The Dance of Life, part 15

```

O Ramakrishna!

Tell me,

Why

On very rare occasions

Were you a little unkind

To Sarada Devi, your devoted wife?

She wanted to accompany you

To various places.

What made you offer her

Reluctance and rejection?

Why?

Why did you torture her?

“Stop!

Stop!

For my Kali’s sake, at least!

Public mockery

Is merciless.

I wanted

To avoid it

Always.”

But it was you

Who instructed

Your disciples:

“Man or worm.”

“I see, I see.

Now listen,

Once and for all.

My wisdom

Did not permit me

To help the puny ignorance

Of the tiny worm

Grow into elephant-ignorance.

Therefore, I avoided

Sarada’s and my joint appearances

In the assembly

Of lightless society.” ```

From:Sri Chinmoy,The Dance of Life, part 15, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1973
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/dl_15