Can God Be Seen?

Narendra(Swami Vivekananda) met Ramakrishna for the first time in November 1881. He asked Ramakrishna the same question he had so often asked of others, “Mahashaya (Venerable Sir), have you seen god?” The instantaneous answer from Ramakrishna was, “Yes, I see God, just as I see you here, only in a much intenser sense. God can be realized,” he went on, “one can see and talk to Him as I am seeing and talking to you. But who cares? People shed torrents of tears for their wife and children, for wealth or property, but who does so for the sake of God? If one weeps sincerely for Him, he surely manifests Himself.” Narendra was astounded and puzzled. He could feel the man’s words were honest and uttered from a deep experience. He started visiting Ramakrishna frequently.

At first he did not believe that such a plain man could have seen God, but gradually he started developing faith in Ramkrishna.

Though Narendra could not accept Ramakrishna and his visions, he could not neglect him either. It had always been in Narendra’s nature to test something thoroughly before he would accept it. He tested Ramakrishna to the maximum, but the master was patient, forgiving, humorous, and full of love. He never asked Narendra to abandon reason, and he faced all of Narendra’s arguments and examinations with patience. In time, Narendra accepted Ramakrishna, and when he accepted, his acceptance was whole-hearted. While Ramakrishna predominantly taught the path of love and affection to his other disciples he taught Narendra the path of Advaita ( the power to realise God through Self Enquiry) .

This site will focus on the power to realise God through Self Enquiry.

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