One day at Balaram’s house Sri Ramakrishna told his would-be monastic disciples: “I spit upon lust and gold. Those who are attached to them will never have God-vision.” He repeated this several times to establish this idea in their minds. Another day in Dakshineswar, a beggar came to the Master’s door and asked for some money. The Master called Gangadhar and, pointing to four pice, asked him to give them to the beggar. When Gangadhar had done this, the Master said, “Wash your hands with Ganges water.” This incident indelibly impressed on Gangadhar’s mind the idea that money is rubbish, dirt. A true monk should be free from lust and gold. Later in life he wandered fourteen years all over India as a penniless monk, never touching money. (Source: God Lived with Them)