In April 1885 the Master's throat became inflamed. Prolonged
conversation
or absorption in samadhi, making the blood flow into the throat, would
aggravate the pain. Yet when the annual Vaishnava festival was
celebrated
at Panihati, Sri Ramakrishna attended it against the doctor's advice.
With a
group of disciples he spent himself in music, dance, and ecstasy. The
illness
took a turn for the worse and was diagnosed as "clergyman's sore
throat".
The patient was cautioned against conversation and ecstasies. Though he
followed the physician's directions regarding medicine and diet, he
could
neither control his trances nor withhold from seekers the solace of his
advice.
Sometimes, like a sulky child, he would complain to the Mother about
the
crowds, who gave him no rest day or night. He was overheard to say to
Her;
"Why do You bring here all these worthless people, who are like milk
diluted with five times its own quantity of water? My eyes are almost
destroyed with blowing the fire to dry up the water. My health is gone.
It is
beyond my strength. Do it Yourself, if You want it done. This (pointing
to
his own body) is but a perforated drum, and if you go on
beating it day in
and day out, how long will it last?"
But his large heart never turned anyone away. He said, "Let me be
condemned to be born over and over again, even in the form of a dog, if
I can
be of help to a single soul." And he bore the pain, singing cheerfully,
"Let
the body be preoccupied with illness, but, O mind, dwell for ever in
God's
Bliss!"
One night he had a hemorrhage of the throat. The doctor now diagnosed
the illness as cancer. Narendra was the first to break this
heart-rending news
to the disciples. Within three days the Master was removed to Calcutta
for
better treatment. At Balaram's house he remained a week until a
suitable
place could be found at Syampukur, in the northern section of Calcutta.
During this week he dedicated himself practically without respite to
the
instruction of those beloved devotees who had been unable to visit him
oftener at Dakshineswar. Discourses incessantly flowed from his tongue,
and
he often went into samadhi. Dr. Mahendra Sarkar, the celebrated
homeopath
of Calcutta, was invited to undertake his treatment.