God lived with them

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Swami Adbhutananda

Swamiji made a rule at the monastery that the monks must get up at 4:a.m. and, after washing quickly, sit down to meditate in the shrine. The next morning a bell was rung and everyone was expected to rise. Latu Maharaj said later: " I didn't like the rule, so without telling anyone, I decided to leave the monastery. That morning, as I was leaving with my cloth and towel, Swamiji stopped me and asked,' Where are you going? I said ,' To Calcutta.' 'Why?' Then I told him: ' You have recently returned from the West and are introducing new rules and regulations. It will not be easy for me to abide by them. I do not have that degree of control over my mind that it will quiet down to meditate when a bell is rung. Who knows when my mind become absorbed? I have not yet reached that state. If you can do it, that is fine.'

" Then Swamiji said: ' All right. You can go.' But I had hardly reached the gate when he called me back and said: ' You don't have to observe this rule. You should do as you like. These rules are meant for the novices.' I said,' I am glad you said that."

Sometimes in 1902 Swamiji told Latu Maharaj: " Leto, what do you think? This is just the beginning. The people of Europe and America are now starting to appreciate the greatness of our Master. After a couple of years they will accept his ideas. Now they are only a handful, but later hundreds will come. Then you will understand what this Vivekananda had done." Latu Maharaj listened to Swamiji and then said quietly: " Brother, have you done anything new? Haven't you walked the same path that the other great teachers have travelled - Buddha, Shankara, and so on?" Swamiji said: " You are right, my dear Plato. I have only followed in their footsteps." Then Swamiji folded his hands and saluted the ancient teachers.