Monday, September 21, 2020
Sunday, September 20, 2020
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.”
* * *
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.
* * *
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.”
* * *
गहन आनन्द चिंतन – ०५९ Gahan Anand Chintan - 059
EXTRACTS
FROM LETTERS OF SWAMI GAHANANANDAJI
(From the letters provided by a monk, a disciple of Revered Swami
Gahananandaji)
गहन आनन्द चिंतन – ०५९
Dear ................,
Your letter of 27 May reached here yesterday only. You have written about ending your life but this is not such an easy task – your past deeds (karma) will again and again brink you back in the same situation that you are in today, till the time you prepare yourself to face the situation – till then you will have to keep on taking births over and over again. You might be thinking that by committing suicide you will get relief but what actually will happen is the misery and pangs of this life will get added to the misery of life (that you would get) after committing suicide along with the miseries of that life! Therefore, suicide is never and for none is the solution for the problems (miseries) in life. Problems and miseries of life are like bad-dreams, they can be gotten rid of only when one gets the strong knowledge of emptiness of the world and when one does not expect anything from the world. At that time his “Inner Soul” helps him – he also, till the time he lives, getting inspired by the “Inner Soul”, lives only to serve the “Inner Soul”. And when his will to die strengthens then just like that he will get some common fever and die in 2-4 days, for that he does not have to commit suicide.
What is it that you have done, that your admission got cancelled and you are not able to take back the papers without giving any money? Pray to Sri Ramakrishna, to your Inner Soul with yearning heart and weeping and He will show the way, till this does not happen have patience. Keep writing letters to me.
I always keep praying to the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Sri Ramakrishna for you.
Always your well-wisher,
Swami Gahanananda
Passages from "Meditation and Spiritual Life" - 1019 20th-September-2020
Passages from "Meditation and Spiritual Passages from "Meditation and Spiritual Life" – 1019
PART III SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
Chapter 33 – LIFE IN FREEDOM – 04
Marks of a free soul – 02
A jivanmukta is free from fear. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says, ‘abhayam vai brahma’ (Brahman is fearlessness).9 [9 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 4.4.25] One day the sage Yajnavalkya went to King Janaka, the emperor of Videha. At the request of the emperor the sage taught him about Brahman, the pure Consciousness, which pervades and fills everything. The disciple was himself a highly qualified aspirant and so he could quickly grasp the Truth. Noticing this Yajnavalkya told him: ‘O Janaka, you have verily attained fearlessness.’10 [10 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 4.2.4.]
As Swami Vivekananda says most people live like hunted criminals. Their hearts are not free. They rush through life as if pursued by the devil himself and miss all the beauty and glory of life. They cannot sit in peace or move about fearlessly. In The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna there is an interesting story about a weaver woman. One day a friend of hers came to see her. When she left the room to prepare refreshments for her friend, the latter hid under her arm a bundle of silk thread which was lying there. When the weaver woman returned she at once noticed the loss. She then suggested to her friend that they dance for a while. The weaver woman danced with both her arms upraised, but her friend would raise only one arm, while the other arm was pressed to the body.11 (11 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, trans. Swami Nikhilananda (Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1974), p. 435).” A liberated man has nothing to hide and he is fearless.
There is a tendency in people to brood over the events of life unnecessarily, magnify the danger and remain full of excitement. This tendency is to be counteracted by cultivating harmonious thoughts and sentiments. Instead of fear we must have courage, instead of morbid helplessness we need a spirit of healthy resignation which enables us to remain calm and follow our path irrespective of changes in the environment. When I sailed from Bergen (in Norway) for America in March 1940, there was the usual dancing and merrymaking in the ship on the first day. On the second day we received a wireless message about the German invasion of Norway and the fall of ports like Bergen to Nazi troops. This cast a gloom on the ship and all music and noise suddenly stopped. The ship’s crew and many of the passengers became nervous and full of fear. There was no hope of going back to their homes in Norway, and there was the additional danger of the ship getting torpedoed or bombed at any time.
