Santananda: Many old women live long, although they go there to die early.
Mother: They earn remission of their sins by seeing and touching Lord Visvanath, and thereby they live long. In Vrindavan, people take consecrated food and sprinkle holy water from a conch
1 on their body; so they live long.
Mother then turned the conversation to the topic of Radhu. She said, "I wish Radhu would overcome her physical weakness now and get up. Her bedroom still serves as her bathroom. I don't know what the Master will do-how long he will keep me like this!" Then she began telling Swami Santananda about Maku's son. "Nothing else overwhelms a man like mourning. Sarat too suffered much on account of Maku's son. Kalo was sent to Calcutta to bring medicine for him. These people here advised him not to meet Sarat. I intervened, saying, 'How can it be that he will go to Calcutta and not meet Sarat?' "
Manindra: Yes, Sarat Maharaj wrote, "Let Kalo come straight to me." Mother was dressing vegetables. Pointing to the
chelo (a local vegetable) Swami Santananda observed, "This vegetable is not found in Calcutta."
Mother: It can be prepared as a curry fried in a little oil and also as a sauce. It is a good vegetable, as it is cooling to the system.
(Turning to Manindra) Is it available in Jehanabad?
Manindra: Yes, Mother.
Swami Santananda raised the topic of the people's suffering. He said, "I hear that six million people have died of influenza. Paddy and rice are costly-people are suffering much."
Mother: Yes, my son. People don't have enough to eat. Those who have children suffer all the more. In fact, this is only the beginning of their suffering. It will end only if there is an abundant paddy crop after a good rain. I heard that some European officer had come to Calcutta. He wanted to ban the movement of paddy and rice from one place to another. He has left, I am told.
Manindra: That attempt is still being made.
Swami Santananda: The suffering of the people is on the increase. Is this the outcome of men's Karma, Mother?
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1 Water contained in a conch is offered to the Deity at the time of the evening service