Ramchandra Datta, Latu’s (Swami Adbhutananda) employer, was one of the first disciples to come to Sri Ramakrishna. Having a devotional nature, Ramchandra loved to speak about the Master, which enkindled Latu’s passionate love for God. One day Latu heard Ramchandra repeating some of Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings: “God sees into the mind of a man, without concern for what he is or where he is. He who yearns for God and wants none other than God — to such a man God reveals Himself. One should call on Him with a simple and innocent heart. Without sincere longing, none can see God. One should pray to Him in solitude and weep for Him; only then will He bestow his mercy.” These words impressed Latu greatly, and he could sometimes be found lying covered with his blanket, quietly wiping tears from his eyes. However, he never told anyone why he was weeping.
Latu eagerly waited for an opportunity to see Ramakrishna. One Sunday (either in late 1879 or early 1880), while Ramchandra was getting ready to go to Dakshineswar, Latu asked him: “Would you take me with you? I want to see Sri Ramakrishna.” Observing Latu’s earnestness, Ramchandra agreed.
When the Master saw Latu, he asked Ramchandra: “Ram, did you bring this boy with you? Where did you get him? I see some holy signs in him.” Ramakrishna asked Latu to sit down, and began to speak about ever-free souls: “The knowledge of those who are ever-free souls only needs to be unveiled, as it were. They are like underground springs which remain covered until a stonemason digging in the earth removes a particular rock. Then the water begins to flow.” Saying this, he touched Latu, and the boy went into an ecstatic state. Tears trickled from his eyes and his lips began to quiver with emotion. This continued for an hour. At last the Master touched Latu and he slowly returned to a normal state of consciousness.
Ramakrishna asked his nephew Ramlal to give some prasad to Latu and then sent him to visit the Kali Temple. From the very beginning the Master recognized Latu’s divinely pure nature, which he had verified by touching him. When Ramchandra and Latu were about to return to Calcutta, Ramakrishna said to the former, “Please send Latu here from time to time.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
At the threshold of Latu’s spiritual life, the Master had said to him (pointing to himself): “Here God alone exists. Do not forget this.” “How can I forget someone who loves me so much?” answered Latu. He did not forget. Throughout his life, his mind was filled with the thoughts of Sri Ramakrishna, and he would sometimes reveal to others the substance of these thoughts. Latu Maharaj completely fulfilled the name “Adbhutananda,” one who enjoys the wonderful bliss of Brahman. (Source: God Lived with Them)