Question:
How do we know that Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa or Sri Ramana Maharishi were self realized as Self Realization is an internal experience and not visible to anybody? Even the experience that Sri Ramakrishna had of Mother Kaali was in his mind’s eye.
Sri Prabhuji:
Any subjective experience is not objectively available to anyone. Subjective experience like love, pain, etc… cannot be known by others. Enlightenment of Buddha, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa are subjective experiences and hence cannot be known by others objectively.
Enlightenment being subjective experience, I can know only about “my” enlightenment not anybody else.
However, there are certain qualities of enlightened ones which attract people. Peace, Love, compassion, clarity, happiness radiate from enlightened one. These qualities are rare in themselves. Fragrance of enlightenment which attracts people towards enlightened. Mother Kaali was in Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s mental vision. That vision purified him and people in and around could feel the impact of His presence.