God lived with them

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Swami Advaitananda

Pioneering work is always difficult. Advaitananda worked till noon; then he took his bath in the Ganges and sitting under  a tree he ate his lunch, which had been sent from the monastery. Advaitananda started a vegetable garden and a dairy farm, apart from levelling the ground and other construction work.. Swami Adbhutananda recalled about the early days : " Without Gopal-da the monks of Belur Math would not have had vegetables along with their rice. He worked so hard to produce various kinds of vegetables in the monastery garden."

Once Advaitananda went to visit Holy Mother in Calcutta. Mother was happy to see the old swami, her devoted attendant. While eating prasad, Advaitananda inquired about Mother's rhematic pain. She replied:' That rheumatic pain is my constant companion. It will not leave me in this life. However how are you?" " I also suffer from rheumatic pain," answered Advaitananda. " But I work hard. I don't get much help from the boys. I am growing various kinds of vegetables - okra, eggplant, plantain, and so on- in the monastery garden. Sometimes I send some vegetables to you." The monastery is like a family home, where you need food, clothing, and other necessities. Without these things how can you live there? so it is your duty to take care of the Master's children.