“Pulling you free from worldly tribulations the Lord has placed you at His holy feet. Is this not a rare fortune…This is the time for such practices. One must do them at a young age. And you shall do so, of course.”
(Holy Mother to Sw. Shantananda, p.218, The Gospel of the Holy Mother)
“If people feel sincere longing, they will find that all paths lead to God. But one should have nishtha, single-minded devotion. It is also described as chaste and unswerving devotion to God…The devotion of the wife to her husband is also an instance of unswerving love. She feeds her brothers-in-law as well, and looks after their comforts, but she has a special relationship with her husband. Likewise, one may have that single-minded devotion to one’s own religion; but one should not on that account hate other faiths. On the contrary, one should have a friendly attitude towards them.”
(p.222-3, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, The Master’s advice on May 27 1883)
“Nothing pleases me so much as to know that you are treading on and on in the path of religion you have once begun and that you are following your Ideal as best as you can. May Mother bless you all and keep you close to Her embrace.”
(p.246, Spiritual Treasures, Swami Turiyanandaji’s letter dated 27th May 1903)