There is a saying, “Only he who loves, can rule.” The brother disciples recognized the greatness of Swamiji, who was completely free from selfishness or any personal motivation. He was a real leader. He did not compromise the ideal or dilute the truth. One afternoon Swamiji was holding a class for the junior monks, which continued till evening. Seeing nobody in the shrine for vespers, Premananda went to the classroom and said to the young monks: “What are you doing? Aren’t you coming to vespers? Finish the class and come.” Swamiji immediately became angry with Premananda and said harshly: “Is it your idea that what I am doing here is not worship? When you ring the bell in the shrine, is only that worship?” He continued to berate Premananda.
Premananda was crestfallen. He went away and finished the vesper service by himself, and then disappeared. All of the monks searched for him everywhere, but could not find him. Swamiji lamented his harshness towards Premananda. He went to the shrine of Sri Ramakrishna and struck his forehead again and again on the threshold, begging forgiveness for having spoken so rudely. It is said that he struck his forehead so many times and with such intensity that the skin broke and his forehead began to bleed. At last Premananda was discovered seated alone on the roof, very morose and melancholy. The monks brought him down to Swamiji and the latter embraced him and begged his forgiveness. (Source: God Lived with Them)
After returning from the West, Vivekananda introduced a daily routine in Alambazar Monastery: in the morning — meditation, chanting, exercise, karma yoga; in the afternoon — scripture class, question and answer sessions, vespers, meditation. If a monk did not get up early in the morning, he had to beg for his food that day. Once Premananda woke up late. He went to Swamiji and said: “I am sorry I did not get up early today; brother, you made the rule that one should be punished for that reason. Please punish me.” Immediately Swamiji gravely said, “Baburam, could you imagine that I would punish you?” Tears rolled from Swamiji’s eyes. Brahmananda mediated the situation, saying: “It is not a question of punishment. According to the rule, one is supposed to beg food that day, that’s all.” Premananda left to beg for his food. (Source: God Lived with Them)