Lila

 

Soothing Benediction

Those who had the rare blessing of living with the Holy Mother learned that religion was a sweet, natural, joyous thing; that purity and holiness were tangible realities; that the odour of sanctity was literally a sweet perfume overlaying and destroying the foulness of material selfishness. Compassion, devotion, God-union were her very nature; one scarcely knew that she possessed them. It was through the soothing benediction of a word or touch that one sensed their presence.

Such lives are like the lake or river. The sun may draw up its waters, but they fill again to refresh the earth. So these saintly ones in body may be lifted from our sight, but their holy influence falls back upon us to revive our fainting hearts and give us new spiritual life, new strength of purpose. 

                    - Sister Devmata (Laura Glenn) on Holy Mother, 

                         ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P226

Japa for Disciples

Holy Mother demonstrated how to lead a spiritual life by continually practising japa. Even when she was sick in bed, she repeated her mantra mentally. She slept very little. One night Brahmachari Barada asked, “Mother, don’t you get any sleep?” 

She replied: “What can I do, my child? All these children come to me with great longing for initiation, but most of them do not repeat the mantra regularly. Why regularly? Many do not repeat it at all. But since I have taken responsibility for them, should I not see to their welfare? Therefore I do japa for their sake. I constantly pray to the Master saying, ‘O Master, awaken their spiritual consciousness. Give them liberation. There is a great deal of suffering in this world. May they not be born here again!” 

                    - ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play’ by Swami Chetanananda, P468

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