Who is the luckiest of all?

Dear all Atmaj,

Nervous, Nervous, Nervous...This usually happens before i have to speak somewhere. Not necessarily at Sri Sarada Math or Ramakrishna Mission or any other place for that matter. Suppose someone tells me to narrate some stories of Swamiji to primary school children even then i feel i must prepare and go. I will find some book and keep reading His stories unless n until i start visualising every detail of it and then feel little confident to face the children.

This time the nervousness is of different kind. I am not able to understand my feeling - whether i feel empty because am finishing the 6 volumes or am i feeling full that am going to complete them. I will miss that constant tension after completing one volume, Oh, i have to start reading the next!

Let me share something today. Everytime i finished some volume i needed to read something light - it could be anything....first i finished the entire Harry Potter series, then read Eragon series - Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and now have to finish the 4th book in this series. Then me & mother read entire Sydney Sheldon, Jefferey Archer etc in Marathi. Enjoyed the translation equally like original because could discuss with my mother. But 4 years ago i read the 'Kite Runner' and then couldn't read any other book except Swamiji for almost an year. Have not dared yet to read 'The Thousand splendid Suns' by the same author - Khaled Hosseini.

This time do not know what i take up to read. Will let you know.

Wondering as the volumes are coming to end - Who was the luckiest of all in America to be in His Inner Circle? The Hale sisters, specially Mary whom He called the Mettelsome Arab, Christina Greenstidel, Sarah E. Waldo, Mrs. Bagley or Mrs. Blodgett, Mrs. Hansbrough or Mrs. Aspinall or Mr. Thomas & Mrs. Edith Allan? He told Edith Allan to call Him as Babaji, what lucky she was to be told so...! Today was re-reading that at Camp Taylor once He took food from Mrs. Hansbrough plate and ate...kept reading it again n again but couldn't wipe the picture of Swamiji bending to take a morsel from her plate. Lucky, Lucky, Lucky!!!

And we are the most luckiest to get to read this in this Lifetime...

Take up one idea........

Take up one idea, make that idea your whole life. Think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brains, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.                                                                                                                                                                             Didn't all of us all these years went on reading , remembering and ruminating this quote of Swamiji? Yes, we all have all the time. Way to success or failure i do not know but the meaning of taking up one idea has just started going into the system. Last four years there was only one thought in mind - Swamiji and Swamiji. His name just keeps reverberating through my inner system. i eat, sleep, laugh and cry with Him. Feel very sad when I read that His toes had hurt at Chicago by wearing shoes and i go into remorse after reading how Mr. Sturdy hurt Him, couldn't sleep for days after i read that particular part in 4th volume.

When i read the book in train / bus and laugh or as the tears stream down, i know ladies look at at me with curiosity and indifference both. But how does it matter and already am ready to share what i read with my catholic colleague in the office. She knows Swamiji so well now and she calls Sri Ramakrishna as Thakur like us. My mother is used to seeing me in different moods of laughing & crying while i read at home.
                                                                                                                                                                                 Folks, He has made me understand so many aspects of life. When He says to Mrs. Hansbrough as she is busy cooking for Him and not attending His meditation class - " i will meditate for you"---even when i sit for meditation i say to myself as though He is saying - " i will meditate for you" and feel His presence. Yesterday in 6th volume i reread - when Swamiji, Mrs. Hansbrough and Mrs. Aspinall are on their way to Camp Taylor and had to run to catch a missing train, He simply says - "i will not run". Very funny incidence which i shall fully share later. Now,  i have a bad habit of always running to catch a train.....but since yesterday as am about to run, i stop and say to myself - "i will not run".

See how His words are so powerful. Read my dear Atmaj, please read the New Discoveries and enjoy being with Him as i do. May Thakur, Maa and Swamiji bless us all is the only prayer at their feet.