Nivedita

Look at Nivedita, a Western girl who came to our country and worked happily, forbearing insults and harassment; and also enduring so much discomfort. She tried to educate our children. When she visited some homes to register their children for her school, she was humiliated; some did not allow her to go inside their homes; and some allowed her to go inside but later purified the place by sprinkling Ganges water. She saw everything but did not mind. She left each place with a smiling face. 

There was not bounden necessity for her to educate the girls of our country by enduring such insults and ill-treatment and ruining her life little by little. You see, my daughter Nivedita had such a wonderful mind that she took on the responsibility of teaching our girls on her own shoulders because her Guru Naren wanted it and asked her to do it. She did not care for physical suffering and discomfort, or for the insults and incivility of our people. Those for whom she dedicated her life, they treated her contemptuously. Under such circumstances, could the women of our country sacrifice to such a great extent for the sake of their guru? They would say, “We don’t care!” 

So I say that except for the Master no one knows or understands how, when, what, or through whom he makes one work. 

                    - Holy Mother, 

                    ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P224