Latu was quite outspoken, but the Master taught him to be humble and not to hurt anyone. Once at Dakshineswar a devotee did not behave well and Latu got irritated and scolded him harshly. The Master observed everything. When the devotee left, Ramakrishna told Latu: “It is not good to speak harshly to those who come here. They are tormented with worldly problems. If they come here and then are scolded for their shortcomings, where will they go? In the presence of holy company never use harsh words to anyone, and never say anything to cause pain to another. Tomorrow, you go to him and apologize, so that he may forget what you said to him today.”
So the next day Latu visited the devotee, with his pride humbled. He spoke to him sweetly. When he returned, the Master asked, “Did you offer him my salutations?” Amazed at his words, Latu said that he had not. Then the Master said, “Go to him again and offer him my salutations.” So again Latu went to that devotee and conveyed Ramakrishna’s salutations. At this the devotee burst into tears. Latu was moved to see him weeping. When he returned this time the Master said, “Now your misdeed is pardoned.”
From the Life of Swami Turiyananda
Turiyananda was very frank and truthful. But his candour in pointing out a person’s defects often proved painful. One day he came across this verse of the Bhagavata: “Realizing the universe as one in the aspect of Purusha and prakriti, never praise or blame the action of others” (11. 28. 1). Then he read the commentary on that verse: “If accidentally the teeth bite the tongue, hurt and cut it, do people take a piece of stone and break the teeth? No, because the teeth belong to the same person to whom the tongue belongs. Since the one Lord who is in me also resides in others, it is improper to find fault with them.” This teaching made a deep impression on Turiyananda; thereafter, he became gentler in correcting those in his charge. (Source: God Lived with Them)