Seeing the light

Ramakrishna, singing the lyrics of a song:

Light up, O mind, light up true wisdom's shining lamp,
And it will burn with a steady flame
Unceasingly within your heart.
(p. 215)

Ramakrishna:

When I was ten or eleven years old ... I first experienced samadhi. There are certain characteristics of God-vision. One sees light, feels joy, and experiences the upsurge of a great current in one's chest, like the bursting of a rocket.
(p. 218)

Ramakrishna:

When I first had my exalted state of mind, my body would radiate light. My chest was always flushed. Then I said to the Divine Mother: "Mother, do not reveal Thyself outwardly. Please go inside." That is why my complexion is so dull now. If my body were still luminous, people would have tormented me; a crowd would always have thronged here. Now there is no outer manifestation. That keeps weeds away.
(p. 404)

Ramakrishna:

I saw the visions described in the scriptures. Sometimes I saw the universe filled with sparks of fire. Sometimes I saw all the quarters glittering with light, as if the world were a lake of mercury. Sometimes I saw the world as if made of liquid silver. Sometimes again, I saw all the quarters illumined as if with the light of Roman candles.
(p. 333)

Mahendranath Gupta writing about what he witnessed that day:

In the twinkling of an eye Sri Ramakrishna went into deep samadhi. An amazing transformation took place in the Master before the very eyes of the devotees. His face shone with a heavenly light.
(p. 464)

Ramakrishna:

The Vedas speak of seven planes where the mind can dwell. When the mind is immersed in worldliness it dwells in the three lower planes... The fourth plane of the mind is at the heart. When the mind dwells there, one has the first glimpse of spiritual consciousness. One sees light all around. Such a man, perceiving the divine light, becomes speechless with wonder and says: "Ah! What is this? What is this" His mind does not go downward to the objects of the world.

The fifth plane of the mind is at the throat. When the mind reaches this, the aspirant becomes free form all ignorance and illusion...

The sixth plane is at the forehead. When the mind dwells there, the aspirant sees the form of God day and night. But even then a little trace of ego remains.

In the top of the head is the seventh plane. When the mind rises there, one goes into samadhi. (Paraphrased: Then there is the direct perception of Brahman.)... Generally the body does not remain alive after the attainment of samadhi... After the well is dug one generally throws away the spade and basket. But some keep them in order to help their neighbours. The great souls who retain their bodies after samadhi feel compassion for the suffering of others. They are not so selfish as to be satisfied with their own illumination
(pp. 213-214)

©1999 by Deb Platt