, Ma Kali disappeared, and Ramakrishna attained the highest peak of meditation.
He became known as Ramakrishna Paramahansa, merging with the divine and becoming one with the almighty.
Like a drop of water merging with the ocean, he transformed into an ocean of spiritual wisdom and enlightenment.
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