Holy Mother and the Calf

RECORDED BY SURENDRANATH SIRCAR

Very early one morning a calf was pitifully crying in the outer courtyard of the Mother's house at Jayrambati. The calf was kept separated from its mother for the purpose of milking the cow. On hearing its cry the Mother rushed out, saying, "I am coming, child, I am coming. I shall release you just now." Coming to the courtyard, she freed the calf. I was wonderstruck on seeing this revelation of the compassion of the Divine Mother towards all beings. Alas! Only such an anguished cry can bring about the release of the soul.

The Gospel of the Holy Mother, p.235

Excerpt from Gospel of Holy Mother

RECORDED BY SMT. KSHIRODBALA ROY

Lady doctor Pramoda Dutta of Calcutta, a relation of mine, hailed from the same place as myself. Her husband, too, was a doctor. They were Brahmos. One day Dr. Pramoda Dutta expressed her desire to see the Holy Mother. She very much pleaded with me to escort her to the Mother's house. So, one day we were ready for the visit. Instead of wearing her professional robe, she put on a Sari with red border. She did not even wear shoes. She sprinkled a little Ganges water on her head before she started for the Mother's house.
  
 Going to the first floor in the Mother's house, one could see in the room adjoining the stairs, a photo of the Holy Mother in meditation posture. As her eyes fell on this picture, Pramoda Devi inquired, "Whose photo is this?" I said, "It is the Mother's." She gazed at it for long and remarked, "She's Radha herself." I felt inclined to laugh, for being a Brahmo how could she utter this! On the first floor she met the Mother and saluted her. After a while the Mother asked Sarala-Didi "Bring that boy and get him examined by her." Now I do not remember whose child it was. As the Mother uttered these words, Pramoda Devi quietly asked me, "How could she guess that I was a doctor?" The child was brought before her. At 4 p.m. sweets were offered to the Deity and the Mother distributed the Prasada to all except Pramoda Devi. I could not but feel embarrassed at this. Now, Pramoda Devi was repeatedly telling me, "She gave Prasada to all, but why not to me?" I said to her, "Why don't you ask the Mother?" I did not dare to give her the Prasada that was in my hand. Later Pramoda Devi said to the Mother, "Mother, you distributed Prasada among all; but why didn't you let me have a little of it?" The Mother said, "You are a Brahmo, dear. How can I give you Prasada unless you ask for it?" Pramoda Devi said, "Give me a little Prasada." The Mother too had kept apart one Rasagolla, and she now gave it to Pramoda Devi. The latter tied the Prasada at the loose end of her Sari, saluted the Mother, and returned home. She said to her husband, "Look, the place where I had gone today is a heavenly abode. The person I saw and whose feet I touched there is verily Radha. I have brought a little Prasada for you. I shall give you only if you accept it respectfully." Dr. Dutta said, "What does it matter to the Universal Mother if an insignificant person like me does not eat Her Prasada?" Saying this, he took the Prasada in his palm, touched it by his head, and ate. Pramoda Devi, too, described to him her experience in detail, and said repeatedly, "Today I visited Vrindaban and saw the holy feet of Radharani. I have been blessed."

The Gospel of the Holy Mother p.206

Swami Vivekananda on Health and Happiness...

The easiest way to make ourselves healthy is to see that others are
healthy, and the easiest way to make ourselves happy is to see that
others are happy.

Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol. I p. 146

"What is this maya?"

Question: "What is this maya?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "Whatever you see, think, or hear is maya. In a word, 'woman and gold' is the covering of maya. There is no harm in chewing betel-leaf, eating fish, smoking, or rubbing the body with oil. What will one achieve by renouncing only these things? The one thing needful is the renunciation of 'woman and gold'. That renunciation is the real and supreme renunciation. Householders should go into solitude now and then, to practice spiritual discipline in order to cultivate devotion to God; they should renounce mentally. But the sannyasi should renounce both mentally and physically."

P. 291 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Excerpt from Gospel : worldly man's idea of God

Question: "Do you know what a worldly man's idea of God is like?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "It is like, the children's swearing by God when they quarrel. They have heard the word while listening to their elderly aunts quarreling."

p. 265 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

The Gospel of the Holy Mother Sarada Devi

Books related to Sri Ma Sarada Devi :

• The Gospel of the Holy Mother 
• Sri Sarada Devi, The Holy Mother
• Teachings of Sri Sarada Devi