Speaking about the objection of certain people that some of Sri Ramakrishna’s Sannyasin disciples, being Sudras, are not entitled for Sannyasa, according to orthodox rules, the Mother said, “ The disciples of Sri Ramakrishna are Jnanis and therefore
Sannyasins. A Jnani can be a Sannyasin. Take the case of Gaurdasi. A woman cannot be initiated into Sannyasa, but is Gaurdasi a woman ? She is more than a man ! How many men are there like her? See what she has achieved—built a school, acquired horses, a carriage, and so forth. The Master used to say, ‘ If a woman embraces Sannyasa, she is certainly not a woman, she is really a man.’ He further used to say to Gaurdasi, 1 I am pouring the water, you will make the clay.’ ”