A question of Attainment...

[Guest guest]

This is a story told by Ramakrishna Paramahansa

himself, before he had really gotten going on his own

journey, on encountering someone who had "attained",

that is to say, attained to the knowledge of Brahman,

the Absolute...

* * * * * * * * * *

"A few days after the dedication of the temple at

Dakshineswar, a madman came there who was really a

sage endowed with the Knowledge of Brahman. He had a

bamboo twig in one hand and a potted mango-plant in

the other, and was wearing torn shoes. He didn’t

follow any social conventions. After bathing in the

Ganges,he didn’t perform any religious rites. He ate

something that he carried in the corner of his

wearing-cloth. Then he entered the Kali Temple and

chanted hymns to the Deity. The temple trembled.

Haladhari was then in the shrine. The madman wasn’t

allowed to eat at the guest house but he paid no

attention to this slight. He searched for food in the

rubbish heap where the dogs were eating crumbs from

the discarded leaf-plates. Now and then he pushed the

dogs aside to get his crumbs. The dogs didn’t seem to

mind either. Haladhari followed him and asked, “Who

are you? Are you a purnajnani? (a perfect knower of

Brahman) The madman whispered “Sh! Yes, I am a

purnajnani” My heart began to palpitate as Haladhari

told me about it. I clung to Hriday. I asked the

Divine Mother, “Mother, shall I too have to pass

through such a state?” We all went to see the man. He

spoke great words of wisdom to us, but behaved like a

madman before others. Haladhari followed him a great

way when he left the garden. After passing the gate he

said to Haladhari, “What else shall I say to you? When

you no longer make any distinction between ditch water

and the water of the Ganges, then you will know that

you have Perfect Knowledge” Saying this, he walked

rapidly away."

 

Excerpted from "Kali" by Elizabeth U. Harding