will not be able to eat or drink anything in your last days.' The Master said, 'Brother, I took away the glass of water from you for your own good, and you have cursed me for that!' Then Ramkumar wept saying, 'Brother, I don't know why I uttered such words.' See, even the Master had to reap the fruit of his past deeds. He couldn't take any food during his last illness. This devotee too has changed owing to his deeds in many past lives. Don't you see what happened to A. . . . ? It's really difficult to understand why and how such things happen.
KOALPARA
4th June 1919
Disciple: Mother, shall I keep count while I do Japa?
Mother: If you count while you do Japa, your attention will be drawn to the counting. Do Japa without counting.
Disciple: Why doesn't my mind get absorbed while doing Japa?
Mother: You will succeed through practice. Don't give up your practice of Japa, even if your mind doesn't become steady. Do your spiritual practice ardently. Repeating His name will make your mind steadfast like the flame of a lamp protected from wind. Wind makes a flame unsteady. Similarly, desires prevent the mind from becoming concentrated. Besides, if the Mantra is not pronounced correctly, it takes more time for one to achieve any result. A woman had '
Rukmini nathaya' as her Mantra. She used to utter 'Ruku', 'Ruku', and on account of this her progress was retarded. But through the Lord's grace she later got her Mantra corrected.
KOALPARA
12th June 1919
Disciple: I have been practising Asanas for some days to keep my body fit. It helps in digesting food and in maintaining continence.
Mother: If you practise them too much, your mind may become attached to the body, but if you give them up, you stand the risk of falling sick. Keeping this in mind, act accordingly.
Disciple: I practise them for only five to ten minutes in order to have good digestion.
Mother: Then go ahead. I was trying to impress upon you that a man's body becomes unwell when physical exercise is given up. I bless you, my boy. May you be illumined.