God lived with them

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Swami Adbhutananda

On 1 May 1897, Swamiji established the Ramakrishna Mission at Balaram's residence in Calcutta. Latu Maharaj was present at tat meeting, and he recalled" " Brother Jogin told Swamiji: ' Holding meetings, delivering lectures, philanthropic activities - these are  Western ideas that only lead to the ego. Did the Master teach us these things?' Swamiji grew very serious and said: ' How do you know that these are not the Master's ideas? Infinite are his ideas. Do you want to limit him within the bounds of your narrow intellect? I will not allow that. I will break down any limitations and broadcast his liberal ideas to the world. He never asked me to preach the worship of his photograph! Meditation, prayer , and realizing his high, noble,life-giving ideals in our own lives and also transmitting these ideas to the wide world are what he taught us."

Latu Maharaj was a contemplative, not an active person; so one day he asked Swamiji humbly: " Brother, why have you started all these activities? Won't these interfere with our meditation and prayer?" Swamiji smiled at him and said:

How would you understand why I am introducing all this work? You are a dumbbell. At the sight of ka you should shed tears like Prahlada ( a devotee of Sri Krishna, who remembered Lord Krishna at the sound of the first letter of his name, ka ). You are all devotees. What do you understand of this? You can only whine like babies. You think you can attain liberation through crying, that on the last day the Master will come to take you to heaven, and there you will enjoy to your heart's content! And those who are studying the scriptures for knowledge, who are working to educate people in the path of righteousness and serve the diseased and distressed, will all go to hell because all these works are maya. What a grand idea! - that to do good to mankind is an unnecessary bother and that one cannot attain God through these troublesome activities. This is your view, isn't it? As if God-realization were very easy - you call on God and here He comes! Does God appear before the man who merely places his picture on an altar and throw a few flowers before Him? Tell me that.

Latu Maharaj was dumbfounded.