Mother and Abhay

Abhay Recalls

From 1936, at the age of twelve, whenever I visited Pondi-cherry to see Mother, I used to fall ill, specially with high fever, cough and cold. But this could not deter my trip to Pondicherry as I was determined to see Mother. As soon as I reached Pondicherry, I would be cured and normal!

When the same thing went on repeating thrice before my coming to Pondicherry I informed Mother about it. And Mother said that since I had informed Her now about my sickness, in future I would be in normal health during my trip to Pondicherry. Since then I had no sickness before my departure from Calcutta for Pondicherry.

In the year 1952, I was shifted from "Santal House" to the Ashram main building. After a year I wanted to see a film in an outside cinema hall. Reluctantly Mother gave me permission as She knew my desire and obstinacy to see the film. After my return from the cinema, the same night, I got severe cough and cold and it lasted several days. It turned out to be bronchitis. I was endlessly coughing and coughing and it was severe and tiring specially during the night. To avoid disturbing others during night, I used to go to a lonely corner of the Ashram garden and used to cough for hours. I did not inform Mother about it but one of the members who was residing in the Ashram premises saw me coughing and informed Mother.

The next morning Mother caught hold of my hand and asked me if it was true that I was coughing during the night

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and also when and how did I catch it. I told her that I got the cough after I returned from the film show a few days back. Mother smiled and told me that I caught the infection in the cinema hall. And She said that She was not at all happy to give me permission for going to a film in an outside hall. Anyhow, now that I was suffering with severe cough she asked me to see the Ashram doctor, who gave me some mixture of syrup and in a few days I was fully recovered. The doctor insisted on testing my blood and found some infection so he decided to give me some injection. But I refused. So the matter went to Mother and She asked me why did I refuse the injection. I replied that I refused it because I did not have cough any more and so did not feel any necessity for injection. Mother asked me if I often suffered from cough and I said "No". Mother looked at my eyes for a long time and then She told me to forget about taking injection. Till today, 1986, I have not suffered from cough as I had in the 1950s.

We had the joy of playing tennis with Mother. She had such fine control over the ball! And if we could control our balls and place them exactly within Mother's reach, then we used to have very good rallies. Mother loved tennis and She

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used to say that tennis is a game which one can play even in old age. Age has no boundary for tennis. Tennis taught us alertness, body fitness and concentration.

Once during the year 1957 or 1958, Mother had not called me to play with Her for months. I was sad and inwardly disturbed and took umbrage with Mother. So I decided not to be present in the tennis court when Mother came to play tennis. I went to play football or for a swim in the sea. One evening when Mother returned from the playground—and I used to be present to see Mother upstairs in the corridor—suddenly She caught my hand firmly and asked me the reason of my absence from the tennis court while She was playing. I told Her that as for months She was not calling me to play with Her, I thought She was not interested to play with me any more and so I was absent these days during Her play. Mother looked into my eyes for a long time and told me "You see, I do not play tennis only for the sake of exercise. I play because with each stroke, each return, I can send some good atmosphere and bring down light and peace to remove the depression or psychological problems. And to those who are physically unwell, with each ball I send them strength and energy so that they can recover their health. Also with each stroke I remove their mental and vital difficulties of ego and desire. Thus you see, even in tennis I am helping each one to solve their difficulties and to grow towards progress and perfection."

I promised Mother that henceforth I shall be present in

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the tennis court whenever She was playing and since then I was always there with joyous heart. And often She used to call me to play with Her.

I was operated for hernia by Dr. Sanyal in the year 1956. I had a wonderful experience. Before going to the Nursing Home, I went to Mother for Her Blessings. After my pranam, She gave me a Blessings packet and asked me to keep the same under my pillow. I had to be in bed for fifteen days. After the operation I felt pain all over my body and I was wondering how to pass fifteen days in bed. So I kept Mother's Blessing packet under my pillow and started calling Mother for help with all the intensity of my heart. The next morning when I woke up I was surprised to feel that all my pain had disappeared and that my body was filled with peace. Even the cells of my body were feeling the peace. This peace was something very real and it gave a sensation of joy. When I was back from the Nursing Home this concrete peace lasted for more than six months. It was an experience and a certitude that "peace" can be established in our own cells. Mother was happy when I narrated my experience to Her.

