These are her words
The Masters, the Good Shepherds of this world, come down from their high places and give their lives to searching for disciples who are lost in the darkness. They find them in desolate and dangerous places, arouse them, lift them to a divine shoulder, and bear them with rejoicing to a safe place in the fold. They feed them with celestial food and give them living water to drink, of which, if a man eat and drink, he shall live forever. They give them power to become the sons of God. They give their own lives, to the last ounce of flesh and the last drop of blood, for the redemption of the sheep who know their voice.
Sri Gyanamata
About Gyanmata
Gyan meaning knowledge of self. Mata mother
She was Yogananda foremost disciple. I would encourage people to read about her life. A few instances of her life that struck me
- She had terrible arthritis which only got worse as she grew older. When guests visited the ashram, she would sleep on the hard bench and give up her bed for Guests! Even at the age of 75 or so. She next told anyone and talked about it. Yogananda only found that out accidentally
- Once Yogananda was upset with her. She would be the last to visit him when he arrived Yogananda thought she did not appreciate the value of a Guru. Finally after this happened a few times he reminded her about the importance of a Guru. Softly she replied, I only did not want to over burden you master that was the only reason. Yogananda had tears in his eyes
- She was at death bed from CHF. heart failure. Yogananda could not bear to see that. He intervened and she got a ten year extension of life. But those ten years were very painful from physical sickness – mostly arthritis. Yogananda was very sad. But not once did Gyanmata complain
My prayer is to be as great as her loving caring personality. I bow my head to her
Bhavin