Kanta Maharaj was just an acquaintance before a
young man turned up and wanted to stay in an ashrama whose affairs I was then responsible
for. He brought references from some senior sadhus and I had to oblige. Soon I
found that it is better if this young man stays somewhere on his own and that
our ashrama will neither benefit him nor will be benefited by him. He had been
with Kantha Maharaj earlier and so I asked him about this person. His
perceptive and loving words showed me the way to go. He agreed it would be
difficult to live with and work with this young man, but if a miracle happens
and this man stays for some length of time that would benefit him much. So I decided
to put up with him and in fact had to put up with quite a lot of problems. He himself
left after some months and I was doubly relieved, one that he had gone and
again that I had not sent him away but that he left by himself. Most likely Sri
Ramakrishna did some great good to him by keeping him in our ashramas for a
while.
I salute him due to whom I could appreciate the
loving heart of Swami Shantidananda and get a priceless hint about the ways of
good works.
From the official Obituary :
http://www.belurmath.org/news_archives/2014/11/04/obituaries-01-november-2014/
Swami Shantidanandaji (Kanta Maharaj) expired on 14 October at about 2.45 am at Seva Pratishthan hospital, Kolkata. He was 78 and had been suffering from various old-age ailments for some years. Initiated by Swami Shankaranandaji, he joined the Order in 1955 at Kamarpukur centre and had Sannyasa from Swami Madhavanandaji in 1965. Besides his joining centre, he served at Saradapitha (Belur) centre as an assistant, and Agartala, Garbeta, Manasadwip and Barasat centres as head. He had been living a retired life for the last one year mainly at Barasat. Affectionate and amiable by nature, he endeared himself to all who came in contact with him.
From the official Obituary :
http://www.belurmath.org/news_archives/2014/11/04/obituaries-01-november-2014/
Swami Shantidanandaji (Kanta Maharaj) expired on 14 October at about 2.45 am at Seva Pratishthan hospital, Kolkata. He was 78 and had been suffering from various old-age ailments for some years. Initiated by Swami Shankaranandaji, he joined the Order in 1955 at Kamarpukur centre and had Sannyasa from Swami Madhavanandaji in 1965. Besides his joining centre, he served at Saradapitha (Belur) centre as an assistant, and Agartala, Garbeta, Manasadwip and Barasat centres as head. He had been living a retired life for the last one year mainly at Barasat. Affectionate and amiable by nature, he endeared himself to all who came in contact with him.
