Chapter (অধ্যায়): THE ALL-LOVING MOTHERPage: 84 of 89
prayer and meditation. When asked what was the
necessity for her to do any spiritual practice, she
would reply she was doing that on behalf of those
who had taken refuge in her. No wonder if some
disciples, after once getting her affection, felt no
necessity of undergoing any spiritual practice at
all. Did she not herself say,If you touch water
knowingly or unknowingly, are you not sure to
get wet? She herself once said to a woman
disciple in reply to her question as to how she
should look upon her, It is enough if you think
of me even as your mother. Sometimes her
motherly heart could not bear that a disciple
should undergo much physical suffering in
practising hard tapasya. She would always warn
the young aspirant against excess in such things.
But at the same time she knew how to rouse to
activity an indolent person who had imagined
that spiritual progress was compatible with a life
of ease.
Earlier, Saradamanis mother had felt sad that
her daughter had been given in marriage to one
who was half mad, as it were, and who did not
lead a worldly life, so that her Sarada would not
know what it was to be called mother by her
children. At this Sri Ramakrishna told her: Dear
mother-in-law, you need not feel sorry. Your
daughter will have so many children that she will
afterwards be tired of being called mother. His