THE DISCIPLE WHO WAS OLDER THAN THE MASTER ... 1

THE DISCIPLE WHO WAS OLDER THAN THE MASTER ... 1

At the age of fifty-five Gopal Chandra Ghosh became a widower. At a friend's (Dr. Mahendra Pal of Sinthi, Kolkata) suggestion he visited Sri Ramakrishna some time after March, 1884 to seek solace from the sage. Although, unimpressed by his first acquaintance, Gopal persisted and visited Dakshineshwar again. This time he was overwhelmed by the Master's spiritual influence. A third straight visit and the Master had taken possession of his heart and soul. Gopal simply could not keep his mind off the Master and felt pangs of separation from him.

Born to Govardhan Ghosh in 1828 at Rajpur (Jagaddal) in the district of 24 Parganas, close to Kolkata, Gopal Chandra Ghosh in adulthood took up residence in Sinthi in North Kolkata to work for his employer, the Brahmo devotee, Beni Madhav Pal of Sinthi. There, at his employer's garden house, Gopal had seen Sri Ramakrishna but it was by way of casual reference. It was only after he came over to Dakshineshwar to serve the Master that his real relation with him began, one that was to end in his finally renouncing worldly life for good and embracing monasticism with the fledgling fraternity formed out of Ramakrishna's flock post his demise at the Kashipur Garden House in 1886.

But to return to the present. The Master started calling him 'Buro Gopal' (the elder Gopal) for he was eight years senior to the Master in age. Gopal was now serving both the Master and Holy Mother, running errands for her. Being a seasoned householder, Gopal was efficient in discharging his duties in service to the divine duo.

Although, Gopal was so advanced in age and the young disciples and devotees of the Master addressed him as Gopal Dada, he forgot the age difference and with youthful energy mixed with them on equal affable terms, thus endearing himself to them. Consequently, he accompanied Narendra on the tabla as the latter sang, and, so, contributed to the general harmony of the meet at the Master's.

The Master taught by personal example more than by precept. One day he prostrated before a sweeper woman carrying excreta on her head, for in those days sanitation facilities whereby excreta could be flushed away from the latrine itself were not available and designated people had to do the job for which they were shunned by the general public instead of being given grateful thanks for the service rendered which few were prepared to do. Gopal witnessed the Master's humble prostration and the reverential words with which he addressed the said woman. This had a powerful effect on Gopal and his future attitudes.

The Master was not only mindful of little details in spiritual sadhana but was also particular about habits in general. He took exception to carelessness in his disciples and once pulled up Gopal for leaving behind at Panchavati his (the Master's) umbrella in his (Gopal's) absorption in a song sung by a devotee at the time. This the Master deemed as distraction of the mind rather than its concentration on the said song. Such sharp discernment the Master had that not even the slightest indiscretion on the part of any disciple of his escaped his attention. The disciples, thus, blossomed into flowers of rare splendour which the Master offered before the Divine Mother immanent in humanity as a beautiful bouquet, one whose fragrance would breathe fresh life into the hearts and souls of drooping humanity and stir them into life and action unto onward movement towards God.

End of Part 1

To be continued...

Written by Sugata Bose

Information source : 'God Lived With Them' by Swami Chetanananda