One day, Narendra was meditating under a tree with Girish Chandra Gosh at the Cossipore Garden House.  The place was infested with mosquitoes.  Girish tried in vain to concentrate.  Casting his eyes on Narendra, he saw that Narendra was absorbed in meditation even though his body was covered by a blanket of insects.

Once, Narendra spent an entire night walking in the garden loudly repeating Rama’s name.

Narendra had special affection for Lord Buddha.  One day, he suddenly felt an intense desire to visit Bodh-Gaya, the place where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment.  He left Cossipore with Kali and Tarak, two of his brother disciples.  After they meditated for long hours under the Bo-tree where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment, Narendra was overwhelmed by emotions and wept profusely.  He embraced Tarak and told him that he had felt the presence of Lord Buddha and he had seen how Buddha’s noble life and teachings had influenced India.  When Narendra came back and talked to the Master, he realized that Sri Ramakrishna’s life and teachings were even more appropriate for the present-time.

On another occasion when Narendra repeated his desire for uninterrupted Samadhi, Sri Ramakrishna said, “Shame on you!  You are asking for such an insignificant thing.  I thought that you would be like a big banyan tree, and that thousands of people would rest in your shade.  But, now I see that you are seeking your own liberation.”  Realizing the greatness of Sri Ramakrishna’s heart, Narendra shed profuse tears.

One day the master, unable to speak even in a whisper, wrote on a piece of paper: “Narendra will teach others.” Narendra protested.  Sri Ramakrishna said, “But, you must.  Your very bones will do it.”