Reminiscences of Sri Ramakrishna

In the afternoon the conversation again turned on flowers. The Mother said, “ One day while Iiving at Dakshineswar, I made a big garland of seven strands with some jasmine and red flowers. I soaked the garland in water in a stone bowl and quickly the buds turned into full blossoms. I sent the garland to the Kali temple to adorn the image of the Divine Mother with. The ornaments were taken off from the body of Kali and She was decorated with the garland. Sri Ramakrishna came to the temple. He at once fell into an ecstatic mood to see the beauty of Kali so much enhanced by the flowers. Again and again he said, ‘ Ah ! These flowers are so nicely set off against the dark complexion of the Divine Mother ! Who made the garland ? ‘, Someone mentioned me. He said, ‘ Go and bring her to the temple.’ As I came near the steps, I found some of the men devotees there—Balaram Babu, Suren Babu and others. I felt extremely bashful and became anxious to hide myself. I took shelter behind the maid, Brinde, and was about to go up the temple by the back steps. Sri Ramakrishna noticed this instantly and said, ‘ Don’t try those steps. The other day a fisher woman was climbing those steps and slipped. She had a terrible shock, fractured her bones and died. Come by these front steps.’ The devotees heard those words and made room for me. I entered the temple and found Sri Ramakrishna singing, his voice trembling with love and emotion.”

A few women devotees now entered the room and the conversation stopped. It was time for me to take leave. Again the Mother began to talk about God-realization. She said, “ Do you know, my child, what it is like ? It is just like a candy in the hand of a child. Some people beg the child to part with it. He does not care to give it to them. But he easily hands it over to another whom he likes. A man performs severe austerities throughout his life to realize God, but he does not succeed, whereas another man gets his realization practically without any effort. It depends upon the grace of God. He bestows His grace upon anyone He likes. Grace is the important thing.”