October-November,
1914
After a while I found her on the roof drying
her hair. She invited me to come near her and said, "Take off the cloth
from your head and dry your hair, otherwise it may affect your health."
Golap-Ma came to the roof and requested the Mother to make an offering of food
in the shrine room. The Mother came down from the roof. I also followed her
after a while to the shrine room. Like a bashful young bride, she was saying to
Sri Ramakrishna in a soft voice, "Come now; your meal is ready." Then
she came to the image of Gopala and said, "O my Gopala, come for your
meal." I was just behind her. Suddenly she looked at me and said with a
smile, "I am inviting them all to their noonday meal." With these
words, the Holy Mother entered the room where the food was offered. Her earnestness
and devotion made me feel that the Deities, as it were, listened to her words
and followed her to the offering room. I was pinned to the ground with wonder!
We
had plenty of flowers at our Ballygunj home. The Holy Mother was always pleased
with flowers. One day I gathered a large quantity of them and came to see her.
I found her just ready for the worship. I arranged the flowers, and she sat on
the carpet before the image. I forgot to keep aside some flowers for
worshipping the feet of the Holy Mother. So I was sorry to think that it would
not be possible for me to worship her that day. But I soon found out that she
had anticipated my secret desire. She herself had separated some flowers on the
tray. After the worship was over, she said to me, "Now, my dear child, I
have kept those flowers in the tray for you. Bring them here." Just then a
devotee came to see the Mother with a large quantity of fruits. She was very
pleased to see him. She put a mark of sandal paste on his forehead and stroked
him by touching the chin. I had never seen her express her affection for any
man devotee in such a manner. Next she asked me to hand over a few flowers to
him. He accepted them. I found his whole body trembling with devotional
fervour. With great joy he offered those flowers at her feet and left after
accepting the Prasada. She sat on the cot and invited me very tenderly to come
to her. I worshipped her feet. With great love, she placed her hand on my head
and kissed me. I was deeply touched by her blessings.
 |
| Sri Sarada Devi |
After the offering was over, we all sat
together for our meal. Then the Mother asked me to rest for a while. A man came
with a basket of fruits. The fruits were meant for offering. He asked the monks
what he should do with the basket. They told him to throw it out in the lane.
The Mother got up and went to the porch. She looked at the lane and said to me,
"Look there. They have asked him to throw away such a nice basket! It does
not matter for them in the least. They are all monks and totally unattached.
But we cannot allow such a waste. We could have utilized the basket at least
for keeping the peelings of the vegetables." She asked someone to fetch
the basket and wash it. The basket was kept for some future use. I learnt a
lesson from her words. But we are so slow to learn.
After some time a beggar came to the house
and shouted for some alms. The monks felt annoyed and said rudely, "Go
away now. Don't disturb us." At these words the Holy Mother said,
"Did you hear their remarks? They have driven away the poor man. They
could not shake off their idleness and give something to the beggar. He only
wanted a handful of rice. And they could not take the trouble to do this bit of
work. Is it proper to deprive a man of what is his due? Even to the cow we owe
these peelings of the vegetables. We should hold these near her mouth."
SOURCE: The Gospel of Sri Sarada Devi
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