The Master’s vision: “Bhagavata [the scriptures], Bhakta [the devotees], and Bhagavan [the Lord] — these three are one, and the One manifests as three.”
We shall conclude the present topic by describing another of the Master’s visions that took place when he was in madhura bhava. One day while he was listening to the reading of the Bhagavata in the front hall of the Vishnu temple, he went into ecstasy and saw the resplendent form of Krishna. Next, a beam of light, like a cord, came forth from Krishna’s feet and first touched the Bhagavata and then the Master’s chest, connecting all three for some time. After this vision the Master was firmly convinced that God, His devotee, and the scriptures that are His words, are in reality one and the same, though they appear to be distinct entities. The Master used to say, “The Bhagavata, the devotee, and God — these three are one and the One manifests as three.” (Source: Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play)
Sometime in March or April 1918, Premananda was sent by his Calcutta doctors to Deoghar, a health resort in Bihar. In the beginning his health improved, but shortly his fever relapsed and he developed stomach trouble. The local doctors took special care of him. In spite of his illness, every day at 11:00 a.m. he would send his attendant to Deoghar station to receive visiting devotees and to arrange for their food and stay. Shivananda came to visit him and remarked, “I see you have opened a hotel here also.” “Brother,” replied Premananda, “as long as I live my hotel will go with me. I see that the Master brings food, he eats, he feeds. I see that the devotees, God, and the Bhagavata are the same.” (Source: God Lived with Them)