From the very first meeting with Sri Ramakrishna, Surendra became extremely devoted to him and went to Dakshineswar almost every Sunday. His friends were amazed to see the change in him and his yearning for God. But this did not mean that Surendra immediately gave up his old bad habits. He still visited houses of ill-fame from time to time, and then he would be so ashamed of himself that he would stay away from the Master, pretending to be busy at work. Once, when someone reported to the Master what Surendra had really been doing, Sri Ramakrishna did not seem to be at all worried or shocked. “Oh yes,” he said, “Surendra still has some desires. Let him enjoy them for a while longer. He will become pure soon enough.”4 Surendra heard from a friend what the Master had said about him, and he was bold enough to return to Dakshineswar the following Sunday. Since he was a little hesitant to sit in front of the Master, he took his seat in a corner of the room. Sri Ramakrishna affectionately called him: “Why don’t you come and sit near me? Why do you sit aloof, like a thief?” Surendra obeyed. Then, in an ecstatic mood, the Master said: “Well, when a man goes to a bad place, why doesn’t he take the Divine Mother with him? She would protect him from many evil actions.”5 Surendra was probably the only one there who understood for whom the Master had made that remark. His conscience was stinging him like hornets. The Master continued: “A little manliness is necessary for everyone.” At this Surendra thought to himself: “But that is my disease. Lord, save me from it.” The Master suddenly turned to him and said: “I do not mean that struggle for pleasure which only debases a man, and which lower animals have. I mean the manliness of a great hero like Arjuna — to be able to stick to an ideal to the last breath of one’s life!”6 Surendra was afraid that the Master might expose his faults before the group of devotees, but Sri Ramakrishna stopped there and said nothing further. This advice greatly helped Surendra to fight against his passions. (Source: They Lived with God)