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Dear friends,

Those who have read " The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna " and " Sri Ramakrishna

The Great Master " , must be aware that Sri Ramakrishna used to have many

visions, and used to go into altered state of consciousness of various

" Bhavas " -moods, attitudes, and Samadhi. An attempt is made to explain

these changes from medical point of view.

***

It is difficult to explain the state of altered consciousness (bhava and

samadhi), and visions, etc. in the life of Sri Ramakrishna. Every time

he undertook any particular form of sadhana, at the end of it he

attained a state of samadhi.

 

Pathological causes like heat stroke, syncope, and hysteria can be ruled

out as his case history does not substantiate these.

 

In diseases like 'temporal lobe epilepsy' or certain rare forms of

'limbic system seizure disorders', loss of consciousness may be

associated with auditory or visual hallucinations, and a 'dreamy state'.

But no patient of epilepsy has ever become wiser, as Sri Ramakrishna

had, after repeated 'seizures and loss of consciousness'. There occurs

general deterioration in the mental and physical health in a person of

epilepsy.

 

Epilepsy is an illness, while visions, bhava, and altered state of

consciousness as seen in the life of Sri Ramakrishna, brought of a new

state of Consciousness, beyond waking, dreaming or deep sleep, which is

referred to as Fourth or Turiya state in Vedanta!

 

Other people may argue that all these changes in the body and mind of

the Master were simply manifestations of a psychiatric disorder, say a

mild form of mania. An euphoric mood, mental and physical restlessness,

and perceptual hallucinations are seen in patients during manic phase of

the illness. Sometimes similar symptoms may be seen in certain people

addicted to drugs,

 

But here we can safely and easily rule out any such possibility. First,

it is a well known fact that Sri Ramakrishna was never addicted to any

drug during his life time. Moreover, he never suffered from depression

any time. On the contrary, he was always cheerful. Many of his close

associates wondered at the happy and blissful state of his mind.

 

Secondly the mood swings were never abrupt or involuntary. After full

consideration, and as a willful act, Sri Ramakrishna used to undertake a

particular sadhana. There was no deterioration of affect, nor of his

thought process or in his intelligence.

 

His social behaviour, and relations with family and friends - including

his wife, were excellent and above reproach. His love for humanity,

quick wit, power of observation, and wisdom were superlative.

No psychiatric illness is ever seen with such a wonderfully developed

personality. On the contrary, patients of mental aberration have

inadequate personalities leading to subsequent intellectual

deterioration.

 

[Excerpted from the series of article " Physiology of a Man of God " , by

myself (dr c s shah), published in the journal The Vedanta Kesari, May,

June, and August 1999 issues R. K. Math, Chennai India.]

 

dr c s shah

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