– Shankar (1961)
By the blessings of a few saints, I at last came to the feet of Sadguru Sri Rama Devi and on the seventeenth December 1950, my wife and I had the fortune of sitting before her for about two hours. For the first time, we felt the soul-elevating purity of divine love. She imparted to us the sacred Rama-mantra which was followed by an illuminating discourse, in language that can be understood by anyone. In a short while, the whole realm of spirituality was covered. Step by step, she described to us the nature of the ever-changing world around us, the mind and its mysteries, the struggle between good and evil, the pain and sorrow born of attachment and aversion, how the intellect gets clouded and the persistence of the ego, characterized by desire. Transcending all these, there is that which is ever present, which is referred to as truth, God, peace, silence, love. When the discourse was over, we found ourselves elevated.
The third of February 1951 was indeed momentous to my wife and me. Mother, kind and compassionate, took pity on us and gave us initiation. In deep silence, we heard the sacred mantra breathed into the ears by her. The experience I then had was greatest in my life. I later learnt that this was the experience of all her disciples during the initiation ceremony.
Initiation over, Japa she advised us in the conduct of our daily life, and gave instructions in the practice of japa and meditation. She told us that peace in home is possible only by adhering to respective dharma and diligent discharge of allotted duties. She inspiringly spoke on love. According to her, spirituality is founded on love. She asked us to resort to frequent introspection as step to self-purification. She wanted us to build internal safeguards by increasing self-awareness. She extolled discrimination as the crest jewel of qualities. She described home as the very temple of peace and the centre of spiritual dynamism.
Mother is verily love incarnate. She combines within herself the tenderness of motherhood, and the wisdom of a world teacher. As mother, she kindles the light of love in us. As sadguru she dispels the darkness of ignorance by imparting wisdom. With imperfect vision, the vast expanse of Mother’s heart full of love and compassion cannot be known. The complete surrender of ego is the only course open to us to achieve blissful merger in her lotus feet and to realize the purpose of life. May her grace abide with us.
Tags: GJS#119