Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play! 20-September-2020 - 260

 

 

 

 

Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play! 260

 

Passages from “Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play” – p: 255 – 257

By Swami Chetanananda

Vedanta Society of St Louis

 

CHAPTER 16

HOLY MOTHER AND MAHENDRA NATH GUPTA (M.) – 09

 

M.’s Stories of Holy Mother – 02

 

Once Holy Mother said to a woman devotee: “I have seen many holy people, but none can be compared with the Master.” The woman devotee replied: “What do you say, Mother? Other holy men come to be liberated and the Master came to liberate others.” Holy Mother said with a smile, “You are right.” Holy Mother said this to test that devotee.

 

Those who search for genuine monks get confused. They do not see their own imperfections. The Master said, “Both good and bad qualities exist in human beings; only God – the avatar – is free from blemishes.” Holy Mother said, “Even in the moon there is a stain, but there is no stain in the Ramakrishna-moon.”

 

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Sometimes we sent some food and other things to Holy Mother [in Udbodhan] through our servant. She would feed the Master’s special prasad to our servant with great care. She did not discriminate like other people, who make one kind of food for themselves and another kind for the servants. All were equal to her.

 

Once it was proposed that a cow be brought from Belur Math to Udbodhan so that Holy Mother could have fresh milk. But she immediately protested: “No, no. Those cows are freely grazing in the holy atmosphere of the monastery compound where they can see the Ganges. Here the cow would be tied with a rope and kept in a room! I couldn’t bear it. I couldn’t drink that milk.”

 

Holy Mother said to a young man: “My son, never marry. If you are not married, you will be able to sleep peacefully at night. My child, never enter this burning fireplace.” As she initiated a young man into brahmacharya, she said, “My child, now you will be able to sleep happily.”

 

Ah, how Holy Mother tied the devotees with her love and affection! Once at Jayrambati five male devotees went to get initiation from Holy Mother. One of them belonged to a low caste. He was asked by the others to sit outside because his presence might pollute the shrine. He began to cry. When Holy Mother entered the shrine, she found four men and inquired about the other person. They replied, “He belongs to the washerman’s caste; he is outside.” She rushed to that devotee and escorted him into the shrine. He was reluctant to enter, but Holy Mother took him inside and initiated him with the others.

 

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Holy Mother said four things:

 

1. “The devotion of those who are desireless is unconditional. They are Ishwarakotis [god-like souls],”

 

2 “Those who have money, give charity; and those who have nothing, repeat the mantra.” Charity means worshipping and serving others as God with money. Otherwise, spend your time repeating the mantra.

 

3. “Grace is flowing all around, but human nature does not change.” This means people are listening to the words of God, but nothing is happening. Why? Because maya is pulling those people back.

 

4. Someone asked Holy Mother, “What happens if a person dies after losing outer consciousness?” Holy Mother replied: “There is nothing wrong with losing consciousness while dying. It is enough if a person remembers God just before becoming unconscious. That brings good results.”

 

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