08/01/2021
Jai Ramakrishna
(Teachings of Sri Sarada Devi The Holy Mother)
THE IDEAL OF RENUNCIATION
About a boy who wanted to embrace monastic life and was being encouraged by Swami Shivananda to do so, Mother said, “One needs good fortune, indeed, to accept the ideal of renunciation taught by the Master. Tarak (Swami Shivananda) is right. How few can be rescued from the world once they are entangled in it! The boy has real strength of mind.”
A woman devotee requested Holy Mother to order her daughter to marry. Mother replied, “Is it not misery to remain in lifelong slavery to another and always dance to his tune? Though there is some risk in being a celibate, still, if one is not inclined to lead a married life, one should not be forced into it and subjected to lifelong worldliness. Those girls that are drawn to the ideal of complete renunciation should be encouraged to lead a celibate life.
When someone criticized Holy Mother for giving a disciple the ochre robe, she replied, “Look here, child, they are children of light. They live on this earth as pure as flowers. Can you tell me anything happier than this? You have seen for yourself what kind of happiness worldly life can give. What have you learned from me all these days! Why so much attraction for worldly life? Why so much animal propensity? What sort of happiness do you derive from it? Can you not even conceive in dream a pure ideal of life? Can’t you live with your husband even now as brother and sister? Why this desire to lead a piggish life? This misery of the world has been gnawing into my bones.
“He has done very well to become a Sadhu. What is there in this cage of flesh and bones? What is after all in this body? Why should one become enmeshed in this Maya? It will ultimately come to an end after a few days. Then when it is burnt, there will remain only a seer and a half of ash. Banku has become a Sannyasin, he has taken to the path of God. He has done well, he has done well indeed!
“People find opportunities according to their fate and Karma. The fact is, if one’s time to go beyond the world is ripe, one will break all bonds and come; nobody can stop him. Lack of money, awaiting somebody’s approval, fear of having to go back, these are nothing.
“You see, my dear, many people seek God only after disappointment in other spheres. But he, who from childhood can place at the Master’s feet his heart as pure as a flower, is blessed indeed!”
