An inspiring message for all humanity from
one of
India’s most beloved spiritual teachers
If Sri Ramakrishna was a leaping flame of
spiritual realization, Holy Mother was a steady glowing fire of
God-consciousness. To the Master, Sri Ramakrishna, she was the
goddess of wisdom in human form. To her disciples she was the
Divine Mother herself. To her devotees she was a more real
mother than their own earthly mother. To the seekers of truth
she was the final word, and to sinners she was the last refuge.
—from the Introduction
The year 2003 marked the 150th anniversary
of the birth of Sri Sarada Devi, the wife and spiritual
companion of Sri Ramakrishna. Known affectionately in India and
throughout the world as the Holy Mother, she was a rare
combination of human and divine qualities, and is an
inspiration today to millions who seek spiritual fulfillment.
The first American edition of the
conversations and teachings of the Holy Mother as recorded by
her disciples, both lay and monastic, this fascinating
collection brings to life the Holy Mother’s teachings on
human affliction, self-control, and peace in ways both personal
and profound. It illuminates her role as the power, scripture,
joy, and guiding spirit of the Ramakrishna Order and clearly
captures her unyielding devotion to God that earned her a
reputation as a steady glowing fire of God-consciousness.
Translated from the original Bengali by
Swami Nikhilananda, a direct disciple of the Holy Mother, these
inspiring and detailed conversations offer new insight into the
daily life of this endearing and beloved spiritual personality
and her message of compassion that continues to influence her
devotees in India and throughout the world.
“The conversations of Sarada Devi,
the Holy Mother—full of practical, kindly, down-to-earth
advice, and yet punctuated by sudden and quite stunning
revelations of her cosmic awareness—are a unique document
in the world’s devotional and mystical literature. This
is not only a perfect introduction to her teachings but also an
enduring spiritual testament that many readers will want to
return to again and again.”
—Jerome
J. Pollitt, Sterling Professor
Emeritus, Yale University
“What a gift it is to have reliable,
first-person accounts of the life of a great saint and
spiritual teacher. It is a special blessing when, as in these
pages, we get to know someone who—like most of
us—spent most of her life with the daily demands of
family and household, while at the same time remaining
completely faithful to the highest spiritual calling. Sarada
Devi is an inspiration for all of us who struggle to bring the
sacred into our everyday lives.”
—Daniel
Gómez-Ibáñez,
executive director, International Committee for the Peace
Council
