One of the qualities of a highly-evolved soul is simplicity; and simplicity is one of the most difficult qualities to imitate, for it is spontaneous. With Latu Maharaj, as with other holy men, one never knew what response he might make or what he might say, but it would always be straight to the point. Once a devotee came to visit Latu Maharaj in Calcutta after having attended the birth anniversary festival of Sri Ramakrishna at the Belur Monastery. He came with several friends. Latu Maharaj asked him, “How much did you give as an offering to the Lord in the shrine?” The devotee told him what he had given. Then Latu Maharaj asked about his friends. When he heard that they had not offered anything, he smiled, “Your friends want religion by ‘bearing post.’” The devotee did not understand. Latu Maharaj explained that they wanted their letters to reach their destination without putting any stamps on them; thus the recipient must pay the postage. The devotee remarked, “Maharaj, you have coined a wonderful phrase.”
Latu Maharaj continued: “So many people [five thousand, as reported by the devotee] took prasad at Belur Math and most of them did not donate anything. Is it good to take prasad without having offered something to the Lord? The monks do not have any money. Whatever the devotees offer to the Lord is again spent for the devotees. How much of it is used to feed a few monks? The Master used to say that one should make an offering when one visits a holy place.” (Source: God Lived with Them)