The Compassionate Mother - Brahmachari Akshaychaitanya 024
Passages from:
THE COMPASSIONATE MOTHER SRI SRI SARADA DEVI – 024
Chapter 8
THE AWAKENING OF GODDESS SIMHAVAHINI – 01
Sarada Devi went to Jayrambati via Kamarpukur, most probably, in October 1873. A short while later, in [the second week of] December 1873, the Master’s elder brother, Rameshwar, passed away. Next year, on the holy birthday of Lord Rama, Sarada Devi’s father, who was Lord Rama’s ardent devotee, left his mortal coil. It is needless to state that Sarada Devi, who was very dear to her father, was extremely distressed by the grief caused by his death. Thereafter, in April-May 1874, she again arrived at Dakshineswar and, as of before, started staying with the Master’s mother in the Nahabat.
Thinking that it was difficult for Sarada Devi to stay in that small house,1 [1 The Mother stayed in the ground floor of the Nahabat. Her room was about twenty inches above the ground level. It was octagonal, each wall measuring inside a little more than three feet, the maximum distance between the walls across the floor being a little less than eight feet. The height from the floor to ceiling was a little more than nine feet, and the floor space was about fifty square feet. All around the room was a narrow veranda, about four feet wide, with only one door leading to the room. There were two ventilators but no windows. The door was about four feet by two feet. (Swami Nikhilananda, Holy Mother) – Ed.] Shambhucharan Mallik, the supplier of provisions to the Master, purchased a small plot of rent-free land near the temple for two-hundred and fifty rupees. Thereafter, with the help of sal-wood supplied by Capt. Vishwanath Upadhyay, who was an officer of the Nepal Government, he built a thatched house for her stay.2 [2 The wife of Shambhucharan Mallik looked upon Sarada Devi as a goddess. During Sarada Devi’s stay at Dakshineswar, she used to take her to her house on every Tuesday and specially worship her with sixteen items. Sarada Devi once told Nikunja Devi, “Shambhu Mallik built a house for my stay. However, I did not want to stay there.” Hearing this, the Master had told Hriday, “O Hriday, in that case, bring your wife there.” On this, Hriday replied, “Did Shambu build the cottage for my wife?”] A maidservant also was engaged to keep her company as well as to help her in household chores. Here, for the sake of the Master, everyday Sarada Devi used to cook various delicacies with her own hands. She used to then carry it to his room [in the temple precinct], sit beside him and serve. To take care of her as well as for her satisfaction, he too used to visit her cottage often during the daytime. Once, in the afternoon, after his arrival, it started raining heavily, which continued late until midnight. He was then forced to stay back and spend the night there. That night Sarada Devi fed him with rice and vegetable soup. He then jokingly said to her, “Do not the priests of the Kali temple go home at night? I too have come here like that!”
-----------------------
The Compassionate Mother Sri Sri Sarada Devi
The Oldest Biography of Sri Sarada Devi by Brahmachari Akshaya Chaitanya
Translated by Swami Tanmayananda
Revised and Edited by Swami Shuddhidananda
Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, 2009. p. 52 – 53Gems of Holy Trio - 198 20-September-2020
Gems of Holy Trio – 198
A man can get rid of the ego after the attainment of Knowledge.
Gyanlabh Hole Ahangkar Jete Pare.
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna – P. 169
Selfishness - well, it persists as long as a person is self-assertive, but not when that is overcome.
The Gospel of The Holy Mother – P. 241
MY PLAN OF CAMPAIGN (Delivered at the Victoria Hall, Madras) – 38
Truth is strengthening. Truth is purity, truth is all-knowledge; truth must be strengthening, must be enlightening, must be invigorating. These mysticisms, in spite of some grains of truth in them, are generally weakening. Believe me, I have a lifelong experience of it, and the one conclusion that I draw is that it is weakening. I have travelled all over India, searched almost every cave here, and lived in the Himalayas. I know people who lived there all their lives. I love my nation, I cannot see you degraded, weakened any more than you are now. Therefore I am bound for your sake and for truth's sake to cry, "Hold!" and to raise my voice against this degradation of my race.
