From Cambridge, Turiyananda went to Boston and became the guest of a wealthy woman, who helped him with the Vedanta work there. Unfortunately, she was quite bossy. Once she had a difference of opinion with the swami, and said to him, “If you do not accept my viewpoint, I shall stop helping you.” Turiyananda calmly replied: “I am a monk. God will help me. I shall not mind at all if you throw me out on the streets of Boston.” The woman then realized her mistake, and continued to help him. Later, when Turiyananda was in Los Angeles, a similar incident happened. He was the guest of a woman who owned a large oil company. She wanted to control Turiyananda and tried to curb his freedom. Turiyananda boldly said to the woman, “Madam, you have helped me with a few dollars, but that does not mean I have sold my head to you.” Turiyananda was truly a free soul; he was guided only by God.
From the Life of Swami Adbhutananda
The devotee stayed and nursed Latu Maharaj for a few weeks following the operation. One day, noticing an element of pride in the devotee, Latu Maharaj said to him: “Although you are serving me, do not boast of it to others. Remember that one should serve God, the guru, and the sick with great love and humility.”
From the Life of Swami Ramakrishnananda
He tried to spread the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna among his students, and reminded them that purity and renunciation are essential in spiritual life. He boldly declared that “God and Mammon” cannot be worshipped simultaneously. This made a few city leaders nervous, as they were afraid that their boys would shun family life and become monastics. They threatened to withdraw financial support if Ramakrishnananda did not change the mode of his teaching.
As a true disciple of Sri Ramakrishna he could not compromise the truth; he privately said to an ardent devotee: “Am I to preach other than what I learned from my Master? Certainly I won’t do that. I don’t care a fig for the bigwigs. They are at liberty to do whatever they like. If I am ousted today from this castle, I shall very gladly find accommodation in a room of one of my students’ houses. I am a sannyasin and do not know where my next meal will come from.” Because he was in debt, Ramakrishnananda went to a publisher of the Upanishads in Madras and told him: “I shall translate Upanishads for you. Please give me some money.” Realizing Ramakrishnananda’s financial difficulties, the publisher arranged a monthly subscription for the fledgling monastery. The Raja of Ramnad also began to send some money on a regular basis; thus the Master provided Ramakrishnananda’s bare necessities.
In spiritual life, where self-effort ends, self-surrender begins. A real monastic always surrenders himself to God and depends on his own Self. Sister Devamata recalled: “Shortly before I left Madras, as we were driving back from the city one evening, I expressed regret that I was leaving when he had so few to help him. The answer that came was direct and uncompromising: ‘I do not need anyone to help me. I am all full of God. What need have I of anyone else? If He sends people to help me, I am satisfied. If He does not send, I am satisfied. I know that whatever He sends is for my good and is the best thing for me.’”