Reminiscences

An affectionate devotee used to visit Sri Maharaj often, but he always used to come alone, without his wife.()nce ShriMaharaj called him aside and asked him the reason for not bringing his wife. He said sadly, 'Maharaj, my wife is a kleptomaniac; she has the bad habit of tak­ing other's belongings. It cannot be called stealing, for she is not aware that she has taken someone else's thing; unabashed, she vaunts it even before the owner of the article. But not only people are unnecessarily inconve­nienced by this fault of hers; in addition, she becomes a laughing - stock, and I too feel ashamed. So I avoid tak­ing her anywhere.' On hearing this, ShriMaharaj said, 'It does not matter, since she does not do it with the idea of stealing. Rama will manage. Bring her along next time.'

The next time, the devotee went to Gondavale with his wife as ShriMaharaj had advised. When, the lady bowed to touch ShriMaharaj's feet, he whispered to her 'Never forget that Rama constantly watches everyone here !' For her in effect, this was a conferring of initiation. It was indeed an impartation of moral strength. The couple stayed at Gondavale for nearly a month, but not a single incident of Kleptomaniac stealing by the lady took place. Her husband was greatly surprised. Before returning both formally received an impartation of nama from ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj merely said, 'Now both of you uhould chant nama in all sincerity. You should act with Rama as your witness. He will not let you suffer humilia­tion.' The lady lived for nearly twenty years thereafter, but the woman was cured of her kleptomania,