– Lady M. Venkatasubba Rao ( 1961)
Of the ideals, my husband and I shared between us, what contributed most is our devotion for Mother. His interest in social well-being, his passion for justice, his career as lawyer, his experience as judge, endowed him with an attitude of mind and amplitude of talents, particularly pertinent to the pursuit of truth, under Mother’s system of spiritual discipline.
His enormous range of interests was complementary to his devotion. He could bring a deepened understanding and a disciplined mind, to interpret the subtleties of spirituality. He sought to reach the depth of ancient wisdom with the help of Mother’s teachings. His responsiveness, stemmed from his conviction, that she was divine. In his observations about Mother, there was arresting thought. Mother, in the temporal context, was to him a theme full of moral meaning and spiritual significance. His judicial mind succeeded in arriving at reasoned conclusions about her baffling simplicity and mystical subtlety.
In a scientific way, he wanted to formulate the philosophy underlying her teachings – the content of her spiritual experience, as well as, how it could be made serviceable in the affairs of life. Until the last, on the doctrines of her teachings, he sought clarification from her. He wanted explanation of the mysteries, pertaining to life and death, in terms of her own teachings. After accepting her as Guru, his mind was never allowed to be obscured by exposure to divergent influences and alien persuasions. Of course, he thought freely. He was aware of various perspectives; the experience of different schools; the conflict of views. But, for spiritual illumination, he looked only to Mother. He abided by her wisdom.
Eloquently bitter of superstitions, he was serenely reverent, to what was genuinely pure and pious. Mother alone could give him assurance of the principle of unity, as persistent and operative, through change and multiplicity. He closed his eyes upon this world with this assurance, conveyed during his last interview with Mother, a few days before the end came. Divested of questionings and doubts, his mind was established in peace. Thus, the end of his career was upon the peak of spirituality, at the pinnacle of an intimate spiritual revelation. His intellectual life was further enriched from ancient sources, through the mysticism of Mother.
In his heart there was no ungenerous wish; in his mind, no undisciplined thought. He adhered to the regimen of study and sparse diet, even after the onset of his final illness. His habits corresponded to the character of a philosopher – of peaceful intentions and profound visions. His reliance upon Mother was characterized by the spirit of surrender to the Supreme Being.
In plain propositions he spoke his precise thoughts upon Mother the uniqueness of her love, the charm of her silence, the sublimity of her Samadhi, the hidden harmony of her purifying presence. He ignored the adage that many are bad and the good are few. He acted upon the assumption that all were good until the contrary was proved. The contributory response of his views to Mother’s ideals was amazing. Through unquestioning acceptance and joyous adherence to her percepts, he came to experience the exhilaration of intellect, without the tensions of emotion. His perceptions were correlated to ideals. In the heightened sensitivity of intensified vision, he realized his purest aspirations.
He tested his own actions by standards of the ethical implications of Mother’s teachings upon domestic and social duties. Her emphasis upon harmony had inevitable appeal to his judicial mind. He was deeply impressed by her solitudes. He believed, that she wielded through them, creative power of practical piety, for the good of individuals and society. He believed that her samadhis marked crucial moments in cosmic evolution.
Authentic accounts of peace experienced, of solace found, by the afflicted, in Mother’s presence, interested him. He was averse to doctrinaire religion. He was non-believer in the supernatural. When for the first time, we together saw Mother, in 1950; he had at last convincing testimony of mysticism, in contemporary historical context, and in a living personality. Critical in thought, cautious in judgment, of Mother, he could believe the performance of miracles and happenings of wonder. He travelled to Bangalore, Trivandrum and Mangalore, in order to be present, during occasions of her visits to these places, to witness the scenes of her holy ministry. He carefully abstained from discussion of philosophical problems during visits to Mother, giving himself up to quiet raptures of spiritual interludes. He believed that his complete recovery from protracted illness which did not respond to medical therapy was owing to the working of Mother’s invisible spiritual powers.
His cherished image in my heart is enshrined in endearing recollections of his liberal ideas and his wonderful devotion for Mother. He has become one with the lasting grace of her divinity. With me remain the solace of her lofty precepts, and the comfort of her compassion.