TEACHING FOR TOUGH TIMES

– SRI VISHNU THITE (1961)

I had a habit of snuffing since many years and this habit had become stronger after retirement as there was ample time for snuffing every five or ten minutes. I had a mind to leave this bad habit and I tried to leave this habit for more than two dozen times but restarted after an interval of eight-ten days and did not succeed. In March 1956 while attending the Birthday celebrations of the Divine Mother at Madras I had taken full quota of snuff with me from Bombay and was snuffing frequently in the train with other fellow brothers. While reciting Ram Nam I considered this very good opportunity to leave this old habit forever in the name of Divine Mother. I prayed Holy Mother for success and handed over the remaining stock of snuff to my fellow brother in the train and determined to leave this habit before arrival at Madras. Divine Mother, it appears, might have granted my request as I succeeded in my attempt this time. I have not yet taken snuff to my nose since then. I think this is a gift in appreciation of my entire faith in Divine Mother.

Divine Mother is very punctual in time and as far as possible she does not like to cancel any public programme already announced. A public Bhajan was once arranged at C. K. P. Hall at Dadar. On the previous day of the fixed date Holy Mother had a high temperature and all the devotees were anxious about her health and thought that the programme might be cancelled. The doctor was giving injection and medicine but the temperature was not brought under control, till the time fixed for the programme. Divine Mother started bhajan at fixed hour and completed the same in pleasant mood as if she was in perfect good health. The public never came to know anything about this.

One day Divine Mother was giving pravachan in the morning at Parel when I was also present. In the meanwhile a telegram was received. She went inside for two or three minutes, came back and completed the pravachan without any sigh of sorrow or slackness. After the completion of the programme the devotees came to know that the telegram contained the sad news of the demise of her own sister’s husband. This shows how Divine Mother has got full control over her mind. May Divine Mother guide me.

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