SRK. X BKG

 One powerful moment in the meeting between Ramakrishna and Vijaykrishna Goswami (recorded in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna) concerns the stages of devotion and spiritual realization.

The Question

Vijaykrishna Goswami, being a devotional preacher, asked about the nature of true bhakti (devotion) and how one progresses spiritually.

Ramakrishna’s explanation of stages

Ramakrishna described that spiritual life moves through progressive stages of devotion and realization.

He explained roughly this sequence:

1. Association with holy people

The first step is holy company (satsang).

• Being around spiritually minded people awakens longing for God.
• Without this influence, spiritual desire rarely awakens.

2. Faith

From holy company comes faith (shraddha).

A person begins to feel:

• God must exist
• Spiritual life must be real

3. Devotional practice

Then comes regular practice:

• Prayer
• Repeating God’s name
• Singing devotional songs
• Meditation

4. Deep longing for God

Eventually the seeker develops intense yearning.

Ramakrishna said something like:

“When the longing becomes intense, God cannot remain hidden.”

He compared it to a child crying for its mother—the mother must come.

5. Vision of God

When longing becomes pure, the devotee receives direct experience of God.

This can appear as:

• Vision of a divine form
• Ecstatic devotion
• Deep spiritual absorption

6. Samadhi

Ramakrishna then spoke about Samadhi.

He explained that in the highest state:

• The ego disappears
• The distinction between devotee and God dissolves
• Only divine consciousness remains

He sometimes entered this state while speaking, which deeply impressed visitors.

The moment that amazed Goswami

During the discussion, Ramakrishna reportedly became absorbed in spiritual ecstasy while talking about God.

Witnesses described that:

• His body became still
• His eyes fixed upward
• He lost outer awareness

When he returned to normal consciousness, he continued explaining spiritual truths.

For many observers, including Goswami, this demonstrated that Ramakrishna was speaking from direct mystical experience rather than theory.

Ramakrishna’s final point to Goswami

He emphasized something very simple:

Love God sincerely, and realization will come.

Complex philosophy was not necessary—sincere devotion and longing were enough.

✅ Why this dialogue is important

It shows Ramakrishna’s core teaching:

• Spiritual truth can be experienced directly
• Devotion can lead to the highest realization
• All paths can ultimately lead to the same divine reality.

If you want, I can also share a very unusual thing Ramakrishna told Vijaykrishna Goswami about why spiritual teachers sometimes fall from purity—it’s a surprisingly blunt teaching that shocked many listeners.