Sri Sarada Society Notes Dedicated to Holy Mother Spring 2005, Volume 11, Issue 1 NOT FINDING FAULT: A PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING Adapted from an article by Jayanti that appears in MOTHER OF ALL, saying that the Self in the neighbor is your own Atman. While a Souvenir volume published by the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, this is true, it is not something we readily experience. Again, Delhi, in honor of Sri Sarada Devi’s 150th birth anniversary. we can derive a more practical spiritual meaning. For us to What does Holy Mother mean when she says, “I can no love our neighbor as ourself, we must first have or develop a longer find fault in anyone”? From the highest perspective sense of self-worth. This also applies to the universal Golden we know that Mother experienced all as Brahman. For those Rule of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto of us—the rest of us—who are not at this level, however, I you.” In order to know what is good or beneficial for others think Mother’s words and action convey a more practical we need to know what is good for us from the standpoint of application. Clearly, Mother did see what we would call spiritual worthiness. This alone is true worthiness, a state “faults” in others. She couldn’t claim to be the “Mother which rejoices in the benefit given others. The person with of the wicked” if she did not recognize the fleeting sense of worthiness that “wickedness.” Therefore, there must comes from an inflated ego fears that the be some other meaning. Mother sees “bubble may burst” at any time. Such our imperfections without passing judg- a person selfishly tries to protect his or ment. her ego, often at the expense of others. Mother tells us that enumerating a Likewise, a person who feels unworthy person’s faults has no positive effect. looks for unworthiness in those around Instead, it is the person who criticizes him. “One finds fault in others after who suffers. “One shouldn’t lose oneself bringing his mind down to that level,” in so much sputtering. If one sees the Mother observes—that is, to a level of worst of everything, one feels pain.” unworthiness. Once we understand that by “not “If you want peace, do not find fault finding fault” Mother means that we with others. Rather see your own faults. are not to judge others harshly for their Learn to make the world your own. No mistakes or imperfections, this becomes one is a stranger, my child. The whole a practical principle. Forgiveness and world is your own.” patience become spiritual practices leading us toward loving These well-known words of Mother’s, uttered before leav- kindness on the one hand and nonattachment on the other. ing the body, are initially disturbing to Westerners. To be told Genuine love, Mother tells us, is without expectation. to “see one’s own faults” feels too familiar. Once again, we “Let me tell you how to love all equally,” she instructs. are being told to be self-critical of our imperfections. Once “Do not demand anything of those you love. If you make again, we are reminded of our unworthiness. Or are we? demands, some will give you more and some less. In that case Here is the wonder of Mother’s loving acceptance! In her you will love more those who give more and less those who eyes, human imperfections are not cause to feel unworthy. give you less. Thus your love will not be the same for all.” Yes, as spiritual aspirants, we want to work to overcome our To a sadhu in charge of an ashram Mother gives this faults and become better, purer, and more receptive to and advice on how to guide others: “Love can achieve anything. aware of the divinity within and around us. Yet the very fact You can never make someone obey you by using force or by that we have not reached this goal means that we are not yet employing a roundabout way.” perfect. Mother loves us as we are. And we can find peace I am reminded of a saying of Jesus, “Thou shalt love thy from accepting ourselves and others in this same way. We can neighbor as thyself.” In Vedanta circles we give this the high- realize that we have much in common with those all around est meaning of advaita (nondual understanding), that is, by Continued on page 2: NOT FINDING FAULT IN MOTHER’S WORDS: “To err is human. One should not take that into account. It is harmful for oneself. One gets into the habit of finding fault.” 2 FEELING THE LIGHT WITHIN Continued from page 1: NOT FINDING FAULT us. We share the present limitations of our human birth, and Sandra Giacosa visited the Pangot Retreat Center for women in we share the potential of realizing that all are One. June 2004. She lives in Montevideo, Uruguay. Mother’s love flows from the fountain of the highest I give thanks for having had the opportunity to be in advaitic truth. Through coming to feel this love, which is Pangot—an experience so special for me that it is difficult untainted by worldly desire, we are drawn closer and closer to put fully into words. to this goal. Following Mother’s practical example of dealing It is like having been in a place out of time and dimen- with others appropriately and lovingly, without judgment, sion and in which I had a glimpse of that which we are ill-will, or selfish expectation, reflects the ideal of divine really looking for. It is strange because at the same time motherhood. By thus removing the social and psychological I felt that it was a place well known to me, like feeling at barriers separating us from others, we open the way for our home. A perfect union between the beauty of the nature own realization. This path of universal acceptance, made that surrounds us and that other beauty which is so subtle manifest in Sri Sarada Devi, is available to everyone. and at the same time so immense that it is impossible for us to describe. And I feel that all that strength and indescrib- WHY? able beauty is heightened with the presence of Pravrajika Why is it pussycat has fur Vivekapranaji. And I have only skin? At first I thought it was going to be difficult for me to Why does she lie still and purr adapt. Although I had been in India before, this was my While I always make a din? first experience with the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission (the It is because service branch of Sri Sarada Math). But to my surprise I Girls, boys and pussycat felt as if I had come home. As a consequence, departure Live to different ends; was very hard for me. Which doesn’t mean that The environment has a tangible energy and at the same They cannot be good friends. time a peace that nurtures the spirit in a marvelous way—a Why is it puppydog can bark place that seems suspended in time and for this reason is And I can only scream? eternal, a place in which I felt so in harmony that it made Why can glow-worm make a spark, me appreciate the greatness of the human spirit. While I cannot give a gleam?’ Since my visit, I feel that a part of me has stayed there It is because and this helps me in the search that I have to continue in Girls, boys, dog, worm and cat the place where I was born. Act to different ends; I want to again thank Mother for giving me the possibility Which doesn’t mean that of being touched in the soul. It is my wish that many more of They should not be good friends. us will be able to go there and feel the greatness that we—all Why is it bull-frogs can croak women—have and to learn how to wake it up. And I can only call? Why fire-flies their fire can poke, While I have no fire at all? Editor’s Note It is because All have different ways to go— We extend our sincere apology to Swami Tathagatananda, This for one, that for others; Pat Gibbons and to our readers because of an unfortunate er- They purr and bark, croak and glow, ror that appeared in the review of the swami’s book, JOURNEY Yet are all our brothers. OF THE UPANISHADS TO THE WEST. While editing the review we From MY SONG GARDEN, a book of poetry for children, by Sister inadvertently made it to read that Ralph Waldo Emerson, Devamata, Laura Franklin Glenn. Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman had met Swami Vivekananda and had been influenced by him. In Answer to Your Inquiry Neither Swami Tathagatananda nor the reviewer, Pat Gib- bons, made this reference, which is historically impossible. As Readers frequently ask if they may contribute to the cost originally written the review refers to Swamiji’s welcome by of receiving SRI SARADA SOCIETY NOTES by mail. Printing and those who had been influenced by the earlierTranscendental postal costs are approximately 96¢ an issue, averaging in movement, with which Whitman, Thoreau, and Emerson were both foreign and domestic mailings. Any amount that you associated at various times during its history. would like to donate is both welcome and appreciated. WHO WE ARE: Sri Sarada Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the furtherance of Holy Mother’s inspiration in the West, particularly as it manifests through women.