Some Glimpses of Ramakrishna-Part V (Continued)

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Swami Premananda told a monk:

'The Master could not wait long for his food after his bath. He always ate something after he bathed. That is why during the ritualistic worship, I offer the naivedya (food) after repeating the mantra for the bath. I follow his way of life. When he is pleased, all will be satisfied.

After lunch the Master would a take a little rest.

The Master's supper was very simple. He ate a few pieces of luchi (fried bread) and a little farina pudding that had been offered to the Divine Mother at night. If he was hungry at night, he would eat some sweets and fruits from the cabinet in his room, or the Holy Mother would make some farina pudding for him. He would allow his disciples to eat a heavy meal at lunch but their supper would be light, because if one eats too much at night one cannot practise sadhana.

The Master smoked tobacco a few times a day [as was the custom in those days], using a hubble-bubble that he kept in the southwest corner of his room. He sometimes offered a smoke to his visitors. After meals he would chew betel rolls. Holy Mother would prepare them for him, and his lips would become crimson from chewing them. Once the Master asked Gangadhar (later Swami Akhandananda) to have lunch at Dakshineswar. Gangadhar said: 'When I returned to the Master's room [after eating] I found him waiting near the east door with a betel roll in his hand. Giving it to me, he said: "Chew it. It is good to chew a couple of betel rolls after meals. It removes bad breath."'1
Swami Premananda recalled:

'We saw how lovingly the Master would receive the devotees at Dakshineswar! He would ask, "Do you want to chew a betel roll?" If the devotee said, "No," he would then ask, "Would you like to smoke tobacco?" Thus, in so many ways he would take care of the devotees.'

Whenever Ramakrishna went to Calcutta his attendant always carried his towel and spice bag, which contained fennel seeds, cloves, cubeb, caraway, and cardamom. Sometimes he would chew spices to bring his mind down to the sense plane. Quite often when he would come down from samadhi, he would say, 'I shall smoke tobacco, or drink water, or I shall eat bitter squash curry.' Those insignificant desires or habits would help him come down from samadhi.

About the author

Swami Chetananda

The author is the Minister-in-charge of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, USA. He is well-known for his numerous books in Bengali and English particularly God Lived With Them and They Lived With God. His recent English translation of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Leelaprasanga titled Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play has received wide acclaim.

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