While meditation and japa are essential in our spiritual life, concentrating on the presence of the Mother in our daily lives has given me much strength and has been easier to practice. It is not easy to suddenly wake up in the morning and say “OK from today I will practice being in the presence of the Mother” What I have found helpful is small daily ways where we can allow Mother to enter our lives, our daily living. When we wake up, get ready, rushing out to work, traveling in traffic (car, train, bus or air) just take Mother with you. Say, “Mother, another day come lets go to work today” When we find another colleague who is being difficult, just say, “Mother, what are we going to do?” Be open and allow the Divine Presence in our lives.
Mother is always there. Every moment, never forget that fact. It is not our over active imagination but the only reality. I see how She does it. One thing is for sure, it is not the way we would like or imagine it to come. Her presence and help come by a different route. Just because these do not come the way we expect it to come does not mean that the Mother is not the source of the help we have received.
The Mother is a living presence in our lives. May we always feel Her within us.
RE: "What I have found helpful is small daily ways where we can allow Mother to enter our lives"
Comment: Once we realize the sublime purport of Sri Ramakrishna's words, we understand that Mother does not have to be 'allowed' to enter our lives:
"Not a leaf moves except by the will of God.
Where is man's free will?
All are under the will of God. Therefore I say:
'O Mother, I am the machine and Thou art the Operator;
I am the chariot and Thou art the Driver.
I move as Thou movest me; I do as Thou makest me do'."
Further Comment: In other words, Mother is always there, whether we recognize Her presence or not.
It is indeed true that Mother is always with us...
However, whether we recognize or even acknowledge her is another matter.
It is recorded that after the Master's death, Mother had visions of the Master's presence. Did the people around her see him? As we work, and acknowledge her presence in our lives, I believe that the AWARENENESS of her presence will help to sustain us through the trials of life. Just my own thought.
I have ordered the book from Vedanta catalogue, "Thank you for being such A Pain" (something like that)..the spiritual way of dealing with difficult people (referring to Paritosh original post)..there are times when I would very much like to live like a hermit, away from society, and just enjoy the company of animals and nature...
Mother, though we know we live in your care...
May we always acknowledge, that you are there...
I guess the pont I wa trying to make, is simply that,
even though we don't acknowledge His/Her Presence,
the Divine is forever insistent, knocking at our inner door.
The poet, Francis Thompson said it so well, in his celebrated work, "The Hound of Heaven"
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat - and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet -
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."
But, what I hear Paritosh saying...is that when we feel urgings of the spirit, sometimes as subtle as a breath of wind on the skin, then don't just think that you are imagining that this is the abiding presence and protection of the Mother.
If he isn't saying this... I am..
Still waiting on the book...am home recovering from my 2nd biopsy...the Dr says things look pretty good...and he only speaks of "possible" treatment..
she is a living presence,especially when she prays,
"god! let me not see the faults of others!"
i am aware that she keeps a watchful eye on me as i go through difficult situations and by just being aware of her eternal presence i am able to act rightly.