Ramakrishna Paramahansa tests Naren (Swami Vivekananda)
The Test of Devotion
One day, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa decided to test his disciple Naren (who would later become Swami Vivekananda). When Naren came to Dakshineshwar and offered his pranams, Ramakrishna neither spoke to him nor even looked in his direction. Naren assumed that the Master was immersed in meditation, so he spent time chatting with other devotees and quietly left.
The same thing happened during his next visit—and again on several subsequent visits. Each time, Naren would respectfully bow before the Master, receive no response, and leave without complaint.
Then one day, Ramakrishna called Naren to him and asked,
"I did not speak to you. I did not even acknowledge your presence. Yet you kept coming back. Why?"
Naren replied humbly,
"Revered one, I love being in your presence. Talking to you was never the only reason I came."
Ramakrishna smiled, pleased with the answer.
"That was your test," he said. "Anyone else would have stopped coming. But you proved your devotion."