Mother's Modest Humor An amusing incident may be mentioned here to emphasize her humility. One day a woman disciple was extolling her spiritual power by addressing her repeatedly as the guru. Holy Mother said with a smile: "Please do not drown me that way. Let me tell you a story. A disciple was crossing a river when he found he was being swept away by the strong current. Thinking about the omnipotence and divinity of his guru, he repeated the guru's name several times and was saved. The next day he told the guru about his wonderful power and how he had saved his life. The guru was pleased and went to the river to test his own power for himself. But he did not know how to swim. Finding himself about to be drowned by the strong current, he began to repeat 'I,' 'I,' but was drowned." From Holy Mother by Swami Nikhilananda, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center: New York, 1962, p. 188. Copyright © 1996-2012 by Sri Sarada Society