RE: "It is very hard to explain sometimes, but I must give Mother her due. Sometimes in the night when I call on her, the deepest feeling that comes to me, as I feel the love/presence of Mother surround me, is serenity. It is not constant, nor does it come often, in fact it is rare. Please hang in there with me, Ma. I am so slow"

Comment:

The 'presence' of the Mother, surrounds us, no doubt; however, She also dwells within.

When we feel the Mother; actively working her magic, within our own bodies; then, there is total
submission, resulting in constant serenity.

Om Shanthi Om

Location: montreal

The serenity we all experience when we are in the presence of the Mother is rare yet it is moments such as those you describe that give us the strength and courage to continue on the spiritual journey. Whether you give Mother Her due or not She will do what She wants to do. She doesn't need our approval. She works in Her own way and when we understand how She works we will not doubt Her.

Mother is always "hanging in there" with you. Never forget that it is Her hanging in there with you that gives you the feeling of being in the presence of the Mother. Who is slow and who is fast Mother alone knows those facts and She really doesn't care. It is the world that wants us to be fast and is not accepting of people who are "slow". When we approach the Mother with devotion and an awareness of our limitations, She lifts us into Her arms and gives us a glimpse of the reality that She hides behind the veil of Maya.

How beautifully Paritosh has expressed things from Mother's side.

From our own side, however, the picture may be seen a little differently.

For example, if our feeling of "slowness" is based upon our longing for Mother, then it is our friend. It can inspire us to keep at our practice.

However, if comes from feelings of unworthiness or self-criticism, then it is harmful because, as Paritosh says so beautifully, such notions are of our own making, and mean nothing to Mother. Thus cultivating such ideas only reinforce what is untrue.

Location: San Diego, California, USA

thank you all for your profound thoughts and insights. however, i would like to explain the "slow" aspect of what I had to say.

i am not even sure exactly the feeling, but it is childlike, as if Mother is walking ahead and I am saying Mother, please allow for my being so behind because of my smallness, but do not forget me or leave me behind. it is a very childlike feeling and very humble and surrendered to my need for her. It is a cry, "Ma, Ma"

Location: North Carolina

Sister Jayanti wrote: "How beautifully Paritosh has expressed things from Mother's side.

From our own side, however, the picture may be seen a little differently".

Sister Rosemary wrote: "....Mother is walking ahead and I am saying Mother, please allow for my being so behind because of my smallness".

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Comment: When we are able to thoroughly grasp the quality of 'oneness'.
as expressed in Advaita Vedanta', we discover that there is indeed
only 'one' side.

As long as we feel, that we are 'detached' from Mother; then
sadly, the state of 'constant serenity' will elude us.

If we must, from time to time, mentally descend to the dualistic plane;
then perhaps, we should adopt the belief of Sri Ramakrishna;
namely, the realization that the individual self, is only a machine;
while, 'the Mother' does all the Operating......

Even then, She is still not apart from us....there is no chasing
after Her down the road.....

It is only by the Grace of the Absolute, that our minds may be
able to accept this sublime notion of 'complete surrender' to Mother.

If we can only put behind our tiny egos and
instead, view the magnificence of Mother Kali's
Play, as Divine Co-Participants; rather than merely helpless spectators; sweet peace and contentment
will be our reward.

Brother Tom writes: "Even then, She is still not apart from us....there is no chasing after Her down the road....."

This is the whole of it. Even during times when we feel completely seperate we want to try to remember the truth. And it is the blessed moments of serene awareness that build our convinction that Mother is always with us ... even though we mostly feel that we are following behind and Mother is beyond our reach.

Of course, Thakur would say that as a child of Mother we should demand that, if we are unable to keep up, that She pick us up in her arms and carry us!

Location: San Diego, California, USA

What a wonderful world it will be, when we
can see the manifestation of Divinity,
amongst all creatures.

The highest achievement [in my humble opinion]
of Indian Philosophy is that of 'Advaita Vedanta'

Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsadeva also recognized,
that man must live in the world. He alternated
between various states of consciousness...
that of the most devout and fervent Bhakta...
to the veritable manifestation of the Divine Mother.

One of my favorite quotes from the Gospel of
Sri Ramakrishna, eloquently expresses the
limitless love that God feels for His/Her
created entities.


"Think of Brahman, Existance - Knowledge - Bliss Absolute,
as a shoreless ocean. Through the cooling influence,
as it were, of the bhakta's love, the water has frozen
at places into blocks of ice. In other words, God now and then
assumes various forms for His lovers and reveals Himself
to them as a Person."