I will now tell you the story of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is a small story. A great yogi would visit Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s ashram every day. Neither he nor Ramakrishna Paramahamsa initiated any conversation with each other. One day, it was time to cross the river to go to the other side. So, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his two disciples spent 4 annas (currency unit, used in India in earlier times) to cross the river and go to the other side. The other Yogi walked on water and crossed the river at the that same instance. That is when the yogi and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa spoke to each other. The Yogi says to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa “The world says that you are a person with myriad powers, but you spent 4 annas to cross the river. Instead, you could have saved that money by using your powers to walk on the river like I did”. That is when Ramakrishna Paramahamsa responded saying “All your power and energy was sold for 4 annas, when you decided to walk on the river to cross it to come on to this side. You cannot again walk on the river to go back to that side, because you spent all your power on this”. Truly so, the Yogi could not walk back to the side he came from. Further, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says “You walked on the river only to prove to me that you are powerful and also mock me that I did not use my power. I saw your outward behaviour every day you visited my ashram and realized what your intentions were. I may have spent 4 annas to cross the river, but you spent the energy from several years of penance to cross this river, just to mock me. For the 4 annas I spent, I also got a return ride in the boat. I crossed the river, procured all the things I wanted and even go back to my ashram. You, however, not only spent several years of penance, you also have to spend additional money to go back to your side. Instead, you could have used your powers to educate others”. This story is only a few decades old. You could verify it.

Sources: Srimad Bhagavatam – day 392

Whoever believed in the Avadhoota was called an insane person. It happens even today. In many households, those who talk about Swamiji are considered as lunatics. What do they know about our madness? When Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was walking along the road, many people used to heckle and shout at him, making fun and ridiculing that he was mad. Then one day a really insane fellow saw Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa approaching him. He at once got frightened and ran away, screaming,’mad man, mad man!’ If even the really mad fellow recognized the madness of him, then really Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa must have been ‘super mad’. Avadhootas appear as if they are mad. You have to understand their true nature. The same way Sadasiva Brahmendra was referred to by everyone as a mad man. One day out of curiosity the Nawab said that he would like to see this mad man. His wish actually came true. It happened that he really saw him one day.

Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Ganapathy Festival  – September 1, 2011 – Vijayawada

Different Upanishads have explained, complete with stories. It is not only like a poem, sitting only like a kavi (a poet). There are also small booklets, Upanishads in your English language, very small 20 to 30 pages. In my childhood I used to look at books of Sri Ramakrishna mission, very nice books and also Datta Peetham is now publishing small books. There are in 7 languages, the magazine (Bhakti Mala) we are distributing with 25 to 40 pages only. Not tough; very easy language. Why not go to such magazines? You are wasting time with so many different magazines, different novels, love stories. It is only an illusion, only temporary. How can we practice those stories? How can we relate them to our life? Very difficult, only temporary timepass. 1 to 3 hours, finish. Go to adhyatmic (spiritual) magazines. Then you get protection for your karma. You also get good habits. And so many questions are coming all the time, even after 85 – 90 years of experience. Always questions. Because it is very difficult to explain about maya, about birth and death, very difficult to explain the karma theory, even with all their experience. Some others try to give answers. But there is no satisfaction. One is looking for a Guru to get answers to some questions. Some people are talking, ‘I want to clear all desires first.’ After that conversation finishes, different questions are coming.

Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Hari Om Mandir evening – July 22, 2011 – Chicago