Monthly Readings

During these turbulent times, we need assurance, support, and security. Above all we want peace—peace in our personal lives and peace with our fellow beings. Holy Mother, being none other than Sri Jagaddhatri, the support and nurse of the universe, has given us a potent prescription for finding peace: "I tell you one thing, if you want peace, do not find fault with others. Rather learn to see your own faults.

Holy Mother gives to the spiritual seeker two vitally important gifts for success in life. These two gifts are hope and love.

"Telo-bhelo." Many devotees of Holy Mother Sarada Devi know what that name stands for. The very mention of "Telo-bhelo" brings before their mind's eye a long and lonesome stretch of land on the way from Jayrambati to Dakshineswar. A meadow that was at one time infested with armed thieves known in India as dacoits. No one dared in those days to cross that place at night or alone.

This month our reading will include two short reminiscences of Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother.

From my childhood I have been interested in fruit and flower gardens. I had planted some jasmine, beli (bel), lotus-oleander, marigold and other flowers in the courtyard in front of the Holy Mother's house and also along the edges of the "Punyapukur" pond next to the house. Mother used to feel delighted to see these flowers. One day I saw Mother after her noonday rest digging at the roots of the jasmine plant. When I took the spud away from her hand saying, "I shall do that, you do not have to do it," she said, "It is you who do everything. You see, I love jasmine flowers and so, seeing that it is nearly time for them to bloom, I am only making the ground ready for watering the plants."