Thakur Ji’s mother is about to leave the physical abode. Maa Sharda Mani is sitting near her feet, massaging them, and Thakur Ji is sitting near his mother’s head and massaging gently. It is quarter past three early in the morning. Soon, mother enunciates, “Om” a smile adorns her face, and she leaves the body. As Thakur Ji is a sannyasi, with due permission from Totapuri Ji that he can live a life of a householder, thus he performs his mother’s final rites.
One day, Mahendranath, a high-school teacher at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s charitable school. There are some holidays. He plans to go to Ishan Kaviraj, one of his kins, who lives near Dakshineshwar. Ishan Kaviraj says, “Let me take you Rani Rasmani’s garden. It’s a beautiful place.” They go to the garden and stroll a bit. Then, Ishan Kaviraj says, “Let’s even go to the mandir. Here lives a Paramhamsa.” They enter the mandir and see Thakur Ji playing jolly with some young boys. Mahendranath thinks, “How can a Paramhamsa play jolly?” Suddenly, Thakur Ji becomes still and starts speaking on formless Brahman. Mahendranath asks Ishan, “What is his qualification?” Ishan replies, “No, he is unlettered.” Mahendranath thinks, “How can an unlettered person have such deep thoughts?” Thakur Ji says to him, “Go and take a stroll in the garden.”
Mahendranath (called M. or Master Mahashay) leaves and returns after a while. The boys have left the mandir. It is early dusk. He sees a maid standing at the mandir’s door. He asks her, “Can I go and meet him? Is he free? Is he performing sandhya?” She says, “Yes, you can. Anyone can come and meet him.” M. asks her, “Is he literate?” She replies, “No, he hasn’t read a word, but Lord sits on his tongue.” M. is confused. He knocks at the door. Thakur Ji looks at him and says, “Come in.” M. says, “I thought that you might be performing Sandhya.” Thakur Ji replies, “Never mind… well do you believe in Lord with form or formless?” M. thinks, “If Lord is in form, how can he be formless?” He asks the same question. Thakur Ji says, “You have studied thirteen classes. Haven’t you?” Then, Thakur Ji explains him deeply. This is the first and the last time when M. plays logically with Thakur Ji. Soon, M’s logics vanish.
Thakur Ji says, “The element which is in form is also formless. The water vapor exists in the atmosphere, but as the temperature falls, it condenses into water or ice. Similarly, the formless takes the form, as love enhances. But, you literate people prefer digging several places at a time. Then, you think that you are incapable of digging a well. You read and refer to all kinds of scriptures but never hold on to one. Well receives water, deep within. You studied seventeen classes to merely earn some bread. Did you ever sit for seventeen days to remember the priceless Brahman? You didn’t even feel Lord’s presence while consuming the bread you ate? Did you even shed seventeen tears for Lord? If you shed three tears for Lord, you shall realize the Brahman for sure. If not, your shoe must stab my head.” M. is amazed. This is the first conversation between M. and Thakur Ji. When M. came, he was depressed and even thought of suicide. But, listening to Thakur Ji, all his thoughts have disappeared. He feels like staying with Thakur Ji ever after. But, he has to leave. Thakur Ji says, “Come back again.” M. thinks, “I wish that I stay here. He is asking me to come again. This means I shall receive some good things again.”
Thakur Ji has given an illustration seeing M., “If you give some opium to a peacock at 4 every day, it shall return every day, without fail.”
Moral: Thakur Ji had that opium that intoxicated millions in the divine ecstasy.
Maa Sharda Mani’s life teaches us that she redeemed everyone whom she met and even without meeting. She used to go to everyone’s place and her humble sight liberated many. Thakur Ji cherry-picked the disciples and initiated them. But, Maa gave everything to everyone. It is not a big deal to make someone who is good, a better human. But, it is best to take the lowliest ones to the climax. Mother did the same.
Thakur Ji’s mother’s departure teaches us that she passed away seeing her daughter-in-law, the incarnation of Mother Kali, and enunciated OM at her last breathe.
It is quite clear that literacy can never make anyone nearer to Lord. Thakur Ji, an unlettered man, was the Guru of Swami Vivekananda. Thakur Ji at least made his disciples practice meditation, but merely by Maa Sharda Mani’s sight, people were liberated.