[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
726
If you treat Sri Sarada Devi [the consort, nun-wife of Sri Ramakrishna] not as an ordinary mother then she can even digest the food for the child. It will not give any stomach trouble. Normally with overeating the mind will become restless and you will have bad dreams, even nightmares.
Devotee: What effect does a mother going out to work have on a child?
Swamiji: It is a pity that some mothers have to go to work because that part is really lost. It is sad because the mother should be wrestling with the child the whole day, in different ways, and seeing the child grow.
Devotee: In the scriptures are men and women regarded as equal?
Swamiji: They say in creation the left side became a woman and the right side became a man. Equality is there straight away. There is no such thing that this is not God and that is God. And there is no such thing as the left hand is better than the right or vice versa. One hand may do more work because you are right-handed or left-handed. The scriptures are not trying to say that women are lower. Biologically the man differs from the woman. The man cannot give birth, a woman can give birth. There are certain subtle feelings in the mother that she has to impart to the child. They come through her.
The sun gives you light and the moon also gives you light. Both give you light. The sunlight has a certain influence on the mind and moonlight has a different influence on the mind - though both are light. Similarly in the woman-aspect God imparts certain things that are so subtle that the father cannot give them.
I do not say that the mother should be a slave. The very fact that the mother is going to work she is doing something. And if that is work then I think work is higher than worship. But if she looks upon the child as Goddess-Mother, or as God-Gopala [baby Krishna] and serves that in the child, then she is doing even better than going outside looking for money.
Which is better food to eat? The food cooked in a hotel or the food your wife or mother cooks at home? Are both the same thing?
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time. 2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order. Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and teachings.
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites - please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham
