Sri Sarada Devi, The Holy Mother

Swami Nikhilananda

Description

An inspiring message for all humanity from one of
India’s most beloved spiritual teachers

If Sri Ramakrishna was a leaping flame of spiritual realization, Holy Mother was a steady glowing fire of God-consciousness. To the Master, Sri Ramakrishna, she was the goddess of wisdom in human form. To her disciples she was the Divine Mother herself. To her devotees she was a more real mother than their own earthly mother. To the seekers of truth she was the final word, and to sinners she was the last refuge.
—from the Introduction

The year 2003 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sri Sarada Devi, the wife and spiritual companion of Sri Ramakrishna. Known affectionately in India and throughout the world as the Holy Mother, she was a rare combination of human and divine qualities, and is an inspiration today to millions who seek spiritual fulfillment.

The first American edition of the conversations and teachings of the Holy Mother as recorded by her disciples, both lay and monastic, this fascinating collection brings to life the Holy Mother’s teachings on human affliction, self-control, and peace in ways both personal and profound. It illuminates her role as the power, scripture, joy, and guiding spirit of the Ramakrishna Order and clearly captures her unyielding devotion to God that earned her a reputation as a steady glowing fire of God-consciousness.

Translated from the original Bengali by Swami Nikhilananda, a direct disciple of the Holy Mother, these inspiring and detailed conversations offer new insight into the daily life of this endearing and beloved spiritual personality and her message of compassion that continues to influence her devotees in India and throughout the world.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Ramakrishna Order
• Swami Nikhilananda
• Sarada Devi
• Ramakrishna
• History of India
• Hinduism
• Religion
• India

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 05 décembre 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781594734083
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Sri Sarada Devi, The Holy Mother:
Her Teachings and Conversations
2004 First Printing
2004 by Swami Adiswarananda
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Page 257 constitutes a continuation of this copyright page.
For information regarding permission to reprint material from this book, please write or fax your request to SkyLight Paths Publishing, Permissions Department, at the address / fax number listed below, or e-mail your request to [e-mail] .
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother : her teachings and conversations / translated with notes by Swami Nikhilananda ; edited with an introduction by Swami Adiswarananda.
p. cm.
In English; includes translations from Bengali.
ISBN 1-59473-070-9 (Hardcover)
1. Sarada Devi, 1853-1920. 2. Ramakrishna, 1836-1886-Disciples. 3. Ramakrishna Mission. 4. Spiritual life-Hinduism. I. Sarada Devi, 1853-1920. II. Nikhilananda, Swami. III. Adiswarananda, Swami, 1925-
BL1280.292.S27S73 2004
294.5 55-dc22
2004016210
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Jacket Design: Bridgett Taylor
Jacket Photo: The lotus flower symbolizes spiritual awakening and devotion to God. The photograph on the cover was taken at Holy Mother Temple in the village of Jayrambati, West Bengal, India, the birthplace of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi.

