Swami Vivekananda and disciples of Sri Ramakrishna

❊ ❊ Cossipore, Monday, March 15, 1886, Master (smiling, to Narendra): Well, what do you think of me? Narendra: You are a hero, a handmaid of God and everything else. These words fill Sri Ramakrishna with divine emotion. He places his hand on his heart and is about to say something. He says to Narendra and the other devotees: I see that all things—everything that exists—have come from this. He asks Narendra by a sign: What did you understand? Narendra: All created objects have come from you. The Master’s face beams with joy. He says to Rakhal: Did you hear what he said? (GSR, 944-45) [Cossipore, August 1886] Three or four days before the Master’s mahasamadhi Sri Ramakrishna called Naren to him. Looking steadfastly at him he entered into deep meditation. Naren felt as though a subtle force, resembling an electric shock, were entering his body. He lost outer consciousness. When he came to, he found the Master weeping. Wondering, Naren asked him why he wept, and was told, “O Naren, today I have given you my all and have become a fakir, a penniless beggar. By the force of the power transmitted by me, great things will be done by you; only after that will you go where you came from.” (LSV [Kolkata, 1979] 1:182)