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda – Vol. III P. 225
Sri Ramakrishna: "Both worldliness and liberation depend on God's will. It is God alone who has kept man in the world in a state of ignorance; and man will be free when God, of His own sweet will, calls him to Himself. It is like the mother calling the child at meal-time, when he is out playing. When the time comes for setting a man free, God makes him seek the company of holy men. Further, it is God who makes him restless for spiritual life."
"What kind of restlessness, sir?"
Sri Ramakrishna: "Like the restlessness of a clerk who has lost his job. He makes the round of the offices daily and asks whether there is any vacancy. When that restlessness comes, man longs for God. A fop, seated comfortably with one leg over the other, chewing betel-leaf and twirling his moustaches—a carefree dandy—, cannot attain God."
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna – P. 225
Maa Sayings... 18-09-2020
Maa Sayings...
"To err is human. One must not take that into
account. It is harmful for oneself. One gets into the habit of finding
fault. ... Do not look for faults in others, or your own eyes will
become faulty."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Maa Sayings... 19-09-2020
| 9:13 AM (1 minute ago) |
| |||
Maa Sayings...
"I can no longer find fault in anyone, my son.... Formerly people's faults appeared to my eyes also. Then with tears I prayed to the Master, 'Master, I can no longer bear finding fault.' Then only this defect left me. Even if you commit so much as a little fault after doing a thousand good to somebody, he will be at once offended. People only look for faults. One should look for merits as well."
Shree Maa...
(Teachings of Sri Sarada Devi - The Holy Mother: p. 97-98)
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
"I can no longer find fault in anyone, my son.... Formerly people's faults appeared to my eyes also. Then with tears I prayed to the Master, 'Master, I can no longer bear finding fault.' Then only this defect left me. Even if you commit so much as a little fault after doing a thousand good to somebody, he will be at once offended. People only look for faults. One should look for merits as well."
Shree Maa...
(Teachings of Sri Sarada Devi - The Holy Mother: p. 97-98)
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
Friday, September 18, 2020
Maa Sayings... 18-09-2020
Maa Sayings...
"To err is human. One must not take that into account. It is harmful for oneself. One gets into the habit of finding fault. ... Do not look for faults in others, or your own eyes will become faulty."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
"To err is human. One must not take that into account. It is harmful for oneself. One gets into the habit of finding fault. ... Do not look for faults in others, or your own eyes will become faulty."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Maa Sayings... 17-09-2020
Maa Sayings...
"Don't worry, my child. Our Master alone is
Maheshvara (Supreme God) and Maheshvari (Supreme Goddess) as well. He
alone is the embodiment of all Deities. He alone is the embodiment of
all mystic syllables. One can worship through him all Gods and
Goddesses. You can address him as Maheshvara as well as Maheshvari."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya!!!
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Maa Sayings... 16-09-2020
Maa Sayings...
To householders concerning their duties in the world, Mother said, "The household is the Lord's, and so in whatever work He has placed you, you should, depending entirely upon Him, do your best to perform it well... If sorrows and troubles assail you, call on the Master and he will show you the way."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
To householders concerning their duties in the world, Mother said, "The household is the Lord's, and so in whatever work He has placed you, you should, depending entirely upon Him, do your best to perform it well... If sorrows and troubles assail you, call on the Master and he will show you the way."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Maa Sayings... 15-09-2020
Maa Sayings...
"You must live in a spirit of self-surrender to Him (the Master). Let Him do good to you if He so desires, or let Him drown you if that be His will. But you are to do only what is righteous, and that also according to the power He has given you."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
"You must live in a spirit of self-surrender to Him (the Master). Let Him do good to you if He so desires, or let Him drown you if that be His will. But you are to do only what is righteous, and that also according to the power He has given you."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
Monday, September 14, 2020
Maa Sayings... 14-09-2020
Maa Sayings...