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If you want peace, then do not look into anybody s faults. Look into your own faults. Learn to make the world your own. No one is a stranger; the whole world is your own.
-Holy Mother s last message
Contents
Preface by Swami Adiswarananda
Introduction: Holy Mother, Embodiment of the Divine by Swami Adiswarananda
1 Holy Mother, Spiritual Teacher of Humanity by Swami Nikhilananda
2 Conversations from the Diary of a Disciple, Sarajubala Devi
3 Conversations from the Diary of a Monastic Disciple, Swami Arupananda
4 Conversations from the Diaries of Several Monastic and Lay Disciples
Notes
Glossary
Credits
About SkyLight Paths
Copyright
Preface
The year 2003 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sri Sarada Devi, known affectionately by her devotees in India and throughout the world as the Holy Mother. A rare combination of human and divine qualities, the Holy Mother continues to inspire millions of spiritual seekers. Her life and teachings touch our very souls and grant us peace and joy. Her words of assurance are a blessing for all humanity: I am the mother of the wicked; I am the mother of the virtuous. Whenever you are in distress, just say to yourself, I have a mother.
The present volume is the first American edition of the conversations of Holy Mother Sarada Devi as recorded by her disciples, both lay and monastic. The book was originally published in Bengali by Swami Arupananda, who served the Holy Mother for many years as personal attendant, and was later translated into English by Swami Nikhilananda, who was a direct disciple of Holy Mother.
The translator, Swami Nikhilananda, a brilliant teacher with a special gift for speaking and writing, had the rare privilege of intimately associating with many of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna and received their blessings. His translation of the Upanishads; his biographies of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, and Swami Vivekananda; his compilation of the works of Swami Vivekananda; and his other books are considered modern classics of spiritual literature. The swami s monumental work, for which he will ever be remembered, is The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna , his English translation of the Bengali Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita , as recorded by M., a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna-a work that Time magazine called one of the world s most extraordinary religious documents.
In chapter 1, Holy Mother, Spiritual Teacher of Humanity, the reader will find an illuminating discussion of the role of the teacher in spiritual life and a description of Holy Mother s relationship with her disciples as the teacher par excellence. This chapter has been excerpted from Swami Nikhilananda s biography Holy Mother: Being the Life of Sri Sarada Devi, Wife of Sri Ramakrishna, and Helpmate in His Mission (published by Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York). It is our hope that in bringing out this new book about Holy Mother and her teachings on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of her birth, an ever greater number of sincere spiritual seekers will be introduced to the Holy Mother, become inspired by her words, and be strengthened in their spiritual quest.
The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York is grateful to SkyLight Paths Publishing for bringing out this important new book.
Swami Adiswarananda
Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York
Introduction
Holy Mother, Embodiment of the Divine
The Marriage of Sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother
It was 1858. Sri Ramakrishna, then twenty-two and an unknown priest at the Kali Temple of Dakshineswar, was engaged in the severest forms of spiritual practices and austerities. People around Sri Ramakrishna thought that the priest had become insane because of excessive thinking of God. News of his spiritual madness spread and eventually reached Kamarpukur, the small village in West Bengal where he had been born and where his mother, Chandramani Devi, lived. After persuading him to come to Kamarpukur, Chandramani consulted other family members and came to the conclusion that marriage would be the remedy for her son s condition. A search for a suitable girl began, but nowhere could such a girl be found. At last Sri Ramakrishna himself said that the one he was meant to marry could be found in the nearby village of Jayrambati. The marriage took place, but instead of removing his spiritual madness, marriage only intensified it a thousandfold. The little girl who set off this new storm of spirituality in Sri Ramakrishna was Sarada Devi, known later as the Holy Mother. Sarada Devi was born in 1853, married Sri Ramakrishna when she was five, came to Dakshineswar to stay with her God-intoxicated husband at eighteen, was nearly thirty-three when Sri Ramakrishna passed away, and lived for thirty-four years thereafter.

Sri Ramakrishna
Mother Sarada, the Awakener of Souls
Holy Mother Sarada Devi is a rare spiritual personality who towers very high in the realm of spirituality. She is a powerful inspiration to many and is literally worshiped by millions in India and abroad. She did not write or preach. She just lived her life, setting an example for us to follow. By a mere look, touch, or wish she transformed sinners into saints. If Sri Ramakrishna was a leaping flame of spiritual realization, Holy Mother was a steady glowing fire of God-consciousness. To the Master, Sri Ramakrishna, she was the goddess of wisdom in human form. To her disciples she was the Divine Mother herself. To her devotees she was a more real mother than their own earthly mother. To the seekers of truth she was the final word, and to sinners she was the last refuge.
In the Company of the Master
Holy Mother was with the Master for fourteen years. The Master looked upon her not only as his disciple but as his spiritual companion and helper in his earthly mission. Deep inside he regarded her as Mother Kali herself. Far above the reach of carnal desires, the two lived the purest lives of free souls, one the counterpart of the other. Mother s spiritual eminence was manifested even when she was a little girl in the village. Her love and compassion were all-engulfing. By her love she conquered everybody. Her compassion flowed not only to humans but also to animals, be they cat, bird, or calf. Mother said, He is unfortunate indeed who does not feel my compassion. I do not know anyone, not even an insect, for whom I do not feel compassion. She was the embodiment of the Master s message of the motherhood of God. Motherhood represents grace, compassion, and love. Sri Ramakrishna brought his long years of austerity and spiritual practice to consummation by his worship of the Mother Divine in the body of Holy Mother.
Why Marriage for the Master?
It is a puzzle to many why Sri Ramakrishna, whose life-breath was renunciation, whose glory was the conquest of lust and gold, and who regarded all women as so many forms of the Divine Mother, ever married. No event in the life of a Godman is without significance. Through his marriage Sri Ramakrishna set the example of an ideal householder. He proved that married life is not antagonistic to Godrealization. He sanctified the institution of marriage, which had been tarnished by sensuality. Through his marriage the Master gave the greatest honor to womanhood. Among the Godmen of history, some did not marry, some renounced their wives, and some shunned women. Holy Mother exemplified the state of sthitaprajna (steady in wisdom) of the Bhagavad Gita. A sthitaprajna is a knower of the Self but does not wear any outward mark of