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In the year 1961 I was not feeling well and had fever and no appetite. I used to work and play vigorously. I used to see Mother several times a day. In the evening when She returned from the playground I used to see Her in the corridor upstairs. I told Her that I had fever and no appetite. As soon as She heard about my fever She turned away Her face and left without a word. The same thing happened for three days. So I decided that I had nothing and started my routine work and went to play tennis at 3 p. m. After the game I felt very weak and went to my sisters' place to drink some milk. But I could not drink as I had vomiting sensation and I was extremely weak. So, without taking any food I started returning to my room from my sisters' place. Suddenly I felt giddy and I immediately sat down on the ground. And then with great difficulty, after taking rest on the footpath six to seven times I reached my room and went straight to my bed and to sleep.

During the night I felt yellow smoke coming out of my body and in the morning I felt much better. I went to Dr. Sanyal and he told me that I had jaundice and asked me to take some precaution concerning food. But what was strange was that I felt quite normal and all weakness and giddiness had disappeared completely. Next day I told Mother all that had happened the previous night. She listened to me with love and told me that the poison of the jaundice had evaporated from the body and that was why

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I was cured. She said that it was a very interesting case and She was satisfied with my experience. And soon I fully recovered from jaundice without even taking medicine.

How Mother's love and affection surrounded us in all our activities is inexpressible. We felt Her presence in work, studies and sports.

Once I had some pain in my stomach and I went to our doctor Nripenda and after examining me he told me that I have hernia and I must immediately stop all physical activities like football, volley ball, badminton, etc. So, at that age, I was very depressed and I went and informed Mother all that the doctor had told me.

Mother smiled and told me not to be discouraged by what the doctor had said, but to continue everything using hernia belt. And I was provided with hernia belt.

All went well but with time the hernia belt became old and damaged. I reported to Mother and prayed sanction for a new one. She took me to Her Green Room and opened an almirah, brought out a hernia belt and gave it to me. In the box it was written "Abhay". And immediately She ordered one for my next use! Mothers Grace knew no bounds.

This is only to give an example of how She had always concern for all of us.

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Her love for our present, past and future was like ocean of love, unlimited, vast and no words can express the same.

Once upon a time I was going to Madras Airport to fetch someone. Before starting for the airport, I went to Mother for Her blessings.

After my pranam Mother looked at me and told me to drive very carefully. I was wondering why She said so.

I was driving at 65 miles per hour, when suddenly I saw a lady calling her daughter to come to her. And the child without looking to the traffic rushed to her mother. I applied my brake with all my strength and was able to stop the car before crushing her. I touched only her flying ghaghra [skirt].

On my return home, I narrated the incident to Mother and She said that She had seen some kind of accident and that is why She had cautioned me.

Mother's love, grace and protection were for all of us and for all the time.

Long back, we were once concreting in Parea Charbon: a compound wall to protect the property from sea erosion.

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The next morning, we reported the matter to Mother and we informed Her that the work had gone on up to 9 p. m. The Mother told Manoranjan-da who was in charge of the project to stop the work at 8:30 p. m. and not to go beyond this time. It was an order and must be obeyed.

So the same day, work of concreting the wall was proceeding smoothly and at 8:25 p.m. Manoranjan-da asked us to stop the work for the day. When we were coming out of the place, suddenly the sea level increased and splashes fell on us. Anyhow we could safely come out from our position with the vibrator machine. And then we observed that if we had been there, the sea would have washed us to its water.

The next day, when we reported the matter to Mother, She smiled and said that She had asked the sea not to trouble us up to 8:30 p.m.

When Mother's love, help and protection are there, none can harm us. We have only to be sincere and truthful to Her.

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