The ideal in simple words
Once when a devotee prayed for some advice, he said: ‘There are two important things in spiritual life—one is the worship of God and the other is the spirit of altruism. It is not actually altruism, rather, it is service, “service to man is service to God”. Wherever you find Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, you find these two things running side by side. One is the service of humanity and the other is the worship of God. All the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna should cast their character in this mould. Their houses also should resemble this grand ideal. Sri Ramakrishna came to teach these two things.’
— Swami Shuklatmananda
Mindfulness in the midst of action
When a devotee asked him about the spiritual path that was suitable for business people, as they were preoccupied with the running of their business, Saradeshanandaji said:
“What if you manage a business? If one can get God while one is engaged in warfare, then why won’t one reach him if he does business? The Lord himself has said in the Gita: ‘Think of me at all times and fight.” If not always, at least remember him in the beginning of work and at the end. Who wants him sincerely? We merely say that we want him. If we are eager for his vision, we can feel his presence even while doing work. Make it a habit to read The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna before going to bed, no matter how late you are. Even reading a page will do.”
On another occasion, I was seated, doing japa beside his bed. He called me and said, “I am having severe knee pain. Please massage a little.” After massaging a while, I said, “Well, Maharaj, you instruct us to sit for japa in the evening, but today, on the contrary, you asked me to massage your knees!” To that he replied, “I did not forbid you to do japa. Massage with your hands and continue doing japa in your mind. What’s the problem?”
— Swami Shuklatmananda
Twin imperatives
Probably in 1975, a year after my joining the Order, I had the opportunity of seeing Saradeshanandaji. I was then serving in Saradapitha centre which is just beside Belur Math. On his way from Agartala to Vrindavan, Maharaj was visiting Belur Math and was invited to Saradapitha. He came in the evening and directly went upstairs to the shrine. When he came down all sadhus and brahmacharis began to offer pranams bowing down at his feet. He was wearing a knee length dhoti and half sleeve shirt, and was carrying a stick. Maharaj was accepting their pranams and also replying to their questions.
When I bowed down to offer my pranam, the Manager Swamiji of Saradapitha introduced me to him saying, “This boy has newly arrived to become a sadhu. He is doing the worship and other odd jobs.” Instantly, Saradeshanandaji told me, “See, I am pleased with the way you have maintained the shrine. Always keep two things in mind: punctuality and cleanliness. Your devotion is an internal matter; others cannot see it. Maintain punctuality and cleanliness while serving Sri Ramakrishna.” His words made a deep impression on me.
— Swami Alokananda
Truthfulness
Sometimes, on request, Maharaj used to sign copies of his books Sri Sri Chaitanya Dev, Sri Sri Mayer Smritikatha, and so on. One of the swamis, who was very close to him, once requested me to get a book signed by him, with a line like, ‘Presenting this book to …’ added to it. I got Saradeshanandaji’s signature on the book. As he finished, he said to me, “Give him the price for the book.” I said, “Why? He will never take it.” To this he replied, “Don’t you go beyond the domain of truth. I explicitly wrote on the book that I was giving that to him, and now it cannot be that he buys the book himself.”
— Swami Shuklatmananda
Reading The Gospel to Mahatma Gandhi
Once Saradeshanandaji went to see the distress relief conducted during the fierce communal violence in Noakhali in 1946. Mahatma Gandhiji was also there for the same purpose. Coming in contact with the swamis of the Ramakrishna Order, he took an interest in reading The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Saradeshanandaji used to read the Gospel to him every day. It was discontinued after a few days though, as Gandhiji had to leave the place under the pressure of Muslim League leaders.
If the swamis and Gandhiji happened to go together to any place, the swamis would always want Gandhiji to be in the front; however Gandhiji would never agree to this. With all humility, he would always follow the swamis.
One day when Saradeshanandaji went for the usual reading of the Gospel, Gandhiji’s secretary, probably Nirmal Bose informed that Gandhiji was very busy that day; so, Maharaj had to come back. But, when Gandhiji came to know of this, he expressed regret and said, “Was that also not part of my busy schedule?” In other words, the reading of the Gospel was among his priorities. Swami Yuktananda, who was a student of Nirmal Bose in the university, later recounted this to Saradeshanandaji. When we requested, Saradeshanandaji to tell us more about that episode, he declined to say anything. He said “You see, talking about such things amounts to selfpraise. Gandhi was such a great man!”
— Swami Shuklatmananda
Fruit of eternal vigilance
One day I was discussing about sadhu life with a senior sannyasi. He remarked, “We all left our hearth and home because of our renunciation. Same was the case with Gopesh Maharaj. Later we did not take proper care of our middle age life. But Gopesh Maharaj took care and so he was able to take the boat ashore, while we failed.”
— Swami Jagannathananda
Spiritual consolation
When I was serving in our Delhi ashrama, I would often visit Gopesh Maharaj in Vrindaban for inspiration and guidance. I remember once I asked him what kind of consolation I could offer to the bereaved. He replied, “It is not the words of consolation that are effective. You have lived a life of meditation and renunciation, and have acquired some measure of calmness and serenity. These will go to the bereaved person subconsciously.” That gave me confidence and helped me understand what it is to be truly helpful.
— Swami Swahananda
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