Girish Chandra Ghosh was a born rebel against God, a sceptic,
a Bohemian,
a drunkard. He was the greatest Bengali dramatist of his time, the
father
of the modem Bengali stage. Like other young men he had imbibed all the
vices of the West. He had plunged into a life of dissipation and had
become
convinced that religion was only a fraud. Materialistic philosophy he
justified
as enabling one to get at least a little fun out of life. But a series
of reverses
shocked him and he became eager to solve the riddle of life. He had
heard
people say that in spiritual life the help of a guru was imperative and
that
the guru was to be regarded as God Himself. But Girish was too well
acquainted with human nature to see perfection in a man. His first
meeting
with Sri Ramakrishna did not impress him at all. He returned home
feeling
as if he had seen a freak at a circus; for the Master, in a
semi-conscious
mood, had inquired whether it was evening, though the lamps were
burning
in the room. But their paths often crossed, and Girish could not avoid
further encounters. The Master attended a performance in Girish's Star
Theatre. On this occasion, too, Girish found nothing impressive about
him.
One day, however, Girish happened to see the Master dancing and singing
with the devotees. He felt the contagion and wanted to join them, but
restrained himself for fear of ridicule. Another day Sri Ramakrishna
was
about to give him spiritual instruction, when Girish said: "I don't
want to
listen to instructions. I have myself written many instructions. They
are
of no use to me. Please help me in a more tangible way If you can."
This
pleased the Master and he asked Girish to cultivate faith.
As time passed, Girish began to learn that the guru is the one who
silently
unfolds the disciple's inner life. He became a steadfast devotee of the
Master.
He often loaded the Master with insults, drank in his presence, and
took
liberties which astounded the other devotees. But the Master knew that
at
heart Girish was tender, faithful, and sincere. He would not allow
Girish
to give up the theatre. And when a devotee asked him to tell Girish to
give
up drinking, he sternly replied: "That is none of your business. He who
has
taken charge of him will look after him. Girish is a devotee of heroic
type.
I tell you, drinking will not affect him." The Master knew that mere
words
could not induce a man to break deep-rooted habits, but that the silent
influence of love worked miracles. Therefore he never asked him to give
up alcohol, with the result that Girish himself eventually broke the
habit.
Sri Ramakrishna had strengthened Girish's resolution by allowing him to
feel that he was absolutely free.
One day Girish felt depressed because he was unable to submit to any
routine of spiritual discipline. In an exalted mood the Master said to
him:
"All right, give me your power of attorney. Henceforth I assume
responsibility
for you. You need not do anything." Girish heaved a sigh of relief.
He felt happy to think that Sri Ramakrishna had assumed his spiritual
responsibilities. But poor Girish could not then realize that He also,
on his
part, had to give up his freedom and make of himself a puppet in Sri
Ramakrishna's hands. The Master began to discipline him according to
this
new attitude. One day Girish said about a trifling matter, "Yes, I
shall do
this." "No, no!" the Master corrected him. "You must not speak in that
egotistic manner. You should say, 'God willing, I shall do it.'" Girish
understood.
Thenceforth he tried to give up all idea of personal responsibility and
surrender himself to the Divine Will. His mind began to dwell
constantly
on Sri Ramakrishna. This unconscious meditation in time chastened his
turbulent spirit.
The householder devotees generally visited Sri Ramakrishna on Sunday
afternoons and other holidays. Thus a brotherhood was gradually formed,
and the Master encouraged their fraternal feeling. Now and then he
would
accept an invitation to a devotee's home, where other devotees would
also
be invited. Kirtan would be arranged and they would spend hours in
dance
and devotional music. The Master would go into trances or open his
heart
in religious discourses and in the narration of his own spiritual
experiences.
Many people who could not go to Dakshineswar participated in these
meetings
and felt blessed. Such an occasion would be concluded with a sumptuous
feast.
But it was in the company of his younger devotees, pure souls yet
unstained
by the touch of worldliness, that Sri Ramakrishna took greatest joy.
Among the young men who later embraced the householder's life were
Narayan, Paitu, the younger Naren, Tejchandra, and Purna. These visited
the Master sometimes against strong opposition from home.