Food as prasad
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
677
A Muslim devotee used to visit the Holy Mother [Sri Sarada Devi] . Sometimes she would rub oil on that man's feet to make him feel nice. Her close ones said, 'What are you doing?' She said, 'That is my child too.' And in point of fact that man became a worshipper of Sri Sarada Devi.
That is why when our mothers or fathers cook, they must repeat God's name. When God's name is awakened in you the food will become prasad. I have told the person that is cooking for this Yoga Camp to repeat God's name so all the people that eat here will become naturally transformed. Take Mother's name if possible; Mother is the one that transforms everybody.
Every ashram should follow Sri Sarada Devi's method and give prasad. Cook prasad. Do not send people away without eating. That is what I learned from Holy Mother: Through prasad people can reach God.
If you want to glorify God by feeding people, send some money to these ashrams and tell them: 'Feed the devotees who come on Saturday.' The ashram management must organise someone to cook the food sincerely, offer it to Mother, Master [Sri Ramakrishna] and Swami Vivekananda and then feed the people. Then see what a miracle it does. (But please remember this must not be done in some dead person's name.) [That would constitute the offering of food to departed spirits – a sraad ceremony -which Sri Ramakrishna said could damage the spiritual progress of devotees if consumed.]
All the disciples that gave Sri Sarada Devi trouble are my gods because they made the Real Thing manifest in her. If they had not done that you would have been able to say, 'Mother had an easy time.' But they were like fleas on God's back – they kept God awake for us so we would not be lost.
May she live always in our hearts.
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time. 2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order. Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and teachings.
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites – please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham