1st
August, 1918
Today
I found the Mother alone and therefore had a long talk with her. Our
conversation drifted mainly to the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna (see picture). Perhaps, on account of the passing away of Swami Premananda ,
the
Mother had been continually thinking of these monks. Referring to them, the
Holy Mother said, "Sri Ramakrishna accepted his disciples only after
thoroughly examining them. What an austere life they led at the Baranagore
monastery after his passing away! Niranjan (Swami Niranjanananda) and others often starved themselves. They
spent all their, time in, meditation and prayer. One day these young monks were
talking among themselves: 'We have
renounced everything in the name of Sri Ramakrishna. Let us see if he would
supply us with food if we simply depend upon him. We will not tell anybody
about our wants. We will not go out for alms!' They covered their bodies with
sheets of cloth and sat down for meditation. The whole day passed. It was late
at night. They heard somebody knocking at the door. Naren left the seat and
asked one of his brother monks, 'Please open the door and see who is there.
First of all, notice if he has anything in his hand.' What a miracle! As soon
as the door was opened, it was found that a man was standing there. He had
brought some delicious food from the temple of Gopala, on the bank of the
Ganges. They were exceedingly happy and felt convinced of the protecting hand
of Sri Ramakrishna, They offered that food to Sri Ramakrishna at that late hour
of the night and partook of the Prasada. Such things happened many a time. . .
. Now the monks do not experience any such difficulty. Alas! What hardship
Naren (Swami Vivekananda) and Baburam (Swami Premananda) passed through! Even
my Rakhal (Swami Brahmananda), who is now the President of the Ramakrishna
Mission, had to cleanse the pots and kettles, many a day. At one time Naren was
travelling as an itinerant monk towards Gaya and Varanasi. He did not get any
food for two days and was lying down under a tree. He found a man standing near
with delicious food and a jar of water in his hands. The man said, 'Here is the
Prasada of Rama. Please accept it.' Naren said, 'You do not know me, my good
friend. You have made a mistake. Perhaps you have brought these articles for
someone else.' The man said with the utmost humility, 'No, revered sir. I have
brought this food solely for you. I was enjoying a little nap at noontime when
I saw a man in dream. He said: Get up quickly; a holy man is lying under yonder
tree; give him some food. I dismissed the whole thing as a mere dream.
Therefore I turned on my side and again fell asleep. Then I again dreamt of the
man, who said, giving me a push: I am asking you to get up and still you are
sleeping! Carry out my order without any more delay. Then I thought that it was
not an illusory dream. It was the command of Rama. Therefore in obedience to
His command I brought these articles for you; sir.' Naren realized that it was
all due to the grace of Sri Ramakrishna, and cheerfully accepted the
food."
"A similar incident happened another
day. Naren was travelling in the Himalayas for three days without any food. He
was about to faint when a Mussulman Fakir gave him a cucumber. It saved his
life that time. After his return from America, Naren was one day addressing a
meeting at Almora. He saw that Mussulman seated in a corner. Naren at once went
to him, took him by the hand, and made him sit in the centre of the gathering.
The audience was surprised. Naren said, 'This gentleman saved my life once.' He
then narrated the whole incident. He also gave the Fakir some money. But at
first he refused to accept the gift. He said, 'What have I done that you are so
anxious to make me a gift?' Naren did not yield and pressed some money into his
pocket."
"Naren took me to the Belur Math at the
time of the first Durga Puja festival, and through me gave twenty-five rupees
to the priest as his fee. They spent fourteen hundred rupees on that auspicious
occasion. The place became crowded with people. The monks worked hard. Naren
came to me and said, 'Mother, please make me lie down with fever.' No sooner
had he said this than he was down with a severe attack of fever. I thought,
'Goodness gracious! What is this? How will he be cured?' 'Do not be anxious,
Mother,' said Naren, 'I have myself begged for this fever. My reason is this.
These boys are working hard. But if I see the slightest mistake, I shall fly
into a rage and abuse them. I may even give them slaps. It will be painful to
them as well as to me. Therefore I thought it would be better to lie down with
fever for some time.' When the day's function was over, I came to him and said,
'Dear child, the work is over now. Please get up.' Naren said that he was all
right and got up from bed."
"Naren brought also his own mother to
the Math at the time of the Durga Puja. She roamed from one garden to another
and picked chilies, egg-plants, etc. She felt a little proud thinking that it
was all due to her son, Naren. Naren came to her and said, 'What are you doing
there? Why do you not go and meet the Holy Mother? You are simply picking up
these vegetables. May be, you are thinking that your son has done all this
work. No, mother. You are mistaken. It is He who has done all this. Naren is
nothing.' Naren meant that the Math was founded through the grace of Sri
Ramakrishna. What great devotion! . . . . My Baburam is dead! Alas! who will
look after the Durga Puja this year? "
SOURCE: www.saradadevi.info
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