According to Hindu tradition, the disciple must obey the guru without question. However, the influence of Western thinking did not allow Narendra to accept this; he was determined to test for himself everything that Ramakrishna taught him. He felt it was wrong for someone to surrender freedom of judgment to another. After their third meeting, Narendra felt the Master’s superhuman spiritual power, but he was still somewhat sceptical. His scepticism made him one of the most reliable of all the witnesses to Ramakrishna’s greatness. Later he said to a Western disciple: “Let none regret that they were difficult to convince. I fought my Master for six long years, with the result that I know every inch of the way.”
The meeting of Narendra and Ramakrishna was an important event in the lives of both. It was like a meeting between the Occident and the Orient, the modern and the ancient. Ramakrishna tamed the rebellious Narendra with his infinite patience, love, and vigilance. The Master was fully convinced of Narendra’s divine nature and mission to the world. He could not bear the slightest criticism of Narendra and told devotees: “Let no one judge him hastily. People will never understand him fully.”
Ramakrishna did not hesitate to praise Narendra’s greatness in the presence of one and all, which sometimes embarrassed Narendra. One day Keshab Sen and Vijaykrishna Goswami, who were leaders of the Brahmo Samaj, visited Dakshineswar with a number of Brahmo devotees. Narendra was also present. The Master remarked: “If Keshab possesses one virtue which has made him world-famous, Naren is endowed with eighteen such virtues. I have seen in Keshab and Vijay the divine light burning like a candle flame, but in Naren it shines with the radiance of the sun.” Narendra later vehemently protested to the Master: “Sir, people will think you’re mad if you talk like that. Keshab is famous all over the world. Vijay is a saint. And I am an insignificant student. How can you speak of us in the same breath? Please, I beg you, never say such things again.”
“I cannot help it,” replied the Master. “Do you think these are my words? The Divine Mother showed me certain things about you, which I repeated. And She reveals to me nothing but the truth.”
“How do you know it was Mother who told you?” Narendra objected. “All this may be a fiction of your own brain. Science and philosophy prove that our senses often deceive us, especially when there’s a desire in our minds to believe something. You are fond of me and you wish to see me great — that may be why you have these visions.”
The Master was perplexed. He appealed to the Divine Mother for guidance, and was told: “Why do you care what he says? In a short time he will accept every word of yours as true.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
Considering the big city with all its comforts unsuitable for spiritual practice, some of the students wanted a quiet spot where they might devote themselves to a life of renunciation. Miss Minnie C. Boock, a student of Vedanta, offered a property of 160 acres in Northern California for a retreat. When Vivekananda arrived in New York in June 1900, he accepted her offer and asked Turiyananda to take up the project. He was hesitant to assume the responsibility. Swamiji said, “It is the will of the Mother that you should take charge of the work there.” Turiyananda jokingly remarked: “Rather say it is your will. Certainly you have not heard the Mother communicate Her will to you in that way. How can we hear the words of the Mother?” “Yes, brother,” said Swamiji with great emotion, “yes, the words of the Mother can be heard as clearly as we hear one another. It only requires a fine nerve to hear the words of the Mother.” When Turiyananda agreed to the proposal, Swamiji said: “Don’t trouble yourself about lecturing. You just live the life. Be an example to them. Let them see how men of renunciation live.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
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Gurudas later wrote about Swami Turiyananda’s last days in Shanti Ashrama: “One evening, just after dusk, when I entered the little cabin we shared together, the swami told me of a vision he had had. The Divine Mother had come to him and had asked him to remain in the ashrama. But he had refused. Then She told him that if he stayed in the ashrama the work would grow rapidly, and many beautiful buildings would be erected. Still he had refused. At last She showed him the place full of disciples. ‘Let me go to Swamiji first,’ he had said. And the Mother with grave countenance vanished from his sight.
“The vision had left him unhappy and disturbed in mind. ‘I have done wrong,’ he said with a sigh, ‘but it cannot be helped now.’” Turiyananda had fully surrendered himself to the Divine Mother, yet he refused Her command. Why? Nobody knows. It will always remain a mystery. (Source: God Lived with Them)