Who is Poor

 

Body and Head

Miss MacLeod loved to talk and was free with Holy Mother. Later she related to Romain Rolland a conversation she once had with Holy Mother regarding the difference between Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. As they had no common language, someone always acted as an interpreter. Through the interpreter Miss MacLeod said to Holy Mother: “Your husband had the best part; he only had to speak sweet words in India among his fellow men; that is why it was joy for him. Vivekananda’s mission was more painful. He had to be the propagator of Indian thought abroad, among strange and hostile people. His role was the more heroic.”

“Yes,” the Mother answered. “Swamiji was the greatest. My husband used to say that he was the body and Vivekananda was the head.” 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P215

Land and Property

 

Finding Faults

 

All Three are One

 

Salutations during Illness

… the Mother was suffering from pain in her leg. She had a mild fever too. At about ten o'clock another devotee came and, not being aware of the Mother's ill health, saluted her by touching her feet. The Mother said, "I have a severe pain in my leg. Don't salute me by touching my feet. The Master will certainly bless you." 

Bilash Maharaj, who was present, asked the Mother, "The scriptures, I am told, prohibit making Pranam to a person who is ill or lying down. What really happens if one does so?" Immediately, the Mother said, "Yes, my child, Pranam made in such circumstances fixes the disease in the person. Nobody should be saluted during his illness." 

                          - The Gospel of the Holy Mother, P312-13

Patience of Earth

 

Build Up

 

Regard for Things

 

Difficulties

 

To Err

 

Knowledge of Brahman

One day I [Swami Parameswarananda] was cutting vegetables, sitting near the Mother. Finding her alone, I asked: “Mother, how can one attain the knowledge of Brahman? I see various things with my physical eyes. How can I understand through discrimination that everything is Brahman? How can one have this experience of oneness? In the beginning, should one practise focusing on each object [in one's meditation], or does it [meaning the experience of oneness] come spontaneously? I am confused. Again, after studying Swamiji's books, it seems that there cannot be any liberation without the knowledge of Brahman." 

The Mother answered gravely: "It is a difficult path. It takes a long time to reach the goal when practising that path of sadhana. Call on the Master, depend on him, and he will make you know everything. What will you gain by worrying about all those things? You will achieve everything by the Master's grace.” 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P687

Love God

 

On Sri Ramakrishna

 

Nivedita

Sister Nivedita now came in, bowed down to the Holy Mother and took her seat. The Holy Mother enquired after her welfare, and gave her a woolen fan made by herself, saying, "I kept this for you." The Sister was very happy to receive it. She put it on her head, touched it to her heart and said, "How beautiful, how wonderful!" 

She showed it to us and said, "Just see how beautifully it is made!" The Holy Mother said appreciatively, "Do you notice her happiness upon receiving some small present! Ah, what simple faith! As if she were a Goddess! How much devotion she has for Naren! Because he is born in this country, she left her all and has come to do his work with her heart and soul. What a devotion to the Guru! What love for this country!" 

                               - The Gospel of the Holy Mother, P355

Yearning

 

Jayrambati

It was a tedious journey to cover the final distance from Vishnupur to Jayrambati. … … The bullock cart moved slowly over the undulating, unpaved road with a constant jerking motion. … …

Once when Yogin-ma was going to Jayrambati with Saradananda, she remarked: “Look, it is easier to go to Gaya and Varanasi than to come to Jayrambati." Saradananda gravely replied: "Is Jayrambati a less holy place than Gaya and Varanasi?"

Sarala (later Bharatiprana) recalled a journey with Holy Mother to Jayrambati: "When I went to Jayrambati with the Mother, the bullock cart jolted right and left, and sometimes moved backwards. One day I mentioned to Holy Mother, ‘People are going to Varanasi and Vrindaban in such comfort, and how difficult it is to come to your birthplace. She replied: 'This is the way it goes, my child. A pilgrimage is always full of hardship, but the result is the same.' Only two persons could travel in one bullock cart. I sometimes would get down from the cart and walk three-fourths of the way to Jayrambati. Nowadays how easy it is to go to Jayrambati." 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P522

Real Faith

 

His Holy Name

 

Girish Ghosh’s Faith

When the Mother lived on the godown of the Sarakarbari Lane in Baghbazar (1896), Girish [Ghosh] was a frequent was a frequent visitor and came to salute the Mother. On the day that the Mother was leaving for Jayrambati (after the worship of Kali) the great poet came, and silently went up with Swami Yogananda. The others, who had gathered there, followed them. Girish prostrated himself before the Mother and said with folded hands, ‘Mother, when I come to you I feel like a little child coming to its own mother. Had I been a ‘grown up’ son, I would have served my mother. But it is quite different here; you serve us and we do not serve you. You are going to Jayrambati to serve the people, even by cooking food for others in the village kitchen. How can I serve you, and what do I know about serving the Mother?’ His voice became choked and his whole face flushed with emotion as he spoke. 

At last checking himself a little an turning to the others who stood behind him, he said, ‘It is difficult for human beings to believe that God can incarnate in a human form like our own. Can you realize that you are standing before the Mother of the Universe in the form of a village woman? Yet she is the Mother of the Universe – Maha-Maya, Maha-Shakti – appearing on the earth for the salvation of all creatures and at the same time exemplifying the ideal of true motherhood.’ The words were sublime, inspiring, and calculated to electrify the atmosphere. All listened with rapt attention, and then they followed the Mother to the railway station to bid her a respectful farewell.  

               - ‘Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi’ by Swami Gambhirananda, P219-20

Mother and Sorab Modi

Sorab Modi [famous actor and director of Hindi films] related his reminiscences to Swami Niramayananda:

It was 1918. I was then a young man. My elder brother was a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna and from him I first heard about Sri Sarada Devi. My brother sent me from Bombay to Calcutta to meet Holy Mother. After arriving in Calcutta, I went to Baghbazar to see the Mother, who was then very ill. I had heard that no devotees were allowed to see her. I bowed down to Swami Saradananda and said: “I have come from Bombay to see the Mother and I want initiation from her.” Observing my passionate appeal, his mind softened. He asked a monk to escort me to the Mother and asked me to seek blessings from her. After bowing down to the Mother, I expressed my desire for initiation. Out of compassion she immediately initiated me.

Although she did not understand my language and I also did not know Bengali, we communicated well without any difficulty. The Mother spoke in Bengali and I answered in Hindi. While taking leave from her, I said, “Mother, I am going.” The Mother said: “My son, don't say 'I am going,' rather say, 'I am coming." When the Mother's attendant translated her words to me into English, I was amazed. I was unaware of the Bengali custom that one should speak that way while leaving. However, I returned to Bombay with a sweet memory of the Mother. She was wonderful and beautiful.

Thus many years have passed and now I am an old man. I almost forgot the Mother all these years (as I was busy with the movie industry). Now I am waiting for the call from above and that call can come at any time. I have no attraction for this world anymore. Now the forgotten Mother is coming to my mind again and again. Now those words of hers – “My son, don't say “I am going, rather say, 'I am coming."" – are ringing in my ears. Now I realize what was then inscrutable to me: I wanted to go away from the Mother but could not succeed. No one can go away from the Mother. Everyone will have to return to the Mother. This is the last realization of my life: I am coming to my Mother. 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P484

Food Prasad

 

Compassion

 

Conjunction of Day and Night

 

Forbearance

 

Disease and Austerity