"The Master will be your protector. It will be a
heinous sin on the part of the Master if he does not protect those who
have taken shelter at his feet, who have taken refuge in him renouncing
all, and who want to lead a good life."
Shree Maa...
Om Namah Sri Bhagavate Ramakrishnaya...
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Passages from Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play! 13-September-2020 - 259
13-September-2020
Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play! 259
Passages from “Sri Sarada Devi and Her Divine Play” – p: 254 – 255
By Swami Chetanananda
Vedanta Society of St Louis
CHAPTER 16
HOLY MOTHER AND MAHENDRA NATH GUPTA (M.) – 08
M.’s Stories of Holy Mother – 01
On different occasions M. recounted stories about Holy Mother to the devotees. These stories were recorded by Swami Nityatmananda and are excerpted here:
When the Master passed away, Holy Mother said, “His gross body is gone, but his spiritual body exists eternally.” Once Hriday teased Holy Mother, saying, “Aunt, if you call uncle ‘father,’ I shall give you five seers of sandesh [sweets]." Holy Mother replied: “You will not have to give me sandesh. I tell you on my own that he is my father, mother, guru, friend, and husband – he is everything to me.” She found the Master in every type of relationship. What faith she had!
Sometimes the Master talked to Holy Mother in front of the nahabat. Golap-ma, Yogin-ma, and Gauri-ma occasionally stayed with her. Brinda helped her do the household work.
The Master said to Holy Mother: “This mud hut of Kamarpukur is yours. Live on spinach and rice, and chant God’s name the entire day.” He gave Holy Mother his cottage in Kamarpukur and 400 rupees. Mathur gave some jewellery to the Master when he was practising sadhana as a confidante of Radha. That jewellery was sold for 400 rupees* (*Actually 600 rupees were invested and Holy Mother received 6 rupees per month from the interest.) and the money was invested in Balaram’s estate. It earned an annual interest of 30 rupees. The Master sometimes asked us: “Well, are 2 rupees a month enough for a brahmin widow? What do you think?” Nonetheless, he was oblivious of day and night, even to his wearing cloth. He was so concerned about Holy Mother. He set the example, so that others would follow.
One day Holy Mother was meditating and someone loudly called to her. Her meditation broke and she cried out. When he heard this, the Master rushed to the nahabat, and gradually Holy Mother became calm. The Master said to others: “During meditation, one should neither call nor make any noise near that person.”
The Master arranged for Holy Mother to sleep on the small cot in his room for eight months in Dakshineswar. Why? To teach devotees. They slept close to one another but had no physical relationship. His action was meant to bring strength and encouragement to the householder devotees so that they also could live like brother and sister. His marriage was an example for others. He demonstrated how to lead a married life.
The Master suffered in Dakshineswar after Mathur’s passing away. There was no one to look after him. He would eat cold spicy food at 1:00 p.m. His mat was torn, and his pillowcase and bedsheet were dirty; but his mind was on God. Gradually his health broke down. [When Hriday left], he wrote to Holy Mother: “There is no one to look after me here. I shall appreciate it if you come here.” Holy Mother returned to Dakshineswar and began to cook for him.
* * *
गहन आनन्द चिंतन – ०५८ Gahan Anand Chintan - 058
EXTRACTS
FROM LETTERS OF SWAMI GAHANANANDAJI
(From the letters provided by a monk, a disciple of Revered Swami
Gahananandaji)
गहन आनन्द चिंतन – ०५८
Dear ................,
With the name of the Lord (Mantra) in mind, every moment, keep doing every work. Don’t give place to any other thoughts in the mind. This way, try to realize your pure mind – your mind itself is Pure Consciousness which is the very nature of Sri Ramakrishna and the Holy Mother – and you are saying this very (mind) which is in itself is Pure Consciousness as having lacunae, without of intelligence! You don’t understand anything, just keep on writing. Anyway, certainly do write letters but keep on reciting the Mantra every moment. Barring the occasions when, after sitting on the Asana, when you do Japa-meditation-prayers every morning and evening, as per the instructions given, there is no need to keep a count of Japa when you are doing continuous mental Japa. Recite the Mantra whenever you remember the Lord. I keep on coaxing Him for you.
