God lived with them

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Swami Adbhutananda

Latu Maharaj was especially kindhearted to people who were genuinely suffering. Once  a drunkard came to Latu Maharaj at midnight and, in his drunken state, insisted on offering the swami some food, so that afterwards he himself could take it as prasad. The man was rather belligerent, but Latu Maharaj quietly accepted the food, and the man went away satisfied. Latu Maharaj commented: " Such people want a little sympathy. Why should we not give it to them?'

One day a devotee arrived to visit Latu Maharaj with his clothes thoroughly drenched from the rain. Latu Maharaj offered him one of his cloths to wear. The devotee was dismayed at the idea of wearing a monk's ochre cloth. But Latu Maharaj insisted, pointing out that if he fell sick from the exposure and wetness, he might not be able to work at his office and his situation would be worse than ever.

In October 1912 Latu Maharaj left Balaram's house for Varanasi, he never returned to Calcutta. On the eve of his departure, just before getting into a carriage, he looked intently at the room where he had stayed for so many years. Then he said," Maya, maya, maya," and saluted the Lord. At the Howrah Railway. Station he was met by a devotee who was extremely downcast at his departure. Latu Maharaj reassured him : " Look here, my boy. Don't feel sad at my leaving. Over there flows the Mother Ganges, who saves the souls of the fallen and the forlorn. Sit on her bank as often as possible. People say that the company of holy men purifies one; so does the company of Mother Ganges. Meditate there. Pray and count your beads. You will see - your mind and body will become purified. Whenever restlessness strikes you, go there and sit quietly, and you will find that your mind will calm down. As you watch the waves of the Ganges, the waves of your mind will be calmed."