Shambhu had a charitable dispensary in his garden house. One day while the Master was at his garden house Shambhu found out that Sri Ramakrishna often suffered from stomach trouble, which was caused by the irregular food and impure water at the temple garden. Shambhu advised him to take small doses of opium as an antidote and offered to give him a package from the dispensary before he left. In the course of conversation, however, both forgot about it. After taking his leave the Master started down the road and then remembered about the opium. He returned and found out that Shambhu was busy in the inner apartment, so rather than disturb him, the Master went to the dispensary supervisor and got some opium from him.
But as soon as he left Shambhu’s garden, he discovered that he could not find his way back to the temple garden. He felt as if someone were pulling his legs in the opposite direction. Yet when he turned around he could clearly see Shambhu’s place. Then he realized that Shambhu had said to take the opium from him — not from the supervisor, who had no right to give it without Shambhu’s permission. Thus, Sri Ramakrishna’s action was wrong on two counts — falsehood and theft. Therefore the Divine Mother deterred him. The Master immediately returned to the dispensary, but by now the supervisor had also left. He then threw the package through a window, calling loudly, “Hello, here I am returning your opium.”6 Setting out again for the temple garden, he could see the way clearly, and he reached there without further difficulty.
On another day when Sri Ramakrishna was visiting Shambhu’s garden house, Shambhu found out that the Master was not feeling well. Thinking that some sweet pomegranates would be good for him, Shambhu bought some and offered them to the Master before he left for the temple garden. Sri Ramakrishna accepted the gift to fulfill the desire of his devotee, but as he turned to leave he could not find the gate. He began roaming around Shambhu’s garden like a drunkard. Shambhu noticed it and could not understand what was wrong. Finally he came out of his house and brought the Master inside. Sri Ramakrishna then returned the pomegranates to Shambhu and became normal again. Explaining to Shambhu, the Master said that if he carried anything with him or hoarded anything, his mind became confused and his nervous system recoiled. Shambhu was amazed to hear of the Master’s renunciation. (Source: They Lived with God)