Always your well-wisher,
Swami Gahanananda
Passages from "Meditation and Spiritual Life" - 1018 13th-September-2020
13-September-2020 (Sunday)
Passages from "Meditation and Spiritual Passages from "Meditation and Spiritual Life" – 1018
PART III SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
Chapter 33 – LIFE IN FREEDOM – 03
Marks of a free soul – 01
When Confucius (or K’ung Fu-tzu) the great Chinese sage said, ‘At fifteen I had my mind bent on learning, at thirty I stood firm, at forty I had no doubts, at fifty I knew the decrees of heaven, at sixty my ear was an obedient organ for receiving truth, and at seventy I could do whatever my heart desired without transgression’, he was describing the goal of life, viz. the attainment of perfect moral freedom. A freed soul is fettered neither by evil tendencies nor by conventional moral codes. Purity has become his essential nature so much so that he does not have to bind himself down by many rules of conduct. In the words of Sri Ramakrishna he is like an expert singer who cannot sing a false note.6 (6 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, trans. Swami Nikhilananda (Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1974), p. 317, 435)
Another characteristic of a jivanmukta is that he is free from egotism. Egotism creates the knots of the heart; it makes man’s mind complex, difficult and calculating. Our attitude towards others is determined by the nature of our ego. With the attainment of the highest superconscious state all the knots of the heart are cut asunder and all our doubts are destroyed, says the Upanisad.7 (7 Mundaka Upanishad, 2.2.8; also see Katha Upanishad, 2.3.15) All moral conflicts are removed and we see divine harmony everywhere.
A perfected soul is free from hatred. It is impossible for him to hate others. The Ishavasya Upanishad says, ‘When the wise man perceives all as not at all distinct from his own Self and his own self as the Self of every being he does not, by virtue of that perception, hate anyone.’8 (8 Ishavasya Upanishad, 6) A knower of Brahman is filled with love and compassion for others. He has nothing but blessings to give to others. His love knows no bounds of caste or creed or social standing. He loves all without partiality. Some of us had the good fortune to come in contact with a few of the illustrious disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. It was in them alone we saw pure unselfish love for others. From morning till late in the night they were occupied with the thoughts about our welfare.
-------
SWAMI YATISWARANANDA – Meditation and Spiritual Life – Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore India. Fourth Edition. 1998 p: 574
The Compassionate Mother - Brahmachari Akshaychaitanya 023
13-September-2020 (Sunday)
Passages from:
THE COMPASSIONATE MOTHER SRI SRI SARADA DEVI – 023
Chapter 5
SARADA ACCEPTS THE MASTER’S WORSHIP – 02
While watching the preliminaries of the worship, Sarada entered into a semi-conscious state. The worshipper [the Master] sat facing the east; towards his south was the decorated seat of the deity. Now, beckoned by him, Sarada came and sat on this seat facing the north. He then took some sanctified water from a pitcher placed in front and ceremoniously sprinkled it again and again on her. Thereafter he uttered the appropriate sacred chants and prayed, “O Thou eternal virgin, Thou Mother Tripura Sundari, the source of all power, do Thou open the gates of perfection. Sanctifying her [Sarada’s] mind and body, do Thou manifest Thyself through her and ordain all good.”
