Sri Ramakrishna was simple and guileless like a child. Therefore whatever he was told, he believed wholeheartedly. Hriday knew that his uncle had direct contact with the Divine Mother, and he also knew that he could influence the Master. He used to pester his uncle to pray for occult powers so that he could get some benefit from them. Sri Ramakrishna narrated his experience:
Once, a long time ago, I was very ill. I was sitting in the Kali temple. I felt like praying to the Divine Mother to cure my illness, but couldn’t do so directly in my own name. I said to Her, “Mother, Hriday asks me to tell You about my illness.” I could not proceed any further. At once there flashed into my mind the Museum of the Asiatic Society, and a human skeleton strung together with wire. I said to Her, “Please tighten the wire of my body like that, so that I may go about singing Your name and glories.” It is impossible for me to ask for occult powers.
People of small intellect seek occult powers — power to cure disease, win a lawsuit, walk on water, and such things. But the genuine devotees of God don’t want anything except His Lotus Feet. One day Hriday said to me, “Uncle, please ask the Mother for some powers, some occult powers.” I have the nature of a child. While I was practising japa in the Kali temple, I said to Kali, “Mother, Hriday asked me to pray to You for some occult powers.” The Divine Mother at once showed me a vision. A middle aged prostitute, about forty years old, appeared and sat with her back to me. She had large hips and wore a black-bordered sari. Soon she was covered with filth. The Mother showed me that occult powers are as abominable as the filth of that prostitute. Thereupon I went to Hriday and scolded him, saying: “Why did you teach me such a prayer? It is because of you that I had such an experience.” (Source: They Lived with God)