Page:The Gospel of Râmakrishna.djvu/241

 variety has come from unity and the same unity is the goal of variety. The differ-ence in the manifestation of Sakti or power makes the variety. When the flood of spiritual realization comes in the soul, like a sheet of water the Universal Spirit covers every- thing. All distinctions vanish. Then a boat can pass over a field and the way from one place to another becomes straight across the water. Keshab was listening with rapt attention. Although the room was crowded, absolute silence prevailed. The Bhagavan, looking at Keshab, then asked: How are you? How do you feel? You are suffering; but your illness has a deep meaning. In this body you have gone through various stages of spiritual develop-ment; the body is now suffering from the reaction. When the spiritual waves arise, the consciousness of the body vanishes; but it, tells upon the body in the end. When a big steamer plies in the waters of the Ganges, I have seen the waves dash against the shore for some time after; the larger the boat, the stronger the waves; sometimes they break down the banks. If an elephant enters a small hut,