Sri Ramakrishna and Girish Chandra Ghosh

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 Here is a story that tells us that a spiritual life goes far beyond outwardly appearances and ways. This is the story of Girish Chandra Ghosh, the legendary playwright, actor, impresario and bohemian, whose colourful life and unconventional ways shattered the then societal norms. 

But it was Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa who saw that a tremendous transformation was taking place in him. He said, "You see only your outer life, what you are doing outwardly, but inside you there is so much divinity and love for God."

Girish was simply astonished. He said, "I am living such an undivine life and you see so much purity and divinity in me! And love for God! If I had even an iota of love for God, would I be leading this kind of unspiritual life? Absolutely not!"

Sri Ramakrishna said, "No, no, I am seeing it! I am seeing it!"

Girish’s primary role in life, it seems, was to demonstrate how a sinner can become a saint—how an atheist, drunkard, and debauchee can be transformed into a great devotee and lover of God. 

Girish used to say that he was Ramakrishna’s miracle. No doubt he was his least orthodox and most colourful devotee, but was he a sinner? Did he kill anyone - No. Did he cheat anyone, did he commit robbery - No. Did he misbehave with ladies - No. Then what did he do to be called a sinner. Probably the term 'sinner' was coined by himself out of remorse. But in Sri Ramakrishna’s eyes he was a pure soul filled with love and divinity.  This is what mattered.

In this story of spiritual transformation, it is the role of the master that is far more significant than the devotee. Had Sri Ramakrishna not spotted the inner purity and divinity of his outwardly errant devotee, Girish would never have been transformed and would have continued his wayward ways. It was also the large-heartedness of the master and his sense of inclusiveness that redeemed a soul.

It is an inspiring and fascinating story, that for all an individual's outwardly appearances and ways, it is the inner purity that matters. Girish's transformation was swift once his master had shown him his inner light, his true self. His surrender to the master after that was complete and so was his transformation.

 

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