Kathamrita Volume II - Swami Vivekananda

M. — On my first visit to Dakshineswar, afterthe devotees had left Thakur’s room, I sawGopal when I came out of the room. Withfolded hands he was kneeling on the red brickdustpath before Thakur, who was standingthere. The moon was shining brightly. It was onthe red brick-dust path to the north of thenorthern veranda of Thakur’s room. No oneelse was there. It seemed to me that Gopal hadtaken refuge and Thakur was reassuring him.Narendra — I didn’t see it.M. — Thakur used to say now and then, ‘Gopalis in the state of a paramahamsa.’ But I alsoremember well that Thakur forbade him to visitwomen devotees. He cautioned him a numberof times about this.Narendra — Well, he told me, ‘If Gopal is inthe state of a paramahamsa, why does he keepmoney with him?’ He also said, ‘He doesn’tbelong to my inner circle of devotees. Theywho are my own will regularly visit me.’“That is why he used to be cross with Babu. Hewas in the constant company of Gopal anddidn’t visit Thakur frequently enough.“He told me, ‘Gopal has attained spiritualperfection – perfection achieved suddenly.However, he doesn’t belong to this intimatecircle. Had he been my own, why did I not