Love and Patience

The Master also kept a watchful eye over the young men who would one day be his monastic disciples. He gave them spiritual instructions and would send them to different areas in the temple garden at night to practice meditation. He generally kept Baburam and Rakhal near him. He even told the Holy Mother how many pieces of chapati (unleavened bread) should be given to each disciple: Rakhal six pieces, Latu five, and four each for Senior Gopal and Baburam. Even though Baburam was supposed to have four, Holy Mother would give him six. When the Master came to know about it, he immediately went to the nahabat and complained that her indiscreet affection might hinder Baburam's spiritual development. Holy Mother firmly replied: "Why are you so worried because he had two extra chapatis? I shall look after his future. Please don't make an issue about his food." The Master understood that Holy Mother was exercising her motherly prerogative towards her children.

Sometimes Narendra and other disciples spent the night with the Master. On these occasions Holy Mother cooked khichuri (rice and dal) especially for Rakhal. One day the Master said to Holy Mother: "Narendra will eat here tonight. Please cook some nice food." She made some chapatis and thin moong dal. After supper the Master asked Narendra, "How was the meal?"

Narendra replied: "Very good. It was like an invalid's diet."

The Master then asked Holy Mother. "Why did you prepare such plain food for him? Please make rich chana dal and thick chapatis for Narendra." Afterwards, Holy Mother cooked rich food for Narendra, which made him happy.

Aghoremani Devi, a great devotee of the Master, was called Gopal-ma because she had visions of baby Krishna. She used to call Ramakrishna "Gopala" because she saw baby Krishna in him. Sometimes she stayed with Holy Mother in the nahabat. She was an extremely orthodox Hindu widow and would not eat food that others had touched. When she came, Holy Mother had to wash the kitchen area so that Gopal-ma could cook her own food.

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