Anguished Cry

 

Compassion for All

The crazy aunt [Radhu’s mother] was arranging lunch for a relative by placing a leaf plate and a glass of water on her veranda. Radhu’s cat sipped water from that glass, so she replaced it with another glass of water. This time also the cat sipped the water. The crazy aunt chased the cat, shouting, “I shall kill you.” The Mother was nearby. She said: “No, one should not prevent a thirsty animal from drinking. Moreover, the cat has already touched that water.” 

Immediately the crazy aunt flared up, saying: “You will not have to show your overflowing compassion to that cat. You have shown enough compassion to people. Why not reserve your kindness for human beings?” The Mother gravely said: “That person is really unfortunate who is deprived of my compassion. I don’t know anyone, even an insect, who is not a recipient of my compassion.” 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P440

Renunciation - Specialty of Sri Ramakrishna

Kedar Maharaj asked, "Mother, is it for the establishment of the harmony of all religions that the Master came this time?" 

The Holy Mother replied, "Look here. I never felt that he practised all the religions with the intention of teaching the harmony of all religions. He was always immersed in God-consciousness. He followed all the disciplines—those of Christians, Muslims, Vaishnavas, etc.—for the sake of God-realization, and he enjoyed the Divine lila (play) in different ways, entirely unconscious of how time passed. 

But still, do you know, my dear, in this age renunciation has been his specialty. Has anyone ever seen at any time that kind of spontaneous renunciation? What you have said of the harmony of religions is also true. In other Incarnations one ideal or another was emphasized over others." 

                               - The Gospel of the Holy Mother, P396

Ma

 

Each Should have his Due

Rammay used to go to Jayrambati from Badanganj every Saturday. Hence if any good food came to the Mother’s house, she kept apart a share of it for him. One day somebody prepared some delicious khichudi with plenty of ghee and other costly ingredients. When Rammay came, she gave him a great quantity of it. As he could not do full justice to it, he ate as much as he could and then wanted to throw away the rest. 

But the Mother said, 'My boy, don't throw away such good stuff', and directed him to call in a girl of the Sadagopa caste from a neighbouring house, who came and carried away the remaining food with great delight. 

Then the Mother said, ‘Each should have his due. What men can eat shouldn't be wasted on cattle; what cattle can eat shouldn't be thrown away to dogs; what cattle and dogs can't eat can be thrown into ponds for the fish - nothing should be wasted.’ As for herself, she kept even such useless stuff as waste vegetables and fruit peels for cattle.   

                   - ‘Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi’ by Swami Gambhirananda, P483-84

Sandal Wood Tree

 

Liberation

 

Very Close to Devotees

 

Bhagavati

I [Surendranath Sircar] said, "Mother, devotees call you Kali, Adyasakti, Bhagavati, etc. In the Gita it is mentioned that the saints Asita, Devala, Vyasa, and others called Sri Krishna as Narayana Himself. Sri Krishna himself told this to Arjuna. By mentioning it himself in the Gita, the idea has been still more emphasized. I believe everything that I have heard about you. Still, if you will please speak of it yourself, my doubts will be dispelled. I want to hear from you directly whether these things are true." 

"Yes, true they are," said the Mother. After this I never asked the Mother any question relating to her real nature.  

                              - The Gospel of the Holy Mother, P221

Only Refuge

 

Meditation and Japa

 

Nag Mahashay

Once Nag Mahashay visited Holy Mother at her residence on Sarkarbari Lane in Calcutta. The Mother described his exuberant devotion: 

“What wonderful devotion he had! Look at this dry sal leaf-plate. Could anyone eat it? But out of overwhelming devotion, he swallowed even the leaf-plate because prasada had touched it. Ah, his eyes were full of devotion – slightly reddish and always moist with tears. His body was emaciated from severe austerities. When he came to see me, his body would tremble out of devotion and it was hard for him to climb up the stairs. His steps would falter. I have never seen such devotion in anyone.” 

Holy Mother once gave him a cloth, but Nag Mahashay never used it. On special occasions he would tie it around his head. Sometimes he would say, “Mother is more gracious than Father.” 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P191

Will of Master

 

Ever in Superconscious State

[Swami Vivekananda addressing assembled devotees during his visit to Holy Mother at Baghbazar, Calcutta, 1897]:

“Go and prostrate before the Mother, but don’t touch her feet. She is so gracious, so tender and affectionate, that when touches her feet she then readily draws unto and takes upon herself  all the misery and suffering of the hapless soul, out of her infinite grace and unbounded love and compassion for one and all; thereby she has to suffer herself silently for other’s sake. 

Go slowly one by one and prostrate before her. Pray to her and ask for her blessing from the bottom of your heart, with all sincerity, and without verbal expression. 

She is ever in a superconscious state and understands everybody’s mind.” 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P198

Master's Hair

 

Pray for Right Understanding

Barada said: “Some say that one achieves nothing through work. One can succeed in spiritual life only through japa and meditation.” 

Holy Mother responded: "How do they know what will give success and what will not? Does one achieve everything by practising japa and meditation for a few days? Nothing whatsoever is achieved unless Mahamaya clears the path. Didn't you notice the other day that one person's brain became deranged because he forced himself to do excessive prayer and meditation? If one's brain is deranged, one's life is useless. The intelligence of a human being is very precarious. It is like the thread of a screw. If one thread is loosened, one becomes crazy. Or one becomes entangled in the trap of Mahamaya and thinks oneself to be very intelligent. One feels quite all right. But if the screw is tightened in a different direction, one follows the right path and enjoys peace and happiness. 

One should always remember God and pray to Him for right understanding. 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P480

Being Her Child

 

Kundalini