One summer evening in 1887, Swamiji was conversing with Haramohan in his home about the deep meaning of Sri Ramakrishna’s message. Inspired, the swami said: “Look, all philosophical thoughts are at my beck and call; and Western philosophy is also on the tip of my tongue.” Then he continued: “One can write shelves of philosophical books based on a single teaching of Sri Ramakrishna.” Surprised, Haramohan replied: “Is that so? But we don’t find any such profundity in his teachings. Could you explain one of his sayings in that manner?” “Do you have the brains,” asked Swamiji, “to understand the Master?Well, take any saying of his, and I shall explain it to you.” “All right,” Haramohan said, “please explain his story of the elephant-god and the mahout-god, which illustrated his instruction to see God in all beings.”
At once Swami Vivekananda launched into the controversial doctrines of freewill versus predestination and self-effort versus the will of God — a perpetual, unresolved conflict among scholars of both the East and West. For three consecutive days Swamiji explained to Haramohan in simple language that the Master’s story presented a solution to that age-old controversy. (Source: They Lived with God)