Then he mentally identified the different limbs of Sarada with the corresponding parts of the deity with appropriate mantras and considering her as none other than the deity Herself, worshipped her duly with the different kinds of offerings. Thereafter, with his own hands, he took some portion of the consecrated eatables and put them in her mouth. Losing her outer consciousness, she became fully absorbed in samadhi. Uttering the sacred chants in a semi-conscious state, the Master too gradually became completely absorbed in samadhi. Thus the worshipper and the worshipped, both fully absorbed in samadhi, became unified in the transcendental plane. [Sri Ramakrishna the Great Master]
Both the worshipper and the worshipped had left the mental plane and became united in the transcendental. And there they merged, only the two physical bodies remained at that spot. Now try to understand, O my mind, the real meaning of this marriage! [A Portrait of Sri Ramakrishna]
Many hours passed in that state. It was past midnight when the Master, in a semi-conscious state, offered himself to the deity. He first offered a bel leaf (on which was written his name), the rosary, the different articles of clothing and ornaments he had used at the time of his spiritual practices, and also the fruit of his spiritual disciplines; then he offered even himself at the feet of the goddess.
The Shodashi worship was the conclusion of the Master’s worship of deities. After this, he never performed worship of any of the other deities whatsoever. It was, as if, the Holy Mother’s worship was the ultimate end and the culmination of all worship. [A Portrait of Sri Ramakrishna]
When the worship was over, Sarada’s absorption in the transcendental plane also came to an end. After mentally bowing down to the Master, she then went to the Nahabat.
Regarding Sarada’s behaviour at the time of Shodashi worship, Sharat Maharaj (Swami Saradananda) said, “At the time of worship, the Mother was so deeply absorbed in samadhi that she was completely oblivious to the happenings outside. The Master had adorned her with new clothes after removing the old ones. He then made obeisance to her and placed a garland at her feet. All the while the Mother knew nothing of these. In later days Lakshmi Devi used to tell the bashful Mother, ‘The Master had dressed you up with new clothes after removing the old ones. Even then, you knew nothing!’ On this day, she had even partaken of some sanctified meat; whereas, at other times, she never used to take meat.”6 [6 See Saradananda Prasanga by Akshaychaitanya. Swami Gambhirananda, in his Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, says (p. 50): When the Mother said that at the commencement of the ceremony, the Master painted her feet with liquid lac-dye, put vermilion on her forehead, clad her with a new piece of cloth, and put betel and sweets into her mouth, Lakshmi Devi asked with an amused smile. “You are so shy, my dear, how did he put clothes on you?” The Mother simply replied, “I was not quite myself then.” – Ed.]
-----------------------
The Compassionate Mother Sri Sri Sarada Devi
The Oldest Biography of Sri Sarada Devi by Brahmachari Akshaya Chaitanya
Translated by Swami Tanmayananda
Revised and Edited by Swami Shuddhidananda
Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata, 2009. p. 49 – 51Gems of Holy Trio - 197 13-September-2020
13-September-2020 (Sunday)
Gems of Holy Trio – 197
The possession of money makes such a difference in a man! He is no longer the same person.
Taka Holei Manush Aar-Ekrakom Hoye Jay, Se Manush Thake Na.
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna – P. 169
Disciple: Worldly life is a great impediment. Engrossed in worldly life, one loses one's manliness. Mother: Surely. There is only one cry-money, money, money.
The Gospel of The Holy Mother – P. 240
MY PLAN OF CAMPAIGN (Delivered at the Victoria Hall, Madras) – 37
What we want is strength, so believe in yourselves. We have become weak, and that is why occultism and mysticism come to us — these creepy things; there may be great truths in them, but they have nearly destroyed us. Make your nerves strong. What we want is muscles of iron and nerves of steel. We have wept long enough. No more weeping, but stand on your feet and be men. It is a man-making religion that we want. It is man-making theories that we want. It is man-making education all round that we want. And here is the test of truth — anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually, and spiritually, reject as poison; there is no life in it, it cannot be true.
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda – Vol. III P. 224 – 225
"If it is God that makes me do everything, then I am not responsible for my sins."
Sri Ramakrishna (with a smile): "Yes, Duryodhana also said that. 'O Krishna, I do what Thou, seated in my heart, makest me do.' If a man has the firm conviction that God alone is the Doer and he is His instrument, then he cannot do anything sinful. He who has learnt to dance correctly never makes a false step. One cannot even believe in the existence of God until one's heart becomes pure."
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna – P. 220