(Swami Vivekananada often told how Sri Ramakrishna impacted his life,)
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The Master made me his slave by his love for me.
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He made me his slave by his great love for me!
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My teacher, my master, my hero, my ideal, my God in life.
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If there has been anything achieved by me, by thoughts or words or deeds, if from my lips has ever fallen one word that has ever helped anyone in the world, I lay no claim to it; it was his. But if there have been curses falling from my lips, if there has been hatred coming out of me, it is all mine, and not his. All that has been weak has been mine; all that has been life-giving, strengthening, pure, and holy has been his inspiration, his words, and he himself. Yes, my friends, the world has yet to know that man.
(Feb 28, 1897, Calcutta speech.
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I am what I am , and what I am is always due to him. Whatever in me or in my words is good and true and eternal came to me from his mouth, his heart, his soul. Sri Ramakrishna is the spring of this phase of the earth’s religious life., of its impulses and activities. If I can show the world one glimpse of my Master I shall not live in vain.
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And so, you see my devotion is the dog’s devotion. I have been wrong so often and he has always been right, and now I trust his judgement blindly. (Attributed to SV by Sister Nivedita)
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Yes, my own life is guided by the enthusiasm of a certain great personality, but what of that? Inspiration was never filtered out to the world through one man!
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But you may ask, ‘What is the place of Ramakrishna in this scheme?’ He is the method, that wonderful unconscious method! He did not understand himself. He knew nothing of England or the English, save that they were queer folk from over the sea. But he lived that great life: and I read the meaning. Never a word of condemnation for any!
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It is true I believe Ramakrishna Paramahamsa to have been inspired. But then I am myself inspired also. And you are inspired. And your disciples will be; and theirs after them; and so on, to the end of time!