Like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Abhedananda was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Abhedananda
"Immediately after establishing the Math, Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda) installed there the dust of Mother's feet, which is being worshiped in the Belur Math even today. As long as the Math will be there, this worship will go on. Only Swamiji understood the Mother. None else had the idea that she was Lakshmi Herself. Whom to tell all these things! To comprehend her grace one requires a lot of austerities. Your regard for the Mother is mere talk! To understand her one has to practice austerities. Then will flow her grace, by which one can know her. It is then that one's claim to the effect that one knows the Mother is fruitful.
"Make the Mother your ideal. No use coming to me. The Mother herself is there,to know whom, I have been sitting here. It is a great good fortune that you have received the Mother's instructions. Where can one find such renunciation as the Mother?
"What at all shall I say to the Mother? She comes to know everything. My mother, that Mother of Dakshineshwar! Is there any comparison to Mother's grace? Does the Mother expect anything from us? No expectation, only selfless compassion -- she gives refuge to all so that they may remember God at least in the morning and evening and lead pure lives. Look at this boy who cannot speak and has no home; even him the Mother has blessed.
"You have been with me for such a long time. I write letters to so many people. You could not have asked me why I do not write to the Mother. Do you know why I do not write to the Mother? Mother knows my past, future and everything. What is the point in writing to her just for a public show? What is the necessity of writing to one who knows everything about my past, present and future? One has to write to them who do not understand.
"I do not speak about the Mother in all and sundry places, because all won't understand or they will rather misunderstand. I generally talk about Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
Will the Mother become a stranger to me just because I do not go to see her? You ask, 'How do I look upon the Mother?' She is Mother Lakshmi, again, she is sometimes Sita."
From Sri Sarada Devi -- The Great Wonder, Ramakrishna Mission: New Delhi, 1988, page 23.
