Sanyasi Swami Ramatirtha was on a visit to the United States. The ship arrived at a port in California. While everyone else was leaving the ship, Swami was pacing up and down the deck.

Seeing this, an American asked him where his luggage was? Akkarakkani Srinidhi said in a discourse, the monk replied that his property was with him. The American was surprised, because Swami had nothing.

Ramatirtha then said, “If you consider all the parts of my body as my property, then as you can see, all my property belongs to me. Apart from these, I have nothing to call my own.

” The American was astonished. He had never seen a person who was not worried about his lack of material possessions! The American now had another question for Swami Ramatirtha.

“Do you have money?” he asked. Ramatirtha said, “I do not keep anything for myself.

I am part of this universe created by the Lord. I am His child. He is my father, and the owner of everything on this earth.

Therefore, whatever is on this earth is mine. If everything here is mine, then why should I carry anything with me? Those who are spiritually inclined give me food.

When I am thirsty, they give me water. If we have respect for our fellow beings in our minds If there is love, there is no end to our joy. ” Ramatirtha said that the truth which is responsible for the functioning of the world is the God whom he worships.

It was clear that Vedantic truth was the only asset Ramatirtha possessed. The American then asked, “Do you know anyone in America?” Ramatirtha said, “I know one person – you. ” The American never forgot his conversation with the masters, which he recalled in later years.

The lesson for us is that everyone in this world deserves respect and love. We should see the entire human race as our family.