Faith Column | December 12, 2026

The sanyasi Swami Ramateertha was travelling to the United States of America. The ship reached a port in California. While everyone else was leaving the ship, the swami just walked up and down the deck. An American, observing this, asked him where his luggage was? The sanyasi replied that he had his possessions with him, said Akkarakkani Srinidhi in a discourse. The American was puzzled, because the swami had nothing with him. Ramateertha then said, “If you consider all the organs in my body as my possessions, then as you can see, I have all my possessions with me. Besides these, I have nothing to call my own.” The American was taken aback. He had never come across a man who was not bothered about his lack of material possessions!

The American now had another question for Swami Ramateertha. “Do you have money with you?” he asked. Ramateertha said, “I keep nothing for myself. I am a part of this Universe created by God. I am His child. He is my father, and He owns everything on this earth. So, whatever is on this earth also belongs to me. If everything here belongs to me, why should I take anything with me? Those who are spiritually inclined give me food. When I am thirsty, they give me water. If we have love towards our fellow beings, there is no end to our joy.”

Ramateertha said the Truth that was responsible for the functioning of the world, was the God he worshipped. It was clear that Vedantic truths were the only property Ramateertha had. The American then asked, “Do you know anyone in America?” Ramateertha said, “I know one person — you.” The American never forgot his interaction with the swami, which he recalled in later years. The lesson for us is that everyone in this world is worthy of respect and love. We must see all of mankind as our family.