Reminiscences

A considerable number of persons used to assemble at Gondavale now and again for one celebration or another. Just as there used to be many good persons amongst them, there also used to be persons who were not morally so good. Because of this reason, when the celebration ended some things from the temple used to be found missing. Those who had to look after the upkeep of the temple used to feel sad about this. After one such celebration this matter came to be mentioned to ShriMaharaj. He said to those who took care of the place, "When a daugh­ter is visiting the home of her parents after a long inter­val, she behaves in an unreserved manner. She is allowed to handle any of her mother's belongings. If there is a new sari and she insists on first wearing it, the mother gladly agrees to it. In doing so there is only one intention in her mind, and that is that whatever few days she will spend at her maternal home may be spent in happiness. The mother takes all care to see that the daughter's heart is in no way displeased. When she returns to her husband's home she takes with her a few things like pick­les and ready spices, with her mother's permission, more or less as her right. The mother gladly gives her permission to take these things with her so that she may not                                                               have to go to the trouble of preparing them when she returns to her husband's home. I too feel likewise about the things which disappear from here. You feel sad be­cause you do not know who has taken them; but why should someone who knows who has taken them be sad ? I never feel sad about it. But the same rule is not appli cable in the case of those who stay here to serve. They are like my daughters - in - law. It is improper if a daughtn in - law takes the same liberty as that taken by a daughter. Therefore, those who stay here must be extremely careful. When it is time for the mother of the house to depart from this world, because the daughter-in-law  belongs to the family, she calls her near, and saying, 'From now on you are the mistress of the house', she hands over to her the complete control of the house. What this means is that the daughter-in-law becomes the mistress of whatever the mother of the house owns. If you feel that the-ownership of whatever I have should fall to you, you will have to act like a daughter-in-law. One has to decide for oneself whether one wants to be the daughter or the daughter-in-law."

Reminiscences

Money tainted by Some one else's Wish for it corrupts one's Attitude

One doctor had a hobby of solving crossword puzzles to earn money given in prizes. He once mentioned this to ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj expressed disapproval of earn­ing money in this manner. When asked why, ShriMaharaj said, "Let us assume that the prize money for a cross­word puzzle is one hundred rupees, and the fee to be paid by each participant is one rupee. Each one who has paid the fee has his greed clinging to those one hundred ru­pees. All that greed is transmitted to you with the re­maining ninety - nine rupees. How is it possible that the money so tainted by greed will fail to affect your atti­tude? This is why someone who earns money except by dint of his own labour lacks contentment."

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July31

Reminiscences

It is foolishness  to say ‘God does not bring good Fortune”

A man had married for the second time after his first wife died. When he met ShriMaharaj the day before Ganeshchaturthi* he said, 'At our home we do not follow the practice of installing annually the idol of Lord Ganesh, as He does not bring us good luck.' ShriMaharaj asked him, 'What makes you feel that He does not bring you good fortune?' He explained that on some earlier oc­casion, the idol of Lord Ganesh was installed and some-

one died soon afterwards. Since then the family had discontinued the practice of installing the idol of Lord Ganesh. Upon this ShriMaharaj said, 'God not being beneficial is an utterly incompatible thing. Saying that God does not bring good fortune is as ridiculous as, or even more so than, saying that one placed one's hand on ice and that it got burnt. Your first wife died. Thereafter you entered into a second marriage without imagining that a wife does not bring good fortune to you. It is foolish to say that God has been angry if someone dies. By all means do install this year the idol of Lord Ganesh in your home so as to  get rid of this belief.'

* Ganesh Chaturihi  : the fourth day of the light half of Bhadrapada, the sixth month in the Hindu calendar. In Maharashtra, and some other parts of India, the day is the beginning of the ten-day Ganesh Festival.

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July30

Reminiscences

‘Self-Earned Wealth  too is a result of the Grace of Rama’

A couple was visiting ShriMaharaj. The husband said, 'Maharaj, I am well settled, and I have a very good monthly income.' ShriMaharaj said to him, 'Whatever one obtains is by the will of Rama. We are mere figureheads. No matter how much wealth comes your way, do not cease remembering Rama.' After this he turned to the wife and said, 'Do you wish to ask about anything ?' The woman moved forward and made two or three attempts to speak, but her eyes were filled with tears, and words failed her. Then ShriMaharaj said to her in a reassuring voice, 'Does .your husband beat you ?' On hearing this she began nobbing freely. ShriMaharaj said to the husband, 'Remember, your prosperity is not because of your capa­bilities but because of the luck that appertains to this girl. Remember for all time that she has entered your home as the goddess Lakshmi* herself. If you so much as lay a finger on her hereafter, the wrath of Laxmi will be upon you. And if that happens, all your wealth will go away. Do not come weeping to me when you have reached such a miserable state.' ShriMaharaj said this in a voice of warning. To the lady he said, 'My child, whatever prob­lem existed has been fully taken care of. Now you can continue to practice chanting of Nama and live a happy domestic life.'

Sri Maharaj's Pravachan in Marathi-July29