A READING from: "In The Company of The Holy Mother"
(available at all Vedanta Centres)
Page 193
Sarayubala Devi:
18 September, 1912 :
The Holy Mother said:
"Whoever prays to him earnestly, sees him. Only the other day one of his disciples (Tej Chandra Mitra) died, He was such a good boy. The Master used to visit their house.
"After the Master had gone, this boy, one day, returned home by tram-car and to his consternation discovered that a sum of two hundred rupees, entrusted to him for safekeeping by someone else, had been stolen from his pocket. Deeply distressed, he wandered about beside the GangA, crying, 'Alas, Master, what have you done to me!' He did not even have the means to make good the loss from his own pocket. As he walked by the riverside, he suddenly saw the Master before him, who said, 'Why are you crying? Look it is under that brick there by the river.'
"The boy got up quickly and lifting the brick, discovered a bundle of notes. He came back and related the whole story to Sharat (Swami Saradananda), whereupon Sharat cried, 'You are permitted to see him even now, but we do not see him any more!' How can they see him? They are sitting tight on the most vivid memories of him, Those who have not seen him have far greater want now."
Daily Readings from "In The Company of The Holy Mother" @ the Nahabat Guestbook
I have been noticing lately, that I only think of God or speak his name when I am in trouble or when I expect him to be a big vending machine in the sky.
To refine my own need for God, I am trying to notice when I put other desires ahead of him, ie, the desire for money, or to be someplace different from where my life is at the present moment.
When I start jumping up and yearning for something I don"t have (and subsequently become depressed), I ask myself the question, "But, is this a yearning for God?" The answer is always, "No". Then, I am able to settle back down, and wait for God to reveal his plan, purpose and will in my life.
Re: Re: The Master and the Missing Two Hundred Rupees
Thanks for your message, Sister Rosemary,
I take the attitude, that God knows what we need, since He/She knows
even the deepest secrets of our hearts.
For instance, yesterday, I needed a strong elastic band, the type the postman uses to bundle mail together. I usually find them discarded on the sidewalk from time to time, but haven't found any lately.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I noticed a nice strong blue elastic band around the few pieces of junk mail in my letterbox today. I have never seen that before. Do you see how God looks after our every need?
I can't really say that I 'yearn' for God, per se, since I can see Him/Her dwelling in everyone, including you and me.
Re: Re: Re: Re: The Master and the Missing Two Hundred Rupees
Hi Sister Rosemary,
I agree that there must be tremendous yearning for God, if one wishes to see Him/Her.
Than again, there are types of devotees, who are quite
content to practice Karma Yoga, offering their work
up to God, without any thought of recompense.
Those devotees are inclined to follow the words of Swami Vivekananda:
""you have read - 'Look upon your mother as God; look upon your father as God.' But I say. The poor, the illiterate, the ignorant, the afflicted - let these be your God. Know that the service to these alone is the highest religion."
For the reasons mentioned above, many devotees find God, through volunteer work in their local hospitals, nursing homes, food banks etc.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: The Master and the Missing Two Hundred Rupees
RE: Händel
Sacred Music is said to be divinely inspired.
Sri Ramakrishna said:
"As the All-pervading Spirit He exists in all beings, even in the ant. But the manifestations of His Power are different in different beings;
otherwise, how can one person put ten to flight,
while another can't face even one?"