On 1 May 1897 Vivekananda inaugurated the Ramakrishna Mission at Balaram’s house in Calcutta. He made Brahmananda president, and Yogananda vice-president, of the Ramakrishna Order. When the meeting was over, Swamiji said to Yogananda: “So the work has now begun in this way. Let us see how it succeeds by the will of Sri Ramakrishna.”
Yogananda: “You are doing these things by Western methods. Would you say that Sri Ramakrishna left us any such instructions?”
Swamiji: “How do you know that these methods are not in keeping with his ideas? Sri Ramakrishna was the embodiment of infinite ideas: do you want to confine him within your own limits? I shall break those limits and scatter his ideas broadcast all over the world. He never instructed me to introduce worship of him, and so forth. The methods of spiritual practice, concentration and meditation, and the other higher ideals of religion that he taught — those we must realize and teach to all human beings. Infinite are the ideas and infinite are the paths that lead to the Goal. I was not born to create a new sect in this world, too full of sects already. Blessed are we that we have found refuge at the feet of our Master. It is our duty to give the ideas entrusted to us freely to the whole world.”
Yogananda did not dissent and so Swamiji continued: “Time and again I have received marks of his grace. He himself is at my back and is making me do all these things.”
Yogananda: “Whatever you will, shall come about. We are always ready to follow your lead. I see clearly that the Master is working through you. Still, I confess, doubts do sometimes arise in my mind, for, as we saw it, his method of doing things was so different. I am led to ask myself whether we are not straying from Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings.”
Swamiji: “The thing is this: Sri Ramakrishna is far greater than his disciples understand him to be. He is the embodiment of infinite spiritual ideas capable of development in infinite ways. Even if one can find a limit to the knowledge of Brahman, one cannot measure the unfathomable depths of our Master’s mind! One gracious glance of his eyes can create a hundred thousand Vivekanandas at this instant! But if this time he chooses, instead, to work through me, making me his instrument, I can only bow to his will.”
Yogananda was deeply moved and praised Swamiji’s greatness.