God lived with them

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Swami Adbhutananda

Swamiji returned to Calcutta from the West on 18 February 1897. All of the disciples and devotees of Sri Ramakrishna went to meet Swamiji at Pasupati Basu's house in Baghbazar, except for Latu Maharaj. Swamiji inquired about him in the large crowd outside the house. Later Latu Maharaj said to a devotee:

When Swamiji returned from the West, some of his Western disciples were with him. Thinking Swamiji might have developed some sort of egotism at having Westeners as his disciples, I did not go to meet him. But Swamiji sought me out and talked with me. He asked me," All the others came; why didn't you come?" I replied: " You have Western disciple now, men and women. I wondered whether you would remember me." He caught hold of my handd and said," You are my same old Brother Latu, and I am your same old Brother Loren." Then I knew that he regarded us the same as before, that fame and position had not lessened his love for us. He invited me to eat with him and to sit by his side. I then had no doubt that Swamiji's mind was not tarnished by pride. Moreover, I noticed that soon after his arrival in Calcutta, he got rid of his expensive Western clothes and put on a two-rupee chadar ( a cloth worn as a shawl ) and two-and-a-half-rupee shoes as before. He threw his tremendous name and fame to the four winds.

About ten days after Swamiji's arrival in Calcutta, they organised a huge meeting in the courtyard of the palace of the Raja of Shobhabazar. That was the first time that I heard Swamiji lecture. I found that his power to inspire people had increased enormously, for I saw that the audience became inspired as he spoke."