Brahmananda was more interested in building the character of the members of the Order than in framing rules and regulations that would restrict the monks’ freedom. He knew from his experience that religion finds its fulfillment in love and freedom. On the other hand, no organization can function without some guidelines. While framing some rules for the Ramakrishna Math at Alambazar, Vivekananda had said: “Look here, we are going to make rules, no doubt; but we must remember the main object thereof. Our main object is to transcend all rules and regulations. We naturally have some bad tendencies which are to be changed by observing good rules and regulations, and finally we have to go beyond even all these, just as we remove one thorn by another and throw both of them away.”
Kumud Bandhu Sen, a lay devotee, told the following incident, which took place in his presence:
A meeting of the disciples of Ramakrishna had been called at Balaram Basu’s house. Probably the year was 1897. The purpose was to consider organizational matters concerned with the new association. Swamiji had brought a proposed table of detailed regulations of conduct. He passed it out for all to study. All considered it carefully, and each except Maharaj made comments, suggested changes, and gave approval. But Maharaj remained silent.
Then Swamiji asked: “Raja, what is the matter? Why don’t you say something? Don’t you like it?” Maharaj replied: “No, Naren. I don’t like so many rules and regulations.” Then Swamiji took the draft of that section and without a word just tore it up and threw the pieces away.
At Alambazar Monastery Swamiji had dictated twenty-four rules to Swami Shuddhananda for the guidance of the newly-admitted brahmacharins; and he had framed the general rules at Nilambar Babu’s garden house at Belur, which were recorded by Swami Shivananda. “
One morning at Belur Math,” wrote Swami Basudevananda, “these rules of the Ramakrishna Order were read aloud in Swami Brahmananda’s room. The revered swami was seated on his small cot absorbed in deep meditation. Swami Shuddhananda was the reader. When the reading was over, Brahmananda said: ‘Swamiji did not utter these rules from the physical plane; he raised his mind to a higher realm and then gave dictation and Tarak-da [Swami Shivananda] wrote them down. He delineated them with a view to spreading the ideas and ideals of Sri Ramakrishna and for the good of humanity. Everyone, whether man or woman, rich or poor, high or low, has an equal right to the spiritual heritage and service of Sri Ramakrishna. Blessed is he who serves the Master and follows his teachings! Accept those instructions of Swamiji with candid faith; practise them in your lives and then spread them in all directions. As a result you will see that the evil influence of the Dark Age will diminish and the Golden Age will come in sight.’”
On another occasion, Swami Dhirananda asked Brahmananda to make some rules for the young monks. He replied: “Swamiji has already made the rules for us. We do not need to add any new ones. Add more love, attain more devotion, and help others to move towards the ideal of God.” Swami Abhedananda remarked about Brahmananda: “Love was the dominant theme of his character. As the first president of the Ramakrishna Order he enforced no other law but love; and by that sheer force of love he could dominate over one and all.” (Source: God Lived with Them)