My appreciation to Paritosh and Tom for their beautiful additions.

Rosemary, yes, certainly Mother and Ramakrishna have much to reveal to us. And quite possibly what they reveal to each of us will be somewhat different, according to our needs. However, I want to consider the point you raise about Ramakrishna taking Mother "to wife". This is really not as "remarkable" as it seems.

In Ramakrishna's own words regarding who Mother is, "She is Sarada, Saraswati. She has come to impart knowledge. She has descended by covering up her beauty this time... She is full of wisdom. Is she of the common run? She is my Shakti."

And Mother herself, "The Master left me behind to manifest Divine Motherhood."

A swami I know very well would include the following in his Christmas worship. "She who in an earlier age was born as the Holy Mother Mary was born in this age as Sri Sarada Devi." As our awareness of Divine Motherhood had been awakened, we wear very moved. This Christmas, another Swami with an orthodox Christian background spoke at length on Mary as the Divine Mother, and to our surprise, drew many comparisons between Jesus and Ramakrishna.

Hindu tradition embodies the concept of Brahman and Shakti, the two aspects of the Divine. Sri Ramakrisna referred to Brahman as the still snake, Shakti as the snake in motion. Another example he used was Brahman as the fire, Shakti as the burning power. Both are aspects of the same Divinity. Brahman is the unmanifest Absolute, Shakti is the power of manifestation.

Now, here is where it becomes very interesting. Brahman is absolute. Brahman never incarnates. Out of the creative power of Shakti (also known as Maya) comes Iswara, the personal God: The Lord. It is this Lord aspect, "born" from Maya, which incarnates.

Once we are in the realm of creation, this understanding of the dual Divine aspects repeats in the concept of Divine Consorts. Shiva and Kali, Krishna and Radha, Rama and Sita, each representing the duel aspect of Divinity. In this light, Sri Sarada Devi and Ramakrishna bring this concept of Divine Consorts out of the epics and mythologies and into present day life. Those key words by Sri Ramakrishna "She is my Shakti" are very revealing.

Location: San Diego, California, USA

Jayanti, you have said this paragraph very beautifully

"Now, here is where it becomes very interesting. Brahman is absolute. Brahman never incarnates. Out of the creative power of Shakti (also known as Maya) comes Iswara, the personal God: The Lord. It is this Lord aspect, "born" from Maya, which incarnates."

Thank you, Jayanti. This is exactly what I needed to hear on this issue. It explains everything and the purpose of everything I was trying to understand.
I did not know the quote that Mother "was left behind", which she was, and that explains that too.
There is a purpose for everything, it seems.

Location: New Bern, NC

Sister Jayanti Said: "Now, here is where it becomes very interesting. Brahman is absolute. Brahman never incarnates. Out of the creative power of Shakti (also known as Maya) comes Iswara, the personal God: The Lord. It is this Lord aspect, "born" from Maya, which incarnates.

"Once we are in the realm of creation, this understanding of the dual Divine aspects repeats in the concept of Divine Consorts. Shiva and Kali, Krishna and Radha, Rama and Sita, each representing the duel aspect of Divinity"

Comment: Very well said.

Sri Ramakrishna said something very similiar:

"The jnAnis, who adhere to the non-dualistic philosophy of
VedAnta, say that the acts of creation, preservation and
destruction, the universe itself and all its living beings,
are the manifestation of Shakti, the Divine Power.
If you reason it out, you will realize that all these
are as illusory as a dream. Brahman alone is the Reality,
and all else is unreal. Even this very Shakti is unsubstantial,
like a dream."

"Though you reason all your life, unless you are established
in SamAdhi, you cannot do beyond the jurisdiction of Shakti.
Even when you say, 'I am meditating', or 'I am contemplating',
still you are moving in the realm of Shakti, within It's power."

"He who is attributeless also has attributes.
He who is Brahman is also Shakti. When thought of as inactive,
He is called Brahman, and when thought of as Creator, Preserver,
and Destroyer, He is called the Primordial Energy, kAli."

"Brahman and Shakti are identical, like fire and its power to burn.
When we talk of fire we automatically mean also its power to burn.
Again, the fire's power to burn implies the fire itself.
If you accept the one you must accept the other."

Please allow me to wish every success to Rosemary,
on her plan to embark upon a program of meditation
and study of the Holy